Mari leans around Jeston’s back to give her friend a shove. “You always were into the bad boys.”
Del shoves her back with a giggle. “And you aren’t?” Her head swings toward me. “What is he like, Wynn?”
My hand tightens on my fork. “How should I know?”
Del wiggles her eyebrows suggestively. “There is no need to play coy with us. We all saw you dancing with him.”
Heat climbs my throat to my jaw.
Mari starts nodding. “Oh, yes. I completely forgot about that. What was he like?”
What I wouldn’t give for my mask right about now. My face feels like it has caught fire.“I…um…I didn’t even realize it was him.” Yet I should’ve known who he was the moment his hands met my body.
“Poppycock. The two of you disappeared behind that curtain for quite some time. Tell us, is he hung like a Pegasus like Darcy claims?”
Who the hell is Darcy and how does she know such intimate details about my mate? When I find the woman?—
Braith squeezes my knee, but her gaze remains pinned on the two women across from her. “Has anyone ever told you that you’re awful gossips?”
Jeston rolls his eyes, and I don’t find the gesture nearly as annoying as I used to. “Can we please stop talking about this? Personally, I’d like to forget last night. Let’s talk about something pleasant. Anyone have plans for later?”
After all that’s happened, no one feels like leaving the caverns, so they decide to meet in the great room for a game of cards at nine. After some prodding from Braith, I reluctantly agree to join them.
It will be good to talk and laugh with friends. At least, that is what I tell myself. In reality, all I want is to see Senan again. Thatshouldn’thappen, right? I should leave well enough alone. Besides, if he wants to see me, he knows where to find me. Seeking him out will only make me look even more desperate.
A mammoth guard in silver leathers appears in the canteen’s entrance, his dark brown hair cropped short and navy-blue wings folded tight at his back. What is a royal guard doing down here?
My stomach starts fluttering. I wonder what is in the brown paper package tucked beneath his arm.
Conversations fall silent as he scans the room.
“Stars, I think I just fell in love,” Mari whispers from behind her hand.
Del’s lips purse into a pout. “Why do we get stuck with all the homely guards?”
The newcomer stalks into the room and pounds on the House Master’s door. The House Master answers with a dark scowl until he sees the guard. The two disappear inside his office, only to reappear a few minutes later.
From across the room, the House Master’s gaze finds mine. “Wynn? Would you come here for a moment, please?”
“Lucky,” Mari murmurs. Del snorts her agreement.
I rise from the bench and cross the room on trembling limbs.
The guard is even larger up close—and infinitely more intimidating when he looks down his straight nose at me, his scowl deepening. “Your presence has been requested by Prince Senan Vale.” The entire room seems to suck in a breath when he hands me the package. “Change into this and meet me by the south gates.”
Turns out “this”is a stunning gown of cerulean silk with a corseted bodice edged in gold lace. Never in my life have I worn a garment as luxurious. It feels like liquid starlight against my skin. Mari and Del linger in the hallway, asking a hundred questions about what is happening. All I can do is answer honestly and tell them I haven’t a clue. Before I reach the cavern exit, Braith pulls me aside and asks how I’m feeling.
The answer is complicated. I’m nervous. I’m excited. I’m irritated about being excited. So I go with, “I don’t know.”
“You do not have to go if you don’t want to,” she says. “He may be a prince, but he does not own you. Remember that.”
The problem is, Senandoesown me, heart and soul. Still, I thank Braith for her concern. It’s nice to have a friend looking out for me. She hugs me, whispers good luck, and off I go.
The guard waits out in the gray day, his stern frown never wavering as he steps forward to meet me. “Are you comfortable with me carrying you?”
“I suppose that depends on where you’re carrying me.”
His brows raise, but he says nothing.