Page 24 of A Sea So Cruel
They both had queenlike ways about them. Maren was refined and perceptive. She took in her surroundings and adapted to them. She was the kind of queen that ruled next to a king.
Asta, however, was not. She was opinionated and calculating. She didn’t mold into her surroundings, they adjusted to her. She was the kind of queen that did not need the assistance from anyone to rule. Shemadethe rules.
Thank Absolon the song ended, because Kaid needed a break. The fast-paced dancing did not complement the alcohol he had ingested before arriving. He found Halsten sitting at a table near the king’s throne and plopped into the chair next to him.
A server walked up to them and offered a tray filled with wine glasses. Before Kaid could wave him on, Halsten reached up and grabbed not one, not two, but four glasses and thanked the man. Mischief made its way into Halsten’s gaze, romping through a field of bad choices and hangovers. Kaid knew it was ill-advised, but he grabbed a glass, tipped his head back, and drained it. After all, he hadn’t any plans tomorrow, anyway.
After the two men emptied all four glasses, they felt much more relaxed. Kaid didn’t want to think about his wedding, or his father, or a certain blonde princess who made him want to scream every time she looked his way. He didn’t want to think about missing villagers, or whatever creature the courtesan was, or Gyrial running his hands down Asta’s body. He just wanted a break, and the alcohol gave him that.
Before he knew it, he was lying on the floor petting Dyri. The pup had wandered into the ballroom and immediately found Kaid.
Kaid liked this dog. It was a good dog, he thought, as far as dogs go, though he hadn’t met many. Dyri was happy and carefree, much like Kaid used to be before moving here. Here… What was here’s name again? Orange tail? Ore and tally? He’d think about that later.
Right now he needed to figure out where this glass in his hand came from, and how to safely place it on the table without breaking it.
A figure stood over him, or maybe five figures. Nope, it was one figure again. A shapeshifter, perhaps?
“You’re a bloody idiot for getting this drunk here.”
Kaid knew that voice, but he didn’t know she had magical powers. He squinted, forcing his vision to focus. Asta looked down with a disapproving glare as she rhythmically stomped the toe of her slipper on the shiny wooden floor.
“Witch!” Kaid shouted.
Asta barked a humorless laugh. “Not the first time I’ll hear that from you, and certainly not the last, I’m sure. Now, get up.”
He reached out a hand and stroked a finger across the wooden floor panel. So, so shiny. Like glass. Or the ocean. Kaid shuddered. The ocean was scary. He shouldn’t touch it. It tried to lure him to his death, didn’t it? He retracted his finger and began petting Dyri again, who was now presenting his belly for rubbing.
Asta rolled her eyes and tucked her hands under his arms. “I’m going to stand you up, but you need to help me. My father can’t see you like this.”
Oops.His fiancé’s father was here, wasn’t he? Why did Kaid still have this blasted glass in his hand? He held it out and lookedat the shining crystal, but it was yanked away as he watched Asta place the cup on the table.
Her hands went back under Kaid’s arms again and he grabbed the side of the table, pushing as hard as he could to steady himself.
“The great King Botmar! Father of two princesses of different mothers!” Kaid bellowed.
A hand clapped over his mouth, but it wasn’t a female hand. Halsten was now helping Asta heave the young lord to his feet.
“Weeeee!” Kaid exclaimed behind the fingers clamped over his lips. He flew through the air under Halsten’s strength. Finally, he was on his feet.
Kaid watched as Halsten swayed a little and braced himself on the table.
“Can you walk?” Asta asked Halsten and he nodded in response. “Great,” she said through gritted teeth as she dragged Kaid toward the exit.
A familiar curly-haired man stepped to Asta’s side.
“Niklas!” Kaid bellowed. “Come, have a drink with us. You need to loosen up anyway. You’re coiled tighter than a cobra ready to strike. Always so worried isn’t he?” Kaid threw a thumb in Niklas’s direction.
The courtier and princess spoke in hushed tones and Kaid looked around the ballroom at the metallic accents and blinding lights surrounding him. So shiny, like Asta’s hair. He reached up to touch her golden locks but felt a hand smack his away before it reached its destination.
“Stop that. We’re going back to your suite,” Asta seethed.
Kaid laughed loudly. “Aren’t you going to woo me first? Though, this dress is doing a fine job of doing that on its own. I hope at least one person told you how magnificent you look tonight.” He gestured to Asta’s black gown, his gaze wandering up and down her body.
Her face heated, color trickling from her cheeks and spreading down her chest. Her grip under his arm tightened. “You’re drunk, and an imbecile. Niklas, let’s go.”
Niklas led the group, peering around every corner like they were involved in some secret mission. The halls were always winding and confusing, but Kaid was downright lost with his mind this addled. For all he knew, they were leading him in circles. Asta would stop frequently to readjust her hold on him and then they would continue. Niklas was on Halsten wrangling duty, steering the man in the right direction whenever he strayed.
Finally, they were at Kaid’s suite door. Asta sighed in relief as she swung the door open and tapped the frame before pulling the prince-to-be inside. Why did she always do that? Kaid had noticed it for a while now. He opened his mouth to ask, but only a groan came out. His tongue felt strange in his mouth, like it was somehow getting in his way. He wondered how Asta’s tongue would feel in his mouth, on his skin. Not that he could ever find out. Tongue. Strange word, wasn’t it?Ton-gue.Kaid smirked.
