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“Shit,” he grunted before quickly releasing me and sprinted off. My body sagged as the weight of his left mine. His hold on me died with his fleeting figure.
I started trembling as I slid down the tree trunk, the bark digging into my back, causing my dress to ride up until I hit the ground.
He knew something was off about me. Did he suspect that I was not from the Dark Kingdom? No, he couldn’t. I had been careful. There was no way he could have seen my back.
This was a mistake. I shouldn’t have come. I wasn’t friends with anyone here but Vallie and Miles. I didn’t know where Vallie ran off to, and I didn’t want to face Miles again tonight.
Two strong hands pulled me up off the ground, stopping my thoughts. I gasped as I looked into Prince Noren’s rugged eyes. I couldn’t turn my gaze from his, but this time it was from my own free will. His eyes were beautiful. Not only the color, which was so dark they were almost black, but the shape of them. Elongated and sharp. They were striking.
His eyes narrowed on mine as if he was staring right through me, analyzing everything about me. His expression was taut as he held me up. His arm wrapped around my waist to steady my uneven gait. Then everything spiraled. I started seeing four eyes. I looked at him, puzzled, “Why are there two of you?” A squeak of a giggle followed my question.
“Are you okay?” he asked, genuinely seeming concerned, or was it just the alcohol making it seem that way? “Did he hurt you?”
Kole. Oh yeah—he was just here. My thoughts were getting more jumbled as the time ticked on.
When I didn’t answer he scanned me from head to toe, his eyes raking over my body. Then, “How much did you drink?”
“I haven’t… I mean, yeah.”
His eyebrows furrowed as I giggled louder.
I shuffled forward, but my foot caught on a root, causing me to stumble headfirst into him. I really hated this tree. My hands landed on his chest to keep myself from falling. His arm tightened around my waist, steadying me further. My fingers pulsed against his muscles, trailing down his abdomen before I realized what I was doing.
“How are you here? Is someone casting an illusion on me?” I asked, more to myself than to him.
“It’s not an illusion. I was sent here after the banquet. Once you were announced as my bride, the High Council thought it best that I attended your graduation. I’m staying at one of the inns in LakeWood.”
Not an illusion. He was here, in LakeWood, at this party, holding me up.
“Why are you at this party?” I slurred into his chest as my hands continued to roam.
“My friend, Peter, was watching you. He said you had too many drinks and that some males were giving you a hard time,” the Prince said with a seriousness that had taken over his features.
“Well… I had everything handled with…” I mumbled as I moved my hands up his chest. “Why are there two of you?”
“Why do you think?” he smirked.
“I think…. I think that the girl was right.”
“What girl?” he asked, amused.
“The one from the van who said you had nice abs,” I giggled, leaning into his chest. I told myself it was just for support. I inhaled, taking in his strong scent. Cedarwood and something else, something muskier. My mind whirled as I watched his four eyes focus on me. The liquid stirred as my stomach clenched in response.
Spinning. Everything was spinning. Faster and faster until I became so dizzy that I thought I was going to faint.
“Come on. Let’s go,” he said as he repositioned his hold on me, grabbing my wrist in his hand as he started walking toward the door. I thought I saw Miles out of the corner of my eye, a sullen look on his face.
“Where?” I tried to protest as I stomped my foot on the ground. The motion made me trip—again. He caught me in one swoop, bending over to scoop me up. The last thing I remembered was listening to his heartbeat against my ear and smelling his neck.
THIRTEEN
SCOTLIND
I wokeup the next morning with my gut wrenching and my head feeling like it was about to explode. Tiny nails were being hammered into my skull while acid filled my insides, threatening to spill out. Still curled on my side, I slowly peeled my eyes open. I only managed to pry them to slits before I clamped down and rubbed my temples. The sun was too bright through the window.
“Morning, sleeping beauty,” Vallie laughed as images from last night came flashing before me in broken bits. It was like putting together a puzzle with only half the pieces. Fragments of Miles trying to kiss me, Kole threatening me, and the Prince carrying me in his arms.
The Prince.
