Page 5 of The Crown of the Dark Prince
There was never any doubt of that. I should have known the Dragon wouldn’t want anything about this process to be easy for me. Still, his words sat on my stomach uneasily. After all, this process wasn’t done. There was still one more trial to pass, and I shivered to think about what he still had planned for me.
“I see you’ve been following my guidance.”
I flinched, remembering hisguidance.Clay suffered an injury after Camilla’s ultimate attack. While he was in the infirmary, I’d spent every moment I could with him. I’d needed to know he was okay. The nights I’d slept in Clay’s room hadn’t escaped the Dragons’ notice, though. None of my relationship with Clay had escaped the Dragon’s notice, and he hadcornered me, threatening to force me out of the kingdom if I didn’t cut things off.
“As I have already assured you, your majesty, my intention is to fulfill my responsibilities to this kingdom. I’m well-aware that responsibility comes with stipulations about who I can and cannot be with.”
“Yes, well, that is a matter we will need to discuss soon. I’ve narrowed your list of prospects down to a few I’d like you to look over.”
I finished my glass of wine quickly. “Does it matter? I will marry who is best for my House and my realm. I believe it was you who said love was a useless notion for people like us.”
The Dragon’s arm snaked behind the back of my seat and his fingers grazed against the skin on the back of my neck. I scooted my chair away from him quickly, earning another laugh.
“Oh my dear, you’re much more enjoyable when you’reagreeable.I’m so looking forward to all the time we’ll have to spend together when you’ve ascended to the Council.”
I ate in silence, ignoring the Dragons innuendo’s as best I could and answering politely when anyone deemed to talk to me directly. As the guests began finishing their dinner and the music started, I knew it was only a matter of time before Emeryn dragged me to my feet and started pointing out the people I needed to socialize with, but I stayed for as long as I could. I stayed, and I watched the doors of the ballroom waiting for the prince to arrive.
He didn’t.
Where in all of creation was he?
It seemed unlike him to miss an important castle event like this.
It seemed unlike him to miss a party meant for me.
Eventually, Emeryn called for me. Under her watchful eye, I danced with the visiting dignitaries. I held babies and played games with children. I smiled at the women and flirted with the men. I did everything an eligibleyoung princess should do. And when the evening finally started winding down, I spotted Rankor chatting with our friend Kent and, as discreetly as possible, made my way over to them.
“You finally escaped.” Kent wrapped me in a hug and quickly congratulated me on my successful trial.
“You really have to get better at hiding your emotions,” Rankor remarked with a grin. “You’ve been so obviously miserable all night.”
He said it like a joke, but he didn’t know how serious his comment was. Playing this role was my job, and if I wasn’t convincing enough, the Dragon had been clear that others would suffer for my failure. Sneaking a glance at his throne and noticing his eyes on mine, I let loose a dazzling smile, intent on improving my performance.
“I don’t know what you mean,” I said sweetly.
Kent rolled his eyes. “Liar.”
“So what’s the plan for the after party?” Rankor asked. “Because there’s a stunning little fire elemental across the room that I’m dying to continue this evening with.”
I followed his gaze across the room to a young woman with short brown hair in a black gown with a slit that left very little to the imagination. She grinned at him from across the hall and wet her lips. The weight of jealousy landed heavily in my stomach. Not that I didn’t feel happy for my friend, but it had been a while since someone had looked at me like that. Withdesire.
The last person to do that had been Clay, when I’d had my legs locked around him and his lips pressed to the curve of my throat in the archives at Hyrax Estate. But then I’d pushed him away, and he’d hated me for it.
And after that I’d called to him in a battle. I’d slept by his side in the infirmary. I’d told him that when I thought I was dying, all I could think about was kissing him again.
Then I started avoiding him for weeks on end.
No one gave mixed signals quite as well as I did.
“I’d say our princess here probably needs to go to bed and skip the after party,” Kent noted, and I turned my face away from them to hide the dark circles under my eyes from their view. It didn’t matter how much product Nessira caked on my face, they simply refused to go away.
“Thea.”
I froze.
I would recognize that small bell-like voice anywhere. Even now, after it had beenweekssince I’d heard her.
Without hesitation, I spun on my heels to meet the gaze of my best friend. Iris had lost weight, looking more like skin and bones than she ever had before. She’d been the first person to befriend me here and had quickly become more like a sister than a friend. Iris was famous for wearing her hair in bright, elaborate colors and for donning the most extravagant fashions, but today her dark hair was in curls around her tawny skin. She wore a simple black gown, still mourning the loss of our friend Lorelai.
