Chapter 8 #2
“Lady Faiza was just telling me about the summer she spent here, and when we spied you, I figured it was only polite to say hello. Especially with us being from the same court.”
“Of course,” he said, lips turning down briefly as if the mere mention of Ruby Court soured his mood. Good to know, certainly, but not why I was here.
“How have you been?” Faiza finally spoke up quietly, and he zeroed in on her immediately, as if he’d just been waiting for the excuse. I was forced to hide my smile before they noticed.
“I’ve been fine,” he replied with a slight smile, before tilting his head to the side, “Though the city is much less interesting without your presence.” His brow quirked upwards while a smirk grew on his lips.
Faiza blushed again, looking down and biting her lip, before looking back up, a new bravery on her face. But as she opened her mouth, another voice sounded from behind us.
“Ah, I see your guard duties have seemingly been extended to the other ladies as well now, Brokk.” The king stepped up beside his guard, and I caught myself before I could glower at him.
High King Azurill was dressed in his colors, with a dark blue jacket embroidered in silver and bedazzled with diamonds across the high collar.
Diamonds had also been used in the design of the jacket, accenting the embroidery, and covering the shoulder caps in rows that hung off the side and shook as he turned to look at us directly.
The white shirt he wore underneath was unbuttoned unfairly low, exposing part of his chest, along with a bit of the mysterious tattoo that slithered down from his neck.
A silver vest with blue ties rested atop it, pulling the outfit together.
Faiza and I both curtseyed, though I grit my teeth through it. When we rose, the king was smirking slightly, eyeing us both.
“Have the ladies of the realm forsaken their own guards now?” He joked, making Brokk roll his eyes, while I gave an overdramatic gasp, putting a hand over my heart.
“I would never hurt poor Alfrikr in such a way!” I played into his joke, hoping this was the kind of authenticity my poor guard had meant. I turned my head back to Alfrikr, “You mustn’t listen to such lies, darling. I think the High King is merely the jealous sort.”
I turned back to face the king with my brows raised and a smirk on my own face. “I think having two of his eight dates tonight, paying attention to another man, has hurt his feelings.”
Faiza giggled hysterically beside me, trying to choke the sounds back as she covered her mouth.
Brokk’s mouth had dropped open while he blinked quickly.
Azurill, however, had an unexpectedly delighted look upon his face.
Those blue-green eyes positively lit up as he stepped closer to me, and his smirk grew exponentially.
“Would you not be hurt, Lady Jacinth?” He rumbled, his voice lowered so only I could hear him clearly. “To see such lovely women here to see you have shifted their attentions?”
I leaned closer, fluttering my eyelashes at him coquettishly, as I whispered, “Perhaps, if my ego was so delicate as yours.”
His head tipped back on a full laugh, and I noticed another man with icy blue hair, containing only the slightest tinge of green, blinking even more rapidly than Brokk at the sight.
He shifted closer, as if curious, but kept his distance.
It took me a few seconds to place him as the younger prince, Ruri.
When Azurill finished laughing, he smiled at me and bowed his head, “Well, since my ego is so clearly delicate, you must make it up to me with a dance, my Lady.”
“Oh.” It was my turn to blink now. There was a lot of that going around, apparently. “I…”
I swallowed hard. I had, of course, practiced dancing with Sienna before coming here, and despite the fact that I had yet to actually dance in front of people, I was looking forward to the act itself.
Dancing had always been my favorite as a child, and I’d kept the gracefulness gained from my countless lessons and hours of practice.
But to dance with this man?
It would taint everything I loved about the freedom dance offered. My eye caught on Lord Carnelian, who was hovering around the edge of the room, watching me with calculating eyes.
I hardened myself. Ula’s life was on the line, after all. There was more to this than just my own vengeance. I would need to get close to him to enact that anyway, so I needed to get used to his presence sometime.
There. Perfectly acceptable reasoning.
“Of course, Your Majesty.” I nodded, taking his hand. “I would hate to have you absent your own competition to recover from such a blow.”
He chuckled deeply, leading me to the dance floor with a large hand on my lower back that warmed my skin even through layers of fabric.
He leaned his head down to whisper in my ear, and the chills that spread over me from the disgust of having the mastermind of my family’s murder so close could at least pass as being affected by him in a more sensual manner.
Which I wasn’t.
“I can’t say many ladies have dared to speak to me in such a way. At least not ones who actually want to win. Only ones like Faiza who couldn’t care less,” he said, his question quite implicit.
“Hmm. Is that so?” I asked, not giving an answer to an effect to see where I could lead the conversation.
Give little, take a lot. Sienna’s instruction rang in my ear.
“Yes,” he countered, sweeping me into his arms as we began to dance.
Our hands clasped together, with one of his resting on my waist, while my other lay on his shoulder.
I relished the movements, enjoying the feel of my slippers brushing the dance floor, but I couldn’t lose myself in the dance, not when I had other things to focus on.
But it unfortunately seemed like he wasn’t going to say more.
Otherworld damn him. I had to get him talking.
