“You haven’t changed a bit.” Xavier sounded accusing. “Are you trying to get your revenge by giving us heart attacks?”
I maintained my innocent expression. As children, Adara and I had been involved in a long-standing game between the two of us and the twins, each pair attempting to turn Rek’s ire against the others. The four of us had always presented a united front to the adults, but Rek had been different.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I said. “It was a simple mistake. A man walked past who looked very like him.”
“What—judgmental, uptight, and boring?” Xavier muttered, and Navid snorted again.
I glared at them both, trying to think of a fitting defense for Rek that wouldn’t give my feelings away to the twins. But Xavier’s next words reminded me they had always been more perceptive than their careless manner suggested.
“Navid!” Xavier slung an arm around my friend’s shoulder, fixing him with a wounded look. “The real question is whatyou’redoing here with Zaria! I’m not sure which of my siblings I should be offended on behalf of.”
“Xavier!” I cried before frowning. His words had revealed more than his knowledge of an attachment between Rek and me. “Wait, you all know each other?” I looked between the twins and Navid.
“Know each other?” Xander slung an arm over Navid’s shoulders from the other side. “Why Navid here is practically a brother! We certainly trip over him every time we turn around.”
Both of my eyebrows slowly rose as I remembered how little I’d seen of Navid at home other than our one morning conversation.
“Just how many days have you been at the palace?” I hissed at him.
He glanced from the twins to me, a slightly frantic look in his eyes.
“We’ve been investigating Azzam, remember?” His expression turned sheepish. “That’s actually why I came tonight.”
I stared at him. “You came because of Azzam?”
“When Adara heard I’d been invited, she told me I had to come. We saw Azzam and Yasmine talking at the ball. It was a brief exchange, but it gave Adara the idea he might have received an invitation. She thinks it’s just the sort of place Azzam would be found, making questionable deals and amassing contacts.”
Xander laughed loudly. “That’s our dear sister’s best effort at investigating? We’ve already done a tour of the festivities, and I can promise you there’s no one here from the palace except us. Although I’m surprised Adara didn’t come herself.”
I caught the guilty shift in Navid’s eyes. “She would have liked to, it’s true, but she didn’t have an invitation.”
Both twins drew back, giving him mock salutes.
“Very nicely played,” Xavier said. “I never would have believed someone could prove such a good influence on our beloved sister in such a short time.”
“This would most definitely not be her scene.” Xander cast an amused glance at someone who appeared to be sleeping off their drunkenness on the stairway.
“You didn’t hear about the party from her, did you?” Navid asked, sounding horrified at the idea that he might have been indirectly responsible for the princes’ presence.
“No, no, we heard about it from our newest friends.” Xavier pointed through the door at two men standing beside the refreshment table and watching the two clashing groups in the room with amusement on their faces.
My hand flashed to Navid’s arm, squeezing hard. He looked down into my face and then back at the men, frowning.
A moment later his eyes widened, and he looked back at me. I nodded slowly.
“And how did you meet these new friends, exactly?” Navid asked, his voice sounding strange.
“Careful,” Xavier said with a grin. “If you become too much like Rek, we might have to withdraw our blessing on your suit.”
“We met them out and about,” Xander said vaguely. “They’re merchants, and a good laugh, for all they’re a bit rough around the edges.”
“Xander. Xavier.” I looked from one to the other. “Is there any chance I could convince you to just go home?”
“None at all,” Xavier said promptly.
I sighed. I had to be careful what I said. If the twins caught any hint of the truth, they would insert themselves into the situation with gusto.
“I don’t think those men are safe,” I said. “Could you at least keep your distance from them for the rest of the night?”