I looked between Reyin's eyes, agitated by how his gaze seemed to have the power to strip me into a shell of vulnerability I wasn't prepared to show him. So, I stepped to the side to put some space between us and ignored his question.
I cleared my throat, which had begun to close from discomfort. "I came to warn you about your brother. Seth. He's dangerous, Reyin." He frowned, and I continued before he could protest with some oblivious nonsense that would only irritate me. "He's envious of you. Everywhere you go, eyes and statements follow. You're in every conversation and debate that spreads throughout this nosy kingdom. Bad publicity is still publicity, and your brother has none of that."
After a while, Reyin softly asked, "Is that all?" and I began to think he wouldn't believe my assessments.