“Well, fret not, Your Majesty.” I smiled winningly. “I’m certainly not here for no purpose.”
His eyes met mine as we twirled around the other couples dancing.
Teal clashing against pink as we stared at one another, neither looking away.
His lips tilted up, and he huffed softly, even as we moved in sync across the floor.
It was too easy to dance with him. Some partners just clicked better than others, and I was furious at how naturally we moved together.
“Well then, what is this purpose?” he asked, and I barely caught it, in my peripheral, but as he glanced over at Lord Carnelian, a suspicious glint appeared in his gaze.
Uh oh.
I forced myself to giggle merrily as I turned in his arms, directing his attention back to me.
“I would think that quite obvious.” I made a show of looking him up and down when he spun me out, and hated that I couldn’t ignore how fucking gorgeous he was, even with the blood staining his hands.
“Most ladies here would look more to the crown on my head than at me directly,” he stated bleakly, though he grinned wolfishly a moment later. “Though none have ever complained either.”
“I don’t doubt it.” The words slipped from my lips before I realized it. But his eyes lit up in response, looking like lapis lazuli in this light, and he pulled me flush against him.
“A charmer, aren’t you?” he whispered, before releasing my waist to tug lightly on a strand of pink hair. “And a sight for sore eyes, at that. Like Erodite, come again. We haven’t seen anyone with this shade in far too long.”
I forced my muscles to stay loose and relaxed, to not go stiff all at once like they desperately wanted. I chuckled, proud that I had managed to get the sound out of my mouth, and shook my head at him.
“Ah, if I knew I’d be compared to a goddess, I’d have forced my father to let me tag along with Lord Carnelian sooner.” I gave him a sultry smile, “If I’m Erodite, does that make you Veritx come again? You have the inflated ego to believe yourself godlike, I think.”
I winked, even as his crown of diamonds winked back at me in the light, as if taunting me.
His sudden laughter was shocking and bright. Not dissimilar to his first laugh when I caught him off guard. A true, full laugh.
“Perhaps it’s vain to claim such godliness; we wouldn’t want to upset them after all.” He smirked. “Perhaps you are like a mini Erodite. A Mini-Dite.” He chuckled, looking quite pleased with himself, while I rolled my eyes at his ridiculousness.
“Then you certainly can’t claim Veritx. Perhaps you should be Veri, as in very self-important.” I countered, and he stilled for a moment, blinking owlishly before that same laugh rang out again, and I couldn’t help joining him.
“I can’t say I’ve laughed so much at one of these things before,” he said when he calmed, a warm look in his eyes.
But as Lord Carnelian circled, he seemed to remember himself…
as did I. We both straightened a bit, and as the song came to a close, we slowed to a stop.
He took my hand, lifting it to his mouth and pressing his lips to my skin in a soft kiss.
My heart beat in my chest became very noticeable, the sound ringing in my ears. I only hoped my family forgave me for the sins I’d have to commit to win this.
“I shall look forward to seeing your talent at the first competition, Mini-Dite,” he murmured, his lips a searing heat on my skin.
“As I look forward to astonishing you with it, Veri.” I returned with a curtsy, my brow rising.
He chuckled, leaning close to whisper in my ear, “You could just call me Az.”
“As you could call me Jac.” His own brow rose at that, and he nodded deeply before a woman with long opalescent hair and eyes appeared beside him.
“You need to make the rounds. Dance with Zumra before she explodes, please. Her pointed hints are getting on my last nerve.” She directed him in a whisper, surely expecting me not to be paying such close attention. She gave me a smile when she noticed me watching them.
“Lady Arianell,” She introduced herself, “I’m in charge of event organization here in Diamond. It’s lovely to meet you, Lady Jacinth.”
“And you, Lady Arianell.” I nodded and noticed Emrys making his way over.
“Ah, sister!” he called, and she rolled her eyes at me before muttering “Brothers” under her breath and walking to meet him.
I was glad for the moment alone, however, and quickly found a waiter who carried a red drink with rose-gold flames on top, tasting of cherry and lime. The alchemy of drink mixtures in Gemaria was just as convoluted as its magic.
I somehow managed to find a quiet spot along one of the walls, set back from the arches that made up the dome above us.
The alcoves sat just past each arch, creating a more intimate sitting area, and most were already occupied.
This one had a sapphire-blue sofa with diamonds running along the edges, and I swiftly relaxed into it, arranging my skirts as I did so.
I closed my eyes, breathing deeply before taking another sip.
I wanted to beat myself up for getting lost in the game for a moment, because that’s exactly what it all was—a game. To survive this court, this competition, and Lord Carnelian, I needed to don that veil of truth and believe the lies I spewed.
I just didn’t expect it to be so easy.
The high king, or Az, as he said, was not what I had been expecting. I’d expected a cold and pompous king who was excited to have women fighting over him. A man not unlike Lord Carnelian, really. But instead I found a charming and seductive man who was almost too easy to spend time with.
I needed to get my head back in the game. A few minutes of conversation wouldn’t erase the past, and I was determined to make him pay for what he did.