Chapter 13 How Inconvenient
How Inconvenient
Pharis
It felt more like years than days until I saw Raewyn again.
Just as before, I summoned her to the library and asked her to conceal herself on the second floor as I took a meeting with Lady Glenna.
I’d only met the woman once, at the Opening Night Ball during the last Assemblage. As it had also been the night I’d met Raewyn, I barely remembered my encounter with her.
After being announced by Glave, she swept into the library like a queen, her head held high, a proud expression on her refined features.
“Lady Glenna,” I said and added a little dip of the chin.
Her expression changed, warming and turning flirtatious.
“Prince Pharis,” she said, dragging out the “s” sound a bit at the end. “My esteem shines upon you.”
“And mine upon you, my lady.”
Dipping into a deep curtsy, she bent forward until the low neckline of her dress revealed the tops of her breasts and the hollow between them.
She straightened with a flash of her eyes that said, I know you looked.
“Or should I say, Pharis, King of the Dark Court?” she asked in a teasing tone.
“There is no such court, and I am not a king,” I reprimanded her. “You know it’s treason to even speak such words.”
“Well I am known to be daring,” she said with laughter in her eyes.
“Besides, I doubt you’ll report me to the King, considering the circumstances.”
Aware of Raewyn listening in, I said, “You’re right. I have no wish for either of us to lose our heads.”
Let’s take this conversation internal in case of listening ears.
Lady Glenna looked around as if to indicate the utter emptiness of the library.
The great and powerful Pharis has spies among his staff? she teased. I’m shocked they’d dare to displease you. I know I wouldn’t.
Everything this woman said dripped with innuendo. In my younger days, I might have responded to it. Now it only irritated me.
There’s a reason I asked you to come today, Lady Glenna.
One of her brows lifted, and her lips pulled together in a pretty pout.
Anything you wish, My Prince. It would be my honor to serve you in any way.
She was relentless. Was she angling for the non-existent title of Queen of the Dark Court or was she just trying to be persuasive and soften me up for her father?
I got my answer as her eyes roamed over my body, an appreciative smile curving her lips. She licked her lower one in a slow seductive way.
Doesn’t it get lonely here in exile? she asked. My company would be far more gratifying than that of your retinue.
Though Lady Glenna was beautiful, and my love life these days was restricted to ink on a page, I felt nothing.
No stirring in any pertinent body parts. No increase in pulse at all.
Shaded stars.
I had no desire for anyone but Raewyn. How inconvenient.
It would be so much easier if I could make myself interested in a woman who wasn’t in love with my brother.
Even if she wasn’t, I’d never let myself have Raewyn.
But I also wouldn’t take Lady Glenna up on her obvious offer just to scratch an itch.
Let’s get down to business, shall we? I said. I don’t have all day.
Her face fell in blatant disappointment. I see your reputation for being a profligate lover of women was somewhat overstated.
I simply raised a brow and waited.
Very well, she snipped. My father would like you to know that he offers his full support and loyalty, should you decide to move against King Stellon for control of Avrandar.
She drew her fingertips over her chest.
He also offers his daughter as a gift of good faith and kinsmanship… unless… you’re already bonded?
She was so confident in her appeal that she’d concluded I must have already taken a bond-mate, and that was why I hadn't jumped at the chance to bed her.
I didn’t cooperate with her fishing expedition, opting instead to gather some further information.
Your father plans to mutiny against my brother?
Only if it’s in support of the far superior Randalin brother, she said. I never really wanted Stellon, you know.
Not that it made any difference to me, but I had a distinct memory of the woman sprinting across the ballroom after my brother. She was a crown-chaser for sure.
I rose from my chair.
Please give your father my regards and thank him for his generous offers.
I have no current plans to overthrow the King or make myself one.
But I’ll be in touch if that sort of action becomes necessary.
Until then, you’ll refrain from mentioning that I’m alive and you’ve seen me to anyone but your father.
Wearing a moue of displeasure, the lady rose from her chair and went to the library door. Before leaving she turned back to give the customary Court parting words.
“May the Grand Star brighten your way, Prince Pharis. And if you ever change your mind and want—”
I interrupted. “And may it ever warm you. Goodbye Lady Glenna. Safe travels back to Windros.”
I let out a long breath as Bretton closed the door behind her.
Raewyn came down the stairs, approaching me with curiosity painted across her face.
“What was she saying as she left? About you changing your mind?”
Her tone was odd. Sharp and tight, it sounded almost… jealous.
A pleasurable warm sensation filled my stomach and spread up into my chest and downward to my thighs. I looked down into Raewyn’s big brown eyes, enjoying the annoyed little line between her drawn eyebrows a bit too much.
“Her father made me an offer, and Glenna delivered it,” I said.
“What kind of offer?”
“Just Court business,” I said. “Nothing that interesting.”
“And did you find out why he didn’t come and make the offer himself?” Raewyn asked.
She definitely sounded jealous. I was shamed at how much that pleased me.
Stop it. Don’t be pleased. You have no business wanting her to be jealous.
“He was incapacitated in some form or another and unable to travel,” I said. “I didn’t ask for details.”
Unable to help myself, I added a provocative barb. “Though she made quite an agreeable messenger.”
Raewyn’s expression darkened immediately. She looked toward the doors where Lady Glenna had departed.
“I suppose so. If you like fine Court manners and a haughty demeanor.”
Suppressing a laugh, I walked to the sideboard at one side of the library and poured glasses of saol water for Raewyn and myself.
“Who doesn’t like nice manners?” I asked, strolling back to her.
Handing her the glass, I goaded her a bit more.
“Did you not find Lady Glenna to be beautiful?”
Raewyn shrugged. “All Elven women are beautiful. Do you think her looks are exceptional?”
Despite her casual tone, her eyes locked onto mine, awaiting my response.
“Not exceptional, no,” I said and took a sip before adding. “But you’re right… Elven women are beautiful.”
Even the half-Elven ones aren’t bad.
Raewyn’s eyelids flared at my non-verbal message. Her answering mental tone was petulant.
I would have thought you’d used up all your flirting on your ‘special guest,’ she said. And she practically undressed herself and crawled into your lap.
I grinned into my glass. “You sound jealous, Wildcat.”
“Don’t be ridiculous.”
Raewyn turned away and speed-walked toward the library door, forcing me to look at her back as she spoke.
“If there’s nothing else you need, I’ll be going. May the Grand Star brighten your way and all that.”
“Raewyn.”
She spun back around. “What?”
“You forgot to tell me what Lady Glenna’s biggest fear is.”
“Oh. She’s afraid she’s getting too old to make a good match and that she’s losing her appeal to men. “
Her chin jutted upward. “Maybe you should send a Swift bird and let her know how wrong she was.”
Then she whirled and left the library.
Shaded stars, she was cute when she was angry.
Even cuter when she was jealous.
It took all my strength not to chase her down, pull her into my arms, and kiss away any erroneous notions she had of me being interested in someone else, no matter how beautiful she might be.
But I couldn’t do that. Raewyn could never know how hard it was to resist her.
She could never know that she’d ruined me for any other woman.
The fact was, Elanor was right. I couldn’t hide Raewyn away here forever. Eventually I’d run out of excuses, and I’d have to let her go.
If I didn’t, she would grow to hate me.
And though I couldn’t let her love me, I didn’t think I could live with her hatred.
It would be even worse than the current torment of having her so close but never truly having her.
No, when the time came, I would do the right thing and let Raewyn leave.
In the meantime, I didn’t have the strength to keep avoiding her.
It was weak of me, but I would allow myself to bask in her presence for as long as it lasted, dancing as close as I could get to the beckoning flame without getting burned.