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“Excuse me?” She tried to pull free, then gave up and glared at Savva. “Darling, who is this woman?”
“Sorry, I’m just so excited!” I pulled her into a hug and kissed her cheek, leaving a perfect red outline from my lipstick. “I’m Damaris Lawton, the prince’s assistant, and I can’t tell you how much I admire what you’ve done.”
“Oh, thank you. You’re very kind.” Unsurprisingly, her attention shifted from Savva to the person feeding her ego.
“I mean the…” Keeping my smile in place, I rummaged through my memory for something from the tabloids. Unfortunately, there wasn’t much to go on, considering I only had her name and didn’t pay them much attention in the first place.
“If you’ll excuse me, I?—”
“Wait.” I moved to separate her from Savva after finally shaking something out of my brain. “I wanted to talk about the community garden in Kyiv. That was so amazing!”
“Yes, it was.” She tossed a lock of sable hair over her shoulder. “I always say community outreach is the key to the people’s hearts.”
“Fascinating,” Savva muttered. “I remember you saying homeless people should starve.”
Ooof.
Pretending I hadn’t heard him, I looped my arm through Alivia’s and led her away. “I want to know all about it. I want to do the same thing in my mama’s hometown, and I’d be ever so grateful if you could share your thoughts.”
Lord almighty, I was fixing to have to wash my mouth out with soap for lying so hard.
“Of course.” She straightened her dress but didn’t bother to look back at Savva. “It takes money, naturally, and one must have a certain charm to acquire resources. You might have to visit a spa for a touchup, but I’m sure you’re up to the task. Rich men are always willing to share the wealth in exchange for certain… favors.”
Eww.
I hid a grimace, understanding her unspoken words. Forget the soap—I’d need bleach to get them out of my head.
“You didn’t say where your dear mother was from,” she said, pulling me from my thoughts.
“Oh, it’s nowhere so glamourous as Kyiv.” I maneuvered her into a quiet corner, then met her eyes. “It’s a little town on the Atchafalaya River, smack dab in the middle of the Louisiana bayous.”
At least that part wasn’t a lie.
“I see. It sounds lovely.” Obviously losing interest, she glanced over my shoulder for Savva.
“I’d love it if you came to visit. Why, you could put us right on the map.”
“Of course. I’d be happy to check my schedule and?—”
“I mean, we only lose a few people a month to the gators.” I lost the smile and met her widening eyes. “Sure would be a shame if you were one of them.”
“Excuse me?” She drew herself up and bared her teeth. “Are you threatening me?”
“Who me? No, of course not.” I smiled sweetly, then added, “Just something to think about if you’re setting your sights on Prince Savva. I hear his current girlfriend is a little bloodthirsty.”
“He has a lover?” Her face paled, making the red lipstick on her cheek pop.
“Sure does. She seems like a real nice lady too, but I’m thinking she won’t take too kindly to someone making a move on her man.” Giving her another saccharine smile, I said, “I need to get back to the prince now, but it was great to chat. Y’all have a nice evening, hear?”
Without a word, Alivia strode from the ballroom, still wearing the imprint of my lips on her cheek.
“All your wishes will forever be my command, darling.”
Savva’s husky whisper sent burning desire down my spine, but I tried to shake it off as he offered his arm to escort me to supper. “Just what every woman wants to hear.”
“Listening to their woman threaten to feed a rival to carnivorous reptiles is what every man wants to hear.” He guided me to a spot just outside the entrance to the dining room, then added, “Sadly, I am unable to take you back to our suite to give you a proper reward.”
“She’s not a rival. If she was, you wouldn’t have looked at her like you wanted to throw her to the gators yourself.”
