“You are trying to unnerve me. Force me to lose my composure in front of all these people to prove I would make a terrible queen.”
Where had she come up with that load of nonsense? As much as it pained me to admit it, Roisin was just what Vellana needed to bring us closer to our allies in Iodale and align ourselves with the powerful fae across our territories. My only concern was that she had to marry the devil himself to take the throne.
She huffed a breath, fluttering the curls framing her heart-shaped face. “I know you and I—” Her words stopped abruptly when two courtiers passed us with raised brows. “I know you and I have history,” she continued in a harsh whisper once we were alone again. As alone as two people could be in a crowd, anyway. “But I think it would be best if we put our past behind us and move forward without all of this animosity.”
“What history would that be?” The time she’d claimed I’d tripped her and Alrec had given me a black eye? Or the day she threw her drink in my face? Maybe she was referring to the time I’d accidentally bumped into Lowri, and Alrec had burned my mother’s first-edition Hawthorne to teach me one of his “lessons.”
“The day you kissed me.”
The dancing, the chatter, the clinking of glasses all fell silent beneath the roaring in my ears. As if he’d heard her, Alrec turned from where he was speaking with Kerrington, his eyes darting between me and his bride-to-be. “You must be mistaking me for someone else,” I said. “I have never—and would never—dream of kissing someone like you.”
“Someone like me?” she hissed, her skin brightening with the heat of anger. “You humanpig. When I am queen, I will have you locked in the dungeons and left to rot.”
By the time she took the throne, I would be long gone.
“Ah, Caiman.” A heavy hand slammed over my shoulder. Alrec’s narrowed eyes found mine. “I thought I told you to leave my things alone.”
His things. That’s what he called his fiancée. And Roisin stood there, glaring as if I were the villain. Broderick stalked toward us, eyes fastened on me and a hand on the pommel of his sword. Like I’d try anything in a crowd full of people.
I smiled, hoping my father could see it from his throne. “Yourthingapproached me.”
Alrec gave Roisin a pointed scowl.“Is that true, my love?”
“For all I know, he saw me heading this way and ambushed me. You know he’s been obsessed with me for years.”
Why did everyone keep saying that? I wasnotobsessed with her.“I’m the one obsessed with you, am I? You’re the one claiming we ki—”
Roisin’s hand shot out, catching my wrist. “I should probably dance with him to put him out of his misery.” She tugged me toward the dance floor.
The quadrille that had been playing ended on a high, and the spinning couples glistening with sweat began to clap. “What’s wrong, Roisin? Does your ‘beloved’ not know you’ve been fantasizing about kissing me?”
The quartet began a waltz—my least favorite dance of the lot.
Her grip on my wrist cut off the bloodflow to my fingers. “You are a pig.”
We stopped in the center of the floor beneath the mammoth chandelier. Damn it all if she didn’t smell divine, like candied roses. “You said that already.”
“Let’s just get this over with so I can go back to Alrec.” She settled one hand on my shoulder and offered me the other.
The heat of her fingers burned straight through the layers to my skin beneath. Lowri and Kerrington watched us from beside Alrec. My brother’s massive arms folded over his chest, his eyes narrowing into slits. This wasn’t worth whatever punishment he thought I’d deserve for touching histhings.
I drew away, ignoring the shocked glares and gasps from the lords and ladies waltzing around us. “I’d rather be hung, drawn, and quartered.”
Roisin’s mouth dropped open. I could feel her blazing eyes boring into my back as I turned and started for the dais where my father sat, smiling out at his subjects as they celebrated the heir’s upcoming nuptials. I climbed the three steps to take my place on his left.
“There now, my boy.” My father’s voice crackled when his weathered hand patted my forearm. “Wasn’t that pleasant?”
It was certainly something.
“Don’t you worry. Once your brother is wed, we will find you a wife.”
For some reason, my eyes found Roisin where she danced with Alrec. He’d probably swooped in like the hero she thought he was, saving her from the embarrassment I’d caused.
“And if I do not wish to marry?” Women had been paraded in front of me like prized cattle my entire life, and I hadn’t been interested in any of them except one.
My father’s hand shook as he lifted his golden goblet to his lips. “You are young. You will change your mind.”
Again, I found Roisin, giggling with Lowri as Kerrington and my brother waltzed together, much to the amusement of those around them. Her chiming laughter cut through everything, striking my ears like church bells at Yule.