I give the tumblers a suspicious glance but accept the one he hands me. “How long has this been up here?” I question.
“Oh, not long,” he says reassuringly. “It’s harmless. Just grape juice. I left the liquor out, as it’s not very thirst-quenching.”
I sniff at it cautiously and don’t smell any alcohol, so I take a sip. The sweet juice has an oddly bitter aftertaste that’s familiar, but I am rather thirsty, so I drink it down.
It’s quiet up here. The usual bustle of servants and people moving around is absent, and all of a sudden, I’m acutely aware of the fact that I’m alone in a secluded part of the palace with a man I do not know well.
After setting the glass down, I wring my hands as I walk around the room.
Dylan pulls a sheet off a small settee and drapes it over another piece of furniture. He sits down and pats the spot next to him.
“Have a seat, Raelyn. I insist.”
I glance around the room and shake my head. “I’m quite fine standing, thank you.”
Dylan gives me an annoyed look. “I’m perfectly harmless. Please come and sit. I’d love to get to know you better.” He holds his glass casually but doesn’t drink from it, which sets off warning bells.
“To be honest, I’m not comfortable being up here alone with you,” I say, hoping he’ll be respectful and listen.
Dylan scoffs, “What, did our prince say something about me?”
I frown and shake my head. “Should he have?”
“Of course not,” Dylan retorts.
I start to back away toward the door. Coming here was a mistake.
“Where do you think you’re going, Raelyn?” Dylan tsks. “I can’t let you leave just yet.”
“What in Luna’s name are you talking about?” I ask as I continue backing toward the door.
Dylan stands and stalks forward, grabbing my arm roughly and dragging me farther into the room. “I said you can’t leave just yet.”
“Stop! You’re hurting me,” I cry out.
Dylan blows out a breath and continues dragging me toward the settee, setting me down with force. “Now, will you stay put or do I need to restrain you?”
Fear skitters down my spine. What in Luna’s name is happening? If I call out, will anyone hear?
Stepmother swoops into the room, looking completely smug and self-satisfied.
“You . . .” My jaw drops, but somehow, I’m not really shocked. If anything, I’m surprised she didn’t show her face sooner. “If you wanted to call, you could have done so like a normal person,” I spit out.
If she had a mustache, she’d be twirling it, ever the villainous persona oozing out of her in the most cliche of ways.
“Raelyn, darling.” Her voice drips with sugary sweetness that makes me want to vomit. “I would have been rotting in a grave before you ever deemed to meet with me.”
She’s not wrong.
Trying to gain the upper hand, I sit a little taller, looking down my nose at her. “Well, you’re here now. What do you want?”
“Thank you for arranging this, Dylan,” Stepmother says dismissively. “You can go now.”
Dylan appears tense as he looks between us. “Are you su?—”
“Leave us!” Stepmother demands as she sits on the edge of the chair across from me.
Dylan gives us a final look before disappearing out the door. One would think I’d feel a little safer with him out of the room, but the way Stepmother is looking at me has me wondering which one of them I really ought to be afraid of.
