His smooth voice fell over me, telling me how to weave a simple glamour. I followed his instructions to the letter, drawing on his magic more than my own. My skin warmed and then cinched tight, as if my entire body had been corseted. Even my arms felt stiff.Bloody hell. Talk about uncomfortable. How did he wear one of these so often?
“Good. Very good. When you open your eyes, don’t lose sight of that feeling. Remain focused.”
I could do this. For Keelynn. For myself. For this man so terrified of his mother taking me away that he kept this distance between us. When my eyes opened, I met my own face in the mirror. But my frame appeared reed-thin. Heavens above, I’d never been this slim, even as a child.
Rían moved around me, presumably inspecting my glamour. I held out my hands, no longer tanned but pale as milk. I’d done it. I’d actually done it.
He stepped closer, his legs brushing my skirts.
“You need to stay focused.”
“I amfocused.” Delicious heat licked up my spine as he moved so close, his muscular thighs pressed against the backs of mine. What would it feel like to have him touch me while I was someone else?
“Are you sure?” His eyes tangled with mine in the mirror.
“Yes.” I was more than sure. I was certain.
Rían eased forward…
His soft breath tickled against the shell of my ear. Desire bloomed in my belly; heat pooled between my thighs. Magic burned through my blood, and the glamour I wore vanished.
Inky black invaded Rían’s narrowed eyes. “I thought you said you were focused, Aveen.”
“It’s a little hard to focus with you standing so close,Rían.”
Those black eyes locked with mine through the reflection, full of dark desire. “I could fuck you sideways looking like a feckin’ leprechaun. I will not release you from our bargain until you have the same level of control.”
My entire body flushed with heat. This man and his filthy mouth would be the death of me.
“Do it again,” he commanded. “And this time, do not let it fall.”
* * *
Three days ago, all I had wanted was for Rían to help me. Now, I couldn’t wait for him to go away. We’d spent another day stuck in this room. Another day still practicing glamours. With all Rían’s instructions and threats, I could barely think straight.And I thought he’d been unbearable that morning he made me go for a run with a hangover. I’d take that Rían any day over this one.
He paced between the mirror and the bed, his hands flexing at his sides. “All it takes is one human realizing you’re using a glamour to report you. The soldiers know to be fast. They’ll chain you in iron first and ask questions later. Do you wish to die more times than necessary?”
When would he get it through his thick skull that reciting the potential consequences repeatedly wasn’t helping?
“Well? Do you?”
My nails dug into my palms as my hands tightened into fists. If I were a violent woman, I would’ve jabbed them straight into his bloody eyes. But he’d probably have liked that. “Of course not! I am trying my best.”
He gestured toward me with a careless wave. “Your best isn’t good enough. Now, do it again.”
Nothing was ever good enough for the prince of perfection. No wonder the Danú despised him. “I’m tired. I need a break.” Tomorrow I could disappoint him anew.
I dropped onto the end of the bed with a heavy sigh.
Rían caught my arm and dragged me upright once more. “You can have a break once you’re finished making a fool of yourself with these pathetic things you call glamours.”
I’d show him pathetic.
Creating a full glamour wasn’t a problem. Even Rían had seemed impressed when he first saw the face I’d stolen from my cousin, Lady Regina. I was still blond, but instead of curls, my hair was straight as straw. My face appeared less round, while my body looked a lot like Keelynn’s, thin and willowy and perfect. I still couldn’t figure out how to make myself taller. Every time I tried, it felt as if I were walking on twigs instead of my legs. Instead, I remained my normal height. Which was unfortunate because I would’ve loved nothing more than to look down my nose at Rían when he was being an ass.
As instructed, I pulled my glamour.
“Now hold it.” Rían didn’t poke or shove me as he’d done earlier. He did something far worse.