“I heard he’s Embraced, but no one can kill him for it because he kills them first. That’s his gift. He fries people with his touch.” Tatiana waggled her fingers in her sister’s face. “Sizzle.”
Luciana flinched and made the sign of the moons.
Tatiana snorted. “Won’t that get you killed?”
“If I fail, Father fails. Remember that.”
“Are you still practicing?” Lucas Vintello asked.
Luciana whirled around to find her father approaching. He must have heard her whispering. “Good evening, Father.”
He stopped beside her and gave her a kiss on the cheek. “Did you study the list I gave you?”
“Yes.” That morning, he’d given her a long list of the servants who worked at Vindemar. “There are so many. I’m afraid I’ll call someone by the wrong name.” She slanted a look at Tatiana to let her know this was something she could help with, but she shrugged and looked away.
“I wouldn’t fret over it. Tatiana rarely called a servant by name.” Her father leaned an elbow on the railing. “I heard you helped in the galley this evening.”
Luciana nodded. “There are twenty mouths on board and only one cook. I thought he needed some help.”
“I’m sure he appreciated it, but unfortunately, it confirmed a serious problem I’ve been worried about.” He shook his head. “No one will believe you are Tatiana.”
Tatiana scoffed. “Told you so.”
“But I’ve practiced so hard,” Luciana protested. “And my speech is near perfect. You said so yourself—”
“I know how hard you’ve worked. But the problem is you’re too kind.” When she blinked in surprise, he gave her a wry smile. “Don’t misunderstand. I love how kindhearted you are, but I fear it will put you in danger.”
“Too stupid to live,” Tatiana muttered.
Luciana groaned inwardly. In order to survive, she would have to spend the rest of her life being obnoxious?
Her father turned to face the ocean. “It’s all my fault. After your mother died and I lost you, all I had left was Tatiana. And she cried for days after the two of you were separated. I felt so guilty that I did everything I could to make her happy. Too late, I realized that I’d made a dreadful mistake. My poor Tatiana. She’d become…”
“What?” Tatiana leaned closer. “Endearing? Adorable?”
Father sighed. “Demanding and selfish.”
“What?” Tatiana shrieked.
Luciana winced. “I’m sure she wasn’t that bad.”
“I’m afraid so.” Father tapped his fist against the railing. “Whenever I tried to remedy the situation and impose restrictions, she would throw a fit. Break things or refuse to eat until she got her way.”
With a huff, Tatiana crossed her arms.
“I don’t really need to know—” Luciana began.
“She was thoroughly spoiled, I’m sorry to say,” Father continued. “Not to mention, vain and lazy. I could never get her to study. She was barely literate.”
Tatiana sniffed. “Why is he being so mean?”
“Father, please,” Luciana urged him. “We shouldn’t speak ill of the dead.”
“But you need to understand how different you are,” he insisted. “You’re naturally kind to people, but Tatiana was arrogant and rude. None of the servants liked—”
“Enough!” Tatiana screeched.
“Stop!” Luciana grabbed her father’s arm. “Don’t say another word. Not now.”
He gave her a confused look, then slowly, his eyes widened with horror. “You have the same gift. You can see her?” When she nodded, he grimaced. “And she’s here?”
Luciana glanced to the side, but her sister had vanished. “She just left.”
With a groan, he dragged his hands down his face. “The Light help me, what have I done?” He turned toward her quickly. “When you see her again, will you tell her how sorry I am, how much I love her?”
“Of course. I-I should have told you about my gift.”
He waved that aside. “I should have realized it before. And it’s good that you’ve learned to keep it a secret. You must continue that on the mainland. No one can ever know you’re Embraced. Understand?” After she nodded, he added, “How long have you been seeing her?”
“Since the day I met you.”
He smiled. “So the two of you have been reunited! You must be thrilled.”
Luciana shifted her weight.
His smile faded. “What’s wrong? Is she all right?”
“She’s a bit … miffed. About being dead and all.”
“Poor child. She never could handle disappointment very well.” He winced. “I can’t believe we’re having this conversation. So is she directing her anger at you?”
“A little.” Luciana smiled. “You know her so well, but you still love her. I like that.”
He gave her a wry look. “You were trying to spare her feelings, weren’t you? Even after she’s been mean to you.”
Luciana shrugged. “She’s been through a great deal.”
“You’re a treasure.” He wrapped an arm around her shoulders and pulled her close. “As much as I hate putting you in danger, I’m glad it is you who will be going to court. You’re clever and cautious. Much better equipped to survive than your sister ever could have been.”