Chapter 11 #3
I look over at him, surprised that he’s turned his attention away from his father. “Thank you for the warning.”
“My father likes you,” he says.
My brow furrows. “He doesn’t know me. He hasn’t even spoken to me.”
“He heard what you did in the dungeons. How you didn’t beg or plead for the duke’s life.”
My head spins. That was a duke? That man I sentenced to death to protect my own identity was a duke?
I take a drink from my wine goblet to buy myself a moment to steady myself. It is good for me that he is dead. It protected me and has earned the emperor’s favor. I should be celebrating.
I set the goblet down. “This is my home now. You will inherit the throne, and I will be by your side.”
“That’s what I told him,” he says. “I told him you were a timid and submissive woman.”
“You lied.”
“I know.”
“But that’s what you want. A woman who follows you blindly.” I hate that I’m trying to fit the role and play the part. I’ve found out the emperor is alive, but I don’t know if he’s mortal. He looks like his immortality might be failing, but I have to be sure.
Caiden smirks, then sets his hand on my leg. “I think it’s going to be fun breaking you.” His hand moves so he’s between my legs, his touch caressing my inner thigh.
I grab his hand and move it to his leg, then drag my fingertips along the top of his thigh to his knee.
“I think you’d be disappointed if I gave in.
” I pat his hand, then pick up my glass and take a long gulp, attempting to mask my sudden mortification.
What the fuck was I doing? I didn’t want to encourage him.
He opens his mouth to respond, but his father leans over to speak to him. I let out a relieved breath. That could have ended very badly for me.
Dessert is delivered to each guest, and I can’t even taste the cake I make myself have two bites of. It’s beautiful but is like ash in my mouth.
As soon as the emperor stands, all the plates are whisked away, and the guests vacate their seats. Everyone moves toward the open area behind all the tables.
Caiden rises and offers his hand. I don’t have to look toward the guests to know that all eyes are on me.
He leads us to the back of the room, where everyone gathers around us, watching with rapt attention.
They will notice if even a single step is out of place.
When Caiden places his hand on my waist and we prepare to start our dance, I glance up at the head table.
The emperor and the priest are gone. They aren’t in the crowd, and they made no announcement of their departure.
I guess my audience with him is complete.
When the music begins, Caiden sweeps me into the dance we practiced together. I follow him but do misstep several times. Caiden doesn’t flinch at any of my mistakes and smiles at me as if he is truly enjoying my company. The man is a fabulous actor.
I catch glimpses of my ladies in the crowd, each of them smiling. People’s expressions vary from annoyed to contemplative to wistful. I wish I could make notes of each person, as I’m certain their reaction to this would tell me everything I need to know about how they view my presence here.
When the music finally ends, I dip into a curtsy and Caiden bows. The audience claps but it’s short-lived, as they all pour into the dance floor with the next song. I use the transition to quickly flee so I can avoid having to dance again.
In the movement, I lose Caiden, but I notice Brevan standing against the wall, watching me. I wonder if he’d take me back to my rooms if I asked.
Antonia and Charlotte find me before I can walk over to him. They squeal in high-pitched tones.
“He looks smitten,” Antonia squeals.
“I can’t believe how he held you.” Charlotte crosses her arms over her chest as if hugging herself. “That hand on your back? That’s not proper. I’ve never seen him break protocol, but he just had to touch you.”
“How lucky that your marriage will be to someone who will treat you well!” Antonia sighs.
“Yes, I’m very lucky,” I reply.
“And the emperor himself toasted you,” she adds. “I heard he hasn’t come to any events since the empress died.”
“He looks so frail, doesn’t he?” Charlotte whispers.
“I know,” Antonia says. “I’m worried about him.”
“Did he look like that last time you saw him?” I ask.
“No,” she says. “I heard stories about how he ages between visits to the temple before, but I didn’t realize how bad it gets.”
“What do you mean ‘between visits to the temple’?” I ask.
“He goes to speak to the gods, and when he returns, he’s himself again,” Antonia says.
“By ‘himself’ you mean…?” My heart thunders as I wait to hear what she has to say. This has to be it. This has to be the information I need.
“Well, not old, for starters,” Charlotte says. “But maybe he’s ready to hand over the empire.”
“Charlotte,” Antonia hisses. She looks around, then turns her attention back to the other woman. “You can’t say things like that. Especially now, with the enforcer so close.”
“I’m not interrupting anyone, am I?” A male voice cuts in.
I turn and find Caiden smiling at us.
“If it’s not too much trouble, I’d like another dance with my bride-to-be.”
“I’m not sure I’m up to that tonight. It’s been a lot,” I say.
He holds out his hand. “Nonsense.”
I accept it, and he leads me to the dance floor again. “I thought you said I only had to do this once?”
“There’s been a change of plans.” He glances over to where Brevan was, but the enforcer is gone.
In fact, most of the night legionnaires who were stationed around the room are gone.
“What’s happening?” I ask.
“Just a few rebels trying to ruin our evening.” He leads me out onto the dance floor.
“Again?” I rest my hands on his shoulder and hip, then begin to follow his movements.
His brow furrows. “How did you know?”
“You made another man sleep in my room,” I answer.
“Oh, that’s right. I did.”
“Should we be concerned?” I notice the double doors are now closed.
“No. They can’t access this room.” His hand moves lower on my back, his fingers brushing against my ass. Whispers follow in our wake.
“So we’re locked in and need to distract your court while the night legionnaires take care of the rebels? Is that why you’re causing such a scene with your touch?”
He laughs. “You have no business being as smart as you are.”
“I don’t think it’s difficult to figure out what’s happening.”
“You’d be surprised.” He twirls me, and I stumble, but regain my footing enough to complete the spin.
“We did not practice that,” I hiss.
“Yet, you did well.”
“Shouldn’t you be out there helping your men?” If only the rebels could get to him and take him out so I could be done here.
“Every time they break in, there’s only a handful of them.
Three or four that manage to bypass our defenses.
If they do make it past the guards, they always try to get into the library or the vault.
It’s gotten to the point where we just increase security in those places, and once they reach them, we kill them. ”
“This happens often?” I knew the rebels occasionally try to get into the castle, but I thought it was for assassination attempts. Then again, I’m not privy to much. Especially since my mother died and Lee took over.
“More often than it used to. But it works out in our favor. There’s only so many of them. Eventually, they’ll run out of people to send.”
“You’re using it to kill them off?” I ask.
“See? You are smart.” He spins me again, and this time, I’m prepared and keep my balance. “And a fast learner.”
The song finishes and he bows to me. I respond with a curtsy, then turn to walk off the floor. He grabs me and pulls me to him, taking us into the next dance.
“This is dance number three,” I point out.
“Did I tell you how beautiful you look tonight?” he asks.
“Careful, all these compliments might go to my head,” I tease.
“I can tell my betrothed she’s beautiful, can’t I?”
“You almost killed me, and you threatened me and told me that I needed to fall in line,” I remind him.
He toys with the bow at my tailbone, then his hand moves lower than it did before. “And even after I did all that, you still fight me. You’re fascinating.”
“Fascinating?” I don’t hide my skepticism.
“And stunning. Even the hair is growing on me,” he says. “Who knew I’d actually want to get to know the woman I’m to marry?”