Chapter Ten
Selene
“I should get back to work,”I say, pulling my hand away from Zane’s reach as we stand near the fountain in the palace gardens.
His jaw tightens, frustration flickering across his handsome features. “Work? Selene, we’ve barely had an hour together.”
“I know, but—” I clutch my satchel closer, manufacturing apologetic regret I don’t feel. “My schedule has changed. I have some daytime duties now, so I can only sneak away for short periods.”
“That’s ridiculous.” His voice sharpens before he catches himself, smoothing it back into concern. “Surely, as a royal healer, you have some flexibility?”
“Not as much as you’d think.” The lie tastes bitter, but I force a smile. “I’m lucky to get even this much time.”
“What about your friends?” Zane steps closer, his cologne overwhelming in the warm afternoon air. “You’re close with Queen Astra. Surely being Her Majesty’s childhood friend has some perks?”
Every muscle in my body goes rigid. My wolf stirs uneasily, warning bells clanging in my mind.
“I—” I start to say I rarely see Astra, the protective lie forming automatically. But then I remember Lucian’s briefing, Seth’s warnings, the whole reason I’m standing here pretending. I need to know what Zane wants. “I have lunch with Astra twice a week. The infirmary gives me those afternoons off.”
Interest sharpens his gaze. “Twice a week?”
“Yes.” I keep my voice light, casual, even as my heart hammers against my ribs. “It’s nice. We catch up, talk about—you know, normal things.”
“That’s wonderful.” His smile widens, but there’s something calculating behind it now. Something that makes my skin crawl. “The next time you have one of those lunches scheduled, you should tell me. We could meet up afterward.”
“Meet up?”
“Yes.” He reaches for my hand again, and I force myself not to flinch away. “We could meet somewhere near where you’ll be with the Queen. That way you won’t get in trouble for being late returning to your duties.”
My heart sinks into my stomach. There it is—the confirmation we’ve been waiting for. He wants access to Astra. He wants me to bring him closer to the Queen.
But I smile, letting my fingers go limp in his grasp. “That’s so thoughtful of you.”
“I just want to see you more.” His thumb strokes my knuckles, and my wolf recoils in disgust. “You’re so busy, and I miss you when we’re apart.”
The words should make me feel good. They sound sweet. But they are like poison coating my skin.
“I miss you, too,” I lie, the words catching in my throat.
Before I can react, Zane leans in to kiss me. I try to turn my head, to avoid his lips like I have every other time, but his hand catches my chin. His mouth presses against mine—chaste, brief, nothing like—
I shove the comparison away violently.
When he pulls back, I have to fight to keep my smile in place. My wolf is snarling, clawing at my ribs, desperately tryingto reject the foreign touch. At least Astra’s masking scent is working; the particular musk that marks mated females is completely hidden beneath the concoction she created. Without it, Zane would smell Seth all over me and know immediately that I’m bound to another.
“I’ll see you soon,” Zane murmurs, his fingers brushing my lower lip.
“Soon,” I echo, already backing away.
The moment I’m out of his sight, I break into a near-run toward my quarters. I need to wash his scent off my skin. Need to scrub away the feeling of his lips on mine. Need to—
I freeze mid-step.
Seth stands at the end of the corridor, leaning against the stone wall with his arms crossed. His green eyes lock onto mine, and even from this distance, I can see the fury blazing in them.
My breath catches. How long has he been there? Did he see—
I spin on my heel and head in the opposite direction. I’ll take the long way. I’ll—
