Chapter 15 Zara
Chapter fifteen
Zara
“Wow. You look—wow.” Leer stands and pulls out a chair for me as I take a seat next to him. The grin on his face makes my heart leap and I almost forget about my awkward encounter with Alfrie.
Almost.
“Thank you,” I say as a servant lays a napkin over my lap.
Neither of the kings nor Elara have arrived yet and I’m grateful for the brief moment alone with my betrothed.
Leer studies me over the rim of the wine glass he holds to his mouth, and I blush thinking about the way his lips would taste if I leaned over right now and pulled him to me.
“Did Alfrie apologize to you before escorting you this evening?” He plucks a grape from the fruit bowl in the center of the table and pops it into his mouth.
“You asked him to do that?”
He nods as he chews on a couple more grapes.
I frown. Typical. I can’t believe I actually thought the condescending prick was being sincere.
Of course, Alfrie was asked to apologize to me.
He doesn’t strike me as the type to admit when he’s in the wrong.
I’m frustrated for feeling guilty about my insensitive comment about having Leer assign him somewhere else.
I didn’t mean it, but it has crossed my mind that having to be around Alfrie all the time at Lanray, tolerating his negativity…
trying to avoid staring into the abyss of those emerald eyes…
trying to ignore the intrusive thoughts of wanting to know the Alfrie who hides behind the armor of bitterness…
It could prove to be difficult. The thought alone sends an uninvited spark through me.
Then again, he appeared truly hurt by the comment. Which makes no sense as he seems to absolutely loathe me. Well, perhaps not me but my title. He probably wasn’t even upset and just wanted to see me squirm.
But those green eyes of his, striking yet woeful and sad. And the slight downward turn of his full lips—come to think of it, I haven’t seen a genuine smile from Alfrie. Perhaps it’s because I haven’t had too many conversations with him. Or perhaps he simply doesn’t know how.
“Zara? Is everything all right?” Leer tilts his head to the side and he sets down his glass. “You seem distracted.”
I blink, forcing the image of Alfrie’s beautiful face from my brain, and I give Leer a half-smile. “Yes, I’m sorry. I guess I’m just tired.”
“Hmm.” There’s a playful look about him and he swirls the red liquid around the inside of the glass. “Care for a glass?” He snaps his fingers at the servant waiting to be summoned in the corner and they rush over to fill the empty glass in front of me.
Leer’s teasing expression has me forgetting all about Alfrie and I’m locked in on my prince’s baby blues. “Hmm, what?” I take a sip and flash him a sultry look, licking a drop from my lips before setting down my drink.
“I was just wondering if—more so hoping, that your distraction might have something to do with, well, me.” His hand settles on my knee under the table and a spark ignites inside of me.
He leans close and our shoulders touch. “I can’t stop thinking about the first night we met.
You know, when you thought I was someone else?
” His hand travels a little higher on my thigh, the heavy fabric of my gown bunching around his grip.
“I told you how sorry—"
He inches closer still and his breath is hot against my ear, causing my own to hitch.
“I don’t care about that.” He whispers, “I just meant I sometimes wish we could be other people. Without the titles or this ‘appropriate behavior’ that we’re supposed to be exhibiting.
” His soft lips graze along the pointed tips of my ear and I shiver, tilting into him.
“Can we go somewhere tonight?” He traces tiny circles on the sensitive skin of my inner thigh.
I turn my chin to face him and our mouths hover just over one another’s. “I’m sure I can find something fun for us to do.” A sort of whimper escapes my lips as his thumb grazes the warmth between my legs. He pulls his hand back and places it innocently in his lap, but his gaze never leaves mine.
I gulp against the fire erupting in my core. I snap out of the spell he has on me when he stands abruptly to greet our parents as they walk into the dining room. I leap up quickly and trip over my own feet, toppling backwards in my chair. Leer is next to me in an instant, helping me off the floor.
“Are you okay?”
“She’s as graceful as a pig, that one.”
I roll my eyes at Elara’s snide comment and allow Leer to assist me back into my seat. “Thanks.” He takes his seat again and wraps his hand around mine under the table. I squeeze it and wait for the meal to be served.
After dinner, I set off to find Emlyn to see if she’s gotten word of where the exclusive festivities will be taking place tonight. But just before I make it to her rooms, I bump into Alix. His eyes widen a bit when he sees me, and he stops and bows as I approach.
