“How would you feel if I wanted to call on you this season?” I ask, almost afraid of her answer.
Her eyes dart up to mine. “Really? You’d want to call onme?”
I look around playfully. “What, do you see someone else?”
She gently swats at my shoulder. “I just find it hard to believe that a prince would have any interest in courting me.”
I frown. “But why? I’m greatly enjoying your company.”
“Surely you could find someone better to call on, someone who doesn’t need to spend her days locked up inside.”
“What if that doesn’t bother me?” I ask.
She hesitates, as if she doesn’t quite believe me. “I don’t know . . . It might be too much.”
“It would be an honor, Lady Raelyn.”
“I suppose I can’t say no to a prince.”
I grin broadly. “Well, then consider me one of your prospects.”
She flushes oh-so-prettily, and it takes all my self-control not to draw her even closer to me.
“Father will be thrilled that I have not one but two potential callers.”
Two?
“Raelyn, darling, I’ve been looking all over for you.” A familiar voice makes my blood run cold.
Raelyn’s face lights up, and she breaks away from my hold. “Dylan!” she cries. “I was waiting for you. What took you so long to find me?”
I squeeze my eyes shut as betrayal burns like acid through my veins.
“Are you friends with Prince Kian?” she asks him, her tone full of excitement and innocence.
Finally turning around to face them, Dylan smirks at me as he places a heavy hand on my shoulder. “Oh we go way back.”
I want to punch that smarmy grin right off his face. He knew. He. Knew. How could he?
Lady Raelyn grips his arm comfortably as she looks up at him. “Lord Havordshire has business dealings with my father, and I’ve seen him quite a few times this year.”
“How lovely,” I grit out. “Dylan never mentioned you.”
A frown creases her forehead as she looks from me to him, but then she shakes it off. “I hope this won’t be any trouble . . . if both of you come calling.”
“May the best man win,” Dylan says, putting a possessive arm around Raelyn.
Chapter Thirty-Seven
RAELYN
I’m on an island. Wind whips through my hair, tangling my skirts around my legs. The briny air makes my eyes sting, and sand squishes beneath my feet.How did I get here?
A low growl has the hair on my neck standing at attention, and I spin around, spying the largest lion I could possibly imagine prowling toward me.
This is just a dream. This has to be a dream. Why does it feel so real?
I take a step back, wanting to flee but somehow knowing it’s completely useless. This beast would catch me before I made it two feet.
