Kael stayed seated for exactly twenty-three seconds.
Amelia counted.
She did not say it out loud, but Kael noticed by the way she looked at him when he moved his leg for the third time.
"Do not start," he said.
"I did not say anything."
"Your silence counted."
"Your behavior is predictable."
Sylphie still had her head resting on his shoulder, but her hand remained on the marked arm. The green light was still there, low, almost invisible, holding the mark in place. Elizabeth sat on the opposite bench, with two guards a little farther away. She tried to look calm, but she glanced toward the corridor every few seconds.
Irelia noticed.
"They are fine."
Elizabeth looked at her.
"You do not know that."
"No. But saying otherwise would not help."
The princess let out a short laugh, without humor.
"You are direct."
"Today is a bad day for pretty lies."
Kael looked at Irelia.
"That was a good line."
Amelia raised the quill.
"I will record it."
