Chapter 22
The music started, sharp and sweet, the notes of the violin carrying throughout the ballroom. Caden’s lessons came in handy as they danced, Azam leading, Sonya letting him take charge.
His hands were firm and steady, and she felt as though she were floating. Everything else in the room stripped away until Azam was all that she saw, all that she felt.
When the music finished, he bowed to her. Her heart pounded. She felt flushed, hot all over, and jittery.
‘Shall we get some air?’ he asked.
‘Yes,’ she said. He took her hand, leading her outside, where the sky was darkening with early evening, in shades of pink and blue and purple. The noise from the wedding faded as they made their way to the garden.
Sonya took a deep breath of fresh air, feeling much more relaxed. The garden was uninhabited, and they walked until they reached a small alcove, private and secluded. The alcove was of a mellow brick and covered in ivy.
It was darker inside the alcove, away from the fading light, but she could see the pink sky from its open windows. There were red roses growing along the vines. Sonya smiled, going to her tiptoes to press her nose to one.
When she came down, she turned to see Azam holding a single red rose in his hands. He held it out to her, and she recalled when Caden gave Kiri a red rose—the meaning behind it.
Her mouth jutted open in surprise.
Azam took a step towards her. ‘You must know,’ he said, voice low. ‘Surely, you must know.’
His eyes burned into hers. She took a step toward him, bridging the remaining space between them. She took the rose, and his fingers brushed against her palm. ‘Azam,’ she whispered, blood roaring in her ears.
He lifted her hand, and she watched as he brought her wrist to his lips, pressing a kiss there. Her eyelids fluttered, her hand loosening. The rose dropped onto the bench, but neither of them noticed, their gazes locked.
He came closer, mouth hovering dangerously close to hers. ‘May I?’ he asked. ‘Do you want me to?’
‘Yes,’ she replied, breathless. ‘Yes.’ She went on her tiptoes and met him as he leaned down, their lips finally colliding.
He cupped her face with both hands and kissed her deeply, drawing a desperate sound from deep in her throat as she kissed him back. Her body melted against his. She felt weak at the knees.
He pulled back, gazing into her eyes. He leaned his forehead against hers. ‘I’ve been wanting to do that for ages,’ he said, breathlessly. ‘But I didn’t know if you wanted to. I would never wish to make you feel uncomfortable.’
‘I’ve wanted this for a long time, too,’ she said, moving one hand up over his chest. He placed his hand above hers and she savored the feeling of his heart pounding against her palm. ‘Before I even knew what it meant.’
She moved a hand up into his hair, and he pulled her in for a slow and sensual kiss. His tongue entered her mouth, and she twisted her fingers in his hair. He moved his hands down to her waist, drawing her even closer. Heat poured through her, liquifying her limbs.
He moved them toward the bench, and he sat down, pulling her onto his lap. He held her waist, and she held onto his shoulders, aching to get closer. She couldn’t think of anything but the desire burning through her.
Her hands roamed down his neck, over his bare skin, and she wanted more. She wanted to touch him everywhere. And she wanted him to touch her in return.
He kissed her jaw, then her neck, and she tipped her head back, seeing stars. He moved lower, pressing a kiss to her collarbone, teeth scraping across her skin.
It was too much. It wasn’t enough.
She pulled away, catching her breath. His pupils were wide as he cupped her face, thumb rubbing across her cheek.
She wanted to see him bare, to be laid bare before him in return; to be entwined with him closer than she had ever been with anyone else; to sleep beside him without any silly excuse; to be his completely and entirely and to make him hers.
But before that, she had to tell him the truth. She couldn’t keep her identity a secret from him any longer.
‘Let’s go back to the inn,’ she whispered, wanting privacy away from the bustle of the wedding.
Azam swallowed, then nodded. She got off his lap, standing, and he stood as well. Already she missed the heat of his body, and he reached out to hold her hand, drawing her into his side. Her entire body buzzed with anticipation and desire.
They walked toward the house, from where they would take the carriage back to the inn. But as they exited the garden, Azam stopped walking.
‘Wait,’ he said, and she turned to look at him. He looked nervous.
‘What is it?’ she asked, worried.
‘Sonya, I … There’s—there’s something I need to tell you.’ He looked stressed, and she took a step toward him.
‘What is it?’ she asked, hoping everything was okay.
Azam worked his jaw, as if searching for the right words. He opened his mouth. ‘I—’
But before he could continue, they heard the stomping of boots. Sonya turned, then gasped, immediately stepping back.
They were surrounded by a dozen castle guards.
Her heart lurched. This couldn’t be happening. Her thoughts raced. How had they found her? Somebody at the wedding must have recognized her.
No, this couldn’t be happening.
‘Your Royal Highness, we’ve been looking for you everywhere,’ the guard in front said, stepping toward her. ‘Please, come with us. The king has been most worried.’
He reached for her, but she turned to Azam. She hadn’t wanted him to find out like this.
‘Azam, I—’ she started. She had expected him to be shocked by the news, perhaps even confused, or angry with her, but he wasn’t even looking her way.
Instead, he was looking at the guard, his face stricken.
The guard was looking at Azam, too, almost as if they knew each other. Sonya didn’t understand. She looked between them, trying to make sense of what it was she was seeing.
Then the most curious thing happened.
The guard nodded his head at Azam. ‘Thank you for leading us to her,’ he said.
Sonya’s heart stopped. She turned to Azam, not believing what she had heard until she saw the emotion clear on his face: guilt.
He had betrayed her.
‘Sonya—’ he started, but she stepped away from him, tears blurring her vision.
‘This whole time?’ she asked, her voice breaking.
He opened his mouth and snapped it shut.
Sonya turned away from him and went with the guards willingly.