"I think it went rather well."

Attolia ignored her husband. Her hand tightened on the balcony railing.

"Considering it was first, I mean. The next one will go better."

"There won't be a next one." Her voice was ice.

He quirked an eyebrow. "I hate to break it to you, my dear, but eventually there will be."

"I won't attend it."

He winced. "Would this have gone over better if I'd told you I was alive before the funeral instead of during it?"

She finally whirled to face him. "You told Costis!"

"I needed Costis!" he protested.

Costis tried to become one with the stone. He really wished their Majesties would remember they were not alone.

He also wished they would leave him out of this, but that was probably too much to hope for.

Eugenides sighed. "You're acting like Relius didn't tell you my entire plan as soon as it was thought of."

"Next time, tell me yourself."

"I thought there wasn't going to be a next time," the king said cheekily.

The queen stared at him for a long moment. "If I didn't love you so much, I would kill you," she informed him.

"That, my dear, is the story of my life," he said cheerily.

Costis resisted the urge to groan.