I glance down at the plate, my heartbeat stuttering. There, in all its golden glory, sits a generous slice of pumpkin spice cake.
In Midnight.
Shock ripples through the table, the other ladies aghast at the audacity of serving human food at their precious tea party. Even the ambassadors are not served food in the Midnight realm.
I barely register their horror rippling around me. I'm too busy staring at Kai, a silent question in my eyes.
He raises a brow in return, a ghost of a smirk playing at his lips.
You did this for me?
Of course. Don't you want it?
I swallow hard, my chest suddenly tight. As I reach for the fork with trembling fingers, I can feel every eye on me, waiting for me to make a spectacle of myself.
My eyes flutter shut in pure bliss as I take that first bite. The rich spices dance on my tongue, the moist cake practically melting in my mouth. I can't contain the soft moan that escapes me, lost in a moment of unadulterated pleasure.
When I open my eyes again, Kai is watching me intently, his gaze molten. There's a heat there that has nothing to do with the tea and everything to do with the way I savored that sinful bite.
I'm suddenly hyperaware of his arm brushing mine, of the way his fingertips draw idle patterns on my shoulder. The air between us feels charged, electric.
“I didn’t know you were so flexible to get your footthere,” Kai husks into my ear.
I’m still busy enjoying the cake, but I say around a happy mouthful, “Put my foot where?”
Kai jerks so hard the entire table clanks, the China shuttering in outrage. He draws the attention of almost everyone.
His forehead scrunches up as he stares at Anastasia with accusation. My stepsister flutters her lashes at him coquettishly.
Oh.
Notmyfoot.
“Are you alright, Your Highness?” she asks Kaison with feigned concern. “Sometimes the outdoors can be so. . .agitating, would you like me to escort you indoors?”
I nearly choke on my cake.
I don’t remember my stepsister being so transparent. Or dumb.
“I'm fine, thank you,” Kaison grits out, his jaw clenched.
That's when Marisela’s voice raises as if wanting everyone to be part of the conversation she’s having with the King. “Indeed, if our prince is to marry, it is only right that he show his commitment to our traditions.” My stepmother’s tone is saccharine. “What would show our people that this is a true union is if this young couple went through with the marking.”
Ice slides down my spine. The marking?
That doesn’t sound good.
The King chimes in, his eyes glinting with malice. “Yes, the marking would indeed uphold the values and commitment to tradition and the Midnight fairy ways.”
I turn to Kai, a question in my furrowed brow. But before I can voice it, he squeezes my hand in warning, his face carefully blank.
Stay quiet for now, we’ll talk later.
Marisela smiles at me, a cruel twist of her lips. “Why, it's only the highest honor, my dear.”
Kaison's grip tightens, grounding me even as I feel danger pulsating all around me. “Surely you see how inappropriate thatwould be,” he says, his words clipped. “She cannot leave a mark on me. Perhaps when she has acclimated more?—”
“Nonsense.” The King cuts him off, his tone brooking no argument. “The consummation of your union must be sealed by the marking. Marisela is absolutely right. It's paramount to unite the bloodlines and prevent. . .friction within the monarchy.”
