The tinkling of a small bell announced the evening meal.

The two maids who had prepared the table stood on either side of the doorway and bowed their heads respectfully as Shane entered. His father and mother were already seated, his mother positively glowing in the golden light cast by the glowstones mounted in the ceiling.

The moment he saw the flower-decorated table, he understood why.

There was important news.

Judging by the expectant look in his mother's eyes, she was not the one who had instructed the cook to prepare a feast. Shane himself had nothing to announce either, which meant his brother had some major revelation to share.

Shane took his seat and returned his parents' looks somewhat awkwardly.

They were probably hoping he had good news for once.

The false alarm two weeks ago had left them shaking their heads in disappointment. He had such a simple task, and somehow he had still managed to cause chaos. He had kept to himself that the chaos had really not been all that dramatic.

There was no point arguing with his parents.

They always agreed with each other.

"Well, I'm curious to hear what Jake has to tell us."

There. That should make it perfectly clear that he was not the source of tonight's big announcement.

Before either of them could respond, footsteps sounded in the hallway and Jake joined them, wearing a broad smile.

"Father, Mother..." He nodded to them before turning to Shane. "Brother... I'm glad you're all here."

Shane suppressed a snort. They ate together almost every day. It really wasn't that special.

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw the maids approach and place bowls of pumpkin soup in front of them. As tradition dictated, the news would not be revealed until after the first course.

What nonsense.

He could hear Cillian's mocking voice so clearly in his head that he had to resist the urge to glance over his shoulder. His friend was not welcome in their house. The only way Cillian could get inside was through Shane's window.

Keeping his eyes on his soup, Shane spooned it into his mouth. It probably would have tasted better if his friend had been sitting beside him, telling some ridiculous story that would make him grin like an idiot.

Instead, an expectant silence hung over the table, and it only made Shane nervous.

Every achievement his brother earned felt like a personal failure.

What was Jake going to tell them this time?

That he'd received a promotion? Been asked to join some prestigious committee?

Shane was the last to put down his spoon.

He had already noticed from the corner of his eye that Jake had been waiting for him. His brother had folded his hands neatly on the table in front of him. His dark blond hair was immaculate, as always, combed to the right. Shane wore his the same way, although his fell much farther across his forehead, the ends resting just above his eyebrow.

"Well, son, tell us the good news," Father prompted when the silence began to drag on.

Jake nodded and leaned forward slightly. "I asked Alina to bond with me. She said yes."

Mother let out a little cry and pressed a hand to her chest. She immediately rose from her seat and hurried around the table to kiss Jake on the cheek.

"My boy," she exclaimed. "My boy is going to bond!"

Father got to his feet as well and gave Jake a firm handshake. "Well done, son. Truly well done." Beaming, he looked at his wife. "Our son is going to marry the Monarch's daughter. We couldn't have hoped for a better match."

And now I have to say something.

Shane had no idea what.

He found Alina irritating as hell, with her giggling circle of girls and expensive dresses. But apparently, none of that mattered to Jake. He thought she was beautiful, and her father was the Monarch. That seemed to be his ideal.

"Well, better you than me," Shane said with a grin. "Congratulations, man."

Jake leaned back, looking thoroughly pleased.

As the second course—round vegetable pastries—was served, his brother launched into the story of how he had proposed to Alina. Shane listened with only half an ear while eating.

He did not really tune back into the conversation until Jake nudged him lightly with an elbow.

"So, have you got your eye on anyone yet? Seems like it's about time, don't you think?"

Actually, it probably was.

The thought of no longer living with his parents sounded wonderful.

Unfortunately, tradition dictated that you only left your parents' home once you had found a life partner—and he was nowhere near that point.

He could not think of anyone he would want to share a home with.

Well, Cillian.

Despite the fact that the guy regularly drove him up the wall.

But that was impossible.

The law provided for lovers, not friends.

And although being lovers seemed far less unpleasant than it probably should, Shane could not imagine Cillian felt the same way. Cillian mocked every tradition.

Besides, Cillian occupied a unique position. After his mother's death and his father's disappearance, the house had become his. He did not need to enter into a bond to qualify for a home of his own.

And if I moved in with him, my family would never forgive me.

He was certain he would no longer be welcome here.

In his parents' eyes, Cillian was trash. They would feel humiliated if Shane chose the boy over their care and affection.

No, he would just have to endure life here until someone else crossed his path.

Hopefully that wouldn't take another twenty years...

"I haven't met anyone yet," Shane replied when he realised the entire family was waiting for an answer. "I'm not really looking."

"And standing watch over your Dead Bridge, you're only likely to meet ghosts," Jake said with a grin, clapping him on the shoulder. "Don't worry. I'll keep an eye out for you. Alina has plenty of single girlfriends—and a few male friends too, if that's more your thing."

Shane had no idea what his thing was, except that he knew it certainly wasn't the same as his brother's.

Asking Jake for help would not only be humiliating, he already knew it would never work.

They were far too different.

"You just enjoy planning your bonding ceremony," he said instead. "I'm sure I'll meet someone eventually."

"I don't doubt it. Especially once our family is directly connected to the Monarch's. I imagine quite a few people will suddenly take an interest in you."

Shane resisted the urge to roll his eyes. He wanted someone to be attracted to him because of who he was, not because his brother was engaged to the Monarch's daughter.

Fortunately, another course was served.

Time for a new subject.