“Don’t be dumb, Alix.”
“We may have been raised together, but you’re still the princess.” He stands and adjusts the sword at his side. His black hair is messy, and there’s a glow about him that is just so un-Alix like. “Where are you off to?”
“To see Emlyn.” I narrow my eyes at him with a sly smile. “Where are you off to? Or should I ask, where have you been?”
He shifts his weight. “I was off to find you and make sure you don’t do anything foolish tonight. And, where I was? Well, that’s none of your concern.” His face reddens, and he pretends to adjust his sword again, even though he just did.
I assess him for a moment and purse my lips. “Right. Well, I hope you aren’t about to break another female’s heart,” I tease, and I pat him on the shoulder and start to pass by him.
“Wait.”
I stop and spin on my heel toward him.
He steps toward me, holding up a finger. “Do not. I repeat. Do not go anywhere unless you take me with you. Deal?”
My face scrunches up as I consider this.
“Zara? Please.” His arms tense and they fall to his sides. He glances around the hall and comes close, lowering his voice. “There’s been whispers of strange smells and erratic animal behavior in the Woodlands. Something isn’t right—please. Please, don’t sneak out alone tonight.”
My ears perk when he mentions the animals and my blood chills recalling the enormous beast I ran into in the forest. I take a sharp inhale and clench my fists.
It was nothing. Just my imagination. I nod, “Fine. I’ll tell you.
But honestly, I’m planning on staying here tonight.
” I look him directly in the eye as I lie to his face.
I should feel bad about lying. Perhaps, a small part of me does, but a bigger part of me doesn’t want a babysitter tonight. Besides, Leer will protect me.
Alix watches me for a minute, probably wondering if he can trust me this time. “Okay. If you change your mind, I’ll be in the barracks tonight.” He bows again and I laugh as he walks away and around the corner.
That was too easy. I practically skip along the hall then burst into Emlyn’s rooms without a knock. She jumps up from her bed, gripping the comforter around her naked body.
“What was going on in here?” I scan her chambers looking for a naked courtier hiding in a corner somewhere.
“Nothing! I was just getting out of the bath.” Her amber eyes skit around the room and she clutches her blanket even tighter.
I note her perfectly dry hair and the fact that she’s covering herself with the comforter instead of a bathing wrap.
I wink at her. “Okay, sure, I’ll buy that.
” I giggle and spin to face the door so she can dress, hearing her bare feet pad toward the closet.
“So, what did you find out about tonight? Is anything going on in town?”
Her voice is muffled as she calls out from the wardrobe. “There’s always something going on in town. The question is, do you want to be noticed or are you trying to be discreet?” Rustling of garments and a couple of bangs come from the room as she throws on some clothes.
“I want to find a place where no one recognizes me. I want to be completely alone with Leer. For a while.”
Emlyn steps out of her boudoir. She’s wearing a dark red tunic over black trousers with thigh-high boots laced tightly up her calves. Her dark hair is pulled high into a bun at the crown of her head. “Then I know where you should go.”
I send Emlyn to fetch Leer from his rooms at the other end of the palace and wait outside of the gates, beyond the draw bridge. My hooded cloak covers my hair and most of my face, and I tightly grasp a single torch in my hand.
It’s eerily silent as I wait in the dark for my prince to come.
I jolt at the sound of footsteps stomping over the wooden planks of the bridge and push my hood back to see who's coming.
A tall male wearing a matching black cloak stalks toward me, carrying a lantern and flanked by another male and petite female.
Leer and Emlyn beam at me as they approach and I smile back, relieved at the sight of my friends. And Alfrie.
“I thought you were coming alone.” I whisper to Leer, looping my arm around his. He pulls out a pocket watch and I steal a glance at Alfrie.
His gaze rakes slowly over my body then briefly meets my eyes. His jaw tics, and he clears his throat, turning his attention to his boots. I chew on my lower lip, a tiny sigh escaping me. I take a deep breath to slow my pulse.
Leer stuffs the watch back into his waistcoat, completely oblivious to the wave of heat radiating off my skin. “We might need cover. Besides, they can keep each other company if we ‘accidentally’ wander off.” He places a hand over mine and leads our party toward town.
I glance behind us at our friends. Emlyn says something to Alfrie and laughs, talking excitedly with her hands. Alfrie looks less than pleased to be there, but he nods along with a half-smirk anyway. His gaze lands on me, and I quickly turn my head.