Chapter 53 #2
‘Like what?’ she asks innocently.
My cheeks heat. ‘Like … you know what. If he’s as loyal and caring and unbothered about things as you say, then he’ll have no issue waiting until there’s a ring on your finger, will he?’
She scoffs. ‘My Gods, you really are the sensible older sister, aren’t you?’
‘Kay …’ Something about the way she avoids my gaze causes my pulse to hitch up another notch. ‘Tell me you haven’t. You haven’t? Honestly.’
Again, she offers me another look of exasperation.
I’ve felt like a parent plenty of times in the last few years, but I’ve never felt like the parent of an eighteen-year-old quite as much as I do now.
‘Just a little bit of fooling around, that’s all. Nothing that would get me into trouble. And you can’t tell me you’re not doing the same. I’ve seen the way Jonas looks at you. He’s smitten. So smitten, William reckons he might actually propose.’
‘What?’ I feel my jaw drop to the floor.
That has to be a joke, right? Marriage? Me, married to Jonas?
What could possibly be the advantage to Jonas and his family in his marrying me?
Perhaps they anticipate that if I win this thing, it will strengthen their name, but then why would Jonas be in it if he didn’t think he could win?
I think of the way Estel sneered when she mentioned my father marrying for love.
Artur would not wish for that same ridicule for Jonas.
Besides, a marriage for love needs to be two-sided.
With a shake of my head I push the thoughts aside. I did not put myself in this competition to find a husband. Given the survival rate, it would’ve been a pretty shit mathematical probability to take a chance on.
‘Oh, look who it is!’ She’s on her feet without a moment’s hesitation, a wide grin on her face. I turn to see Hew striding towards us with Kyor at his side. As etiquette dictates, Kay stretches her hand out to the prince first.
‘Acacia.’ Kyor smiles softly. ‘You look lovely.’
‘Thank you,’ she says, dipping ever so slightly into a formal curtsy.
‘Rose.’ His eyes lock on mine. No hint of a smile. Nothing but neutral formality. And yet it’s still enough to make my pulse rocket. Still, I miss hearing ‘Thorn’ fall from his lips, and I hate the stiffness with which he holds himself apart from me.
‘Rose!’ Kay hisses, clearly expecting me to follow her lead and curtsy.
Though I thought often about bending my knees for Kyor, it wasn’t for a damned curtsy.
‘Miss Kultavaris.’ Hew looks solely at Kay as he speaks. ‘I believe you promised me all your dances tonight.’ His voice is syrupy sweet.
‘That seems somewhat selfish,’ Kyor says. ‘She probably wants to spend time with her sister. Besides, weren’t you saying there was that woman from Dorain you were planning on having some fun with tonight?’
Hew crinkles his nose and scoffs. ‘No, I was not. And your sense of humour is vile. Thankfully, Miss Kultavaris knows better of me than that.’
‘Come on,’ Kay says, holding out her hand. ‘We can fit in one dance, and then I’ll be in need of a glass of wine and a talk with my sister.’
Hew whisks her away without another word, leaving me alone with Kyor.
Silence rushes into the space between us. Heavy. Expectant.
‘Thank you,’ I say quietly to get it over with. ‘For allowing Caroline to attend tonight.’
He shrugs. ‘It was hardly a big deal. I just wrote her an invitation.’
‘Well, it meant a lot to Llin. And to me.’ Another pause takes hold and once again, I know there’s more I have to say. Finally, I coax the words out. ‘Thank you for not saying anything to them. To my friends. About … you know …’
‘I was never going to,’ he says just as quietly. ‘I promise you. No matter what changes between us, you have my word on that.’ He pauses and glances out across the ballroom. ‘Would you like to dance with me again, Miss Kultavaris?’
My body is desperate to respond yes, but it’s his use of my surname that slaps some sense into me.
‘Kyor, you’re the prince, the king’s heir. And I am from the family that was stripped of magic because they were blamed for your mother’s death.’
‘So that’s a no? You don’t want to dance?’ For the first time tonight, that twinkle has returned to his icy eyes.
‘What I want is irrelevant.’
‘Not to me it’s not.’
The urge to be close to him is unbearable.
I tried to dismiss what is between us as nothing more than an attraction, but though I’ve been attracted to men before, it’s never felt like this.
Like every cell in my body is screaming out to be touched by him.
And from the hunger in his eyes, I’m not the only one who’s feeling it.
Maybe if we got to finish what we started, it might offer a respite from this insanity.
Maybe just one night would be enough to get it out of our systems.
The thought has barely formed when the moment is severed by Holden appearing beside us. ‘I hope you’re not neglecting your other guests in favour of the Rettlings, Prince Kyor. Or rather, one particular Rettling.’
I stiffen at his presence, feeling my hands clenching at my side.
‘Your father was asking me where you were,’ Holden continues. ‘As you well know, there’s a certain etiquette when it comes to these situations.’
‘You’ve come here and interrupted your prince in a private conversation to lecture me on etiquette?’ Kyor’s gaze is so withering I’m surprised there aren’t sparks flying from it.
To give Holden his due, he only shrinks back a fraction.
‘Kyor,’ I say, placing a hand on his chest. I’m not sure why, other than it feels like the right thing to do. I feel the disapproval flare from Holden but ignore it. ‘Go, do your part. Perhaps the commander was hoping I might give him some fighting tips after the results of this morning’s spar.’
‘I will find you again soon,’ Kyor promises. ‘We need to talk.’ The slightest ghost of a smile rises on his lips before he turns and walks away, leaving me alone with Holden.