As Sally, left to prepare my gown for the day. I got rid of the medicine and paused, noticing the yellow leaves that had formed on the unfortunate plant, and decided I needed another way to dispose of the poison.
I had to be smart about it, I could not show my cards before I was ready. I wondered if behaving differently had managed to raise any suspicions. If I wanted to keep the upper hand, I had to continue acting, at least for a while longer.
Twenty minutes later, Sally returned with a soft, off-white, silk gown that accentuated my waist line. She secured my hair on top of my head with decorative pins. I checked the mirror when she proceeded to apply red cream onto my cheeks.
I dreaded spending any time with my suitors. There was nothing they could say to me that would change my opinion about the betrothal.
When Sally and I were ready to leave the room, my shoulders stiffened and my muscles tensed. Involuntarily, my body was already reacting to the presence of my guard. My eyes met his dark umber eyes, and I nearly misstepped. The memories of my dream rushed straight to my head, and I remembered his strong arms wrapped around my shoulders, and the feeling of belonging and peace that it brought me. The way I craved his touch, and leaned into him. There was no way to describe how I felt, but one thing was certain, I would not look at any other male the way I looked at him.
Kent.
And again, his name sounded wrong in my head. I felt as if I were standing by a closed door that I desperately needed to open.
He said that he wanted me to remember his name. And sometimes I felt like it was on the tip of my tongue, that if I could concentrate hard enough, it would come to me.
Sally was talking, turning fully to catch Kent’s eye, and that bothered me. The way she thought she was good enough for him, as if that was even possible.
What was his name?
I sighed and looked down to the floor and almost immediately I could feel his eyes on me. He offered me his arm, and after only a moment of hesitation, I took it. It was somehow acceptable to lean into the arm of your personal guard, but if they knew everything that entered my mind when we touched, they would never allow it. I was careful not to look at him while Sally was around, but I really wanted to trace his strong arm with my fingertips. I knew I could drive him crazy with just my simple touches. I wondered if he knew he could do the same to me. I wondered if he, too, saw me in his dreams.
When at last we entered the open grounds of the gardens, Kent released me and I followed Sally onto the narrow path where, in the distance, Lord Adger’s oldest son waited for me. I pursed my lips. I hated all of them, but for some reason, Lord Dayton seemed to be the worst.
I was still put off by the fact that he was going to abandon his two wives and many children in order to obtain yetanother wife. He moved closer and offered me his arm. Reluctantly, I trailed beside one of the lords of the gold clan.
“I believe we have not had much time to get to know each other.” Lord Dayton started.
I glanced at his carefully cut beard that I suspected was to hide the deficiencies of his weak chin.
“You’re exactly the woman I have always searched for.”
I was on the verge of asking him how either of his wives would feel about that, but I stopped myself.
“You must see that no one else can offer you what I can. I can give you the world.”
“You can?”
“Yes. I can. By combining both our influences, we can end the unsettled state between all dragon clans.”
“What about the black clan?” I could feel Kent’s stare on the back of my neck.
“Those parasites? No, they should not be allowed back. Not after what they did.”
“Do you not believe in forgiveness?”
“Forgiveness? That’s an excuse for weakness.”
I nodded and looked away.
Unexpectedly, I could feel Dayton’s hand on my back, I paused, glancing at him in surprise.
“Remove. Your. Hand,” Kent’s quiet voice sounded from behind me.
“How dare you even speak to me!” Lord Dayton exploded. Kent continued looking at him with alarmingintensity. “You are nothing but a servant, and you and you will obey me!”
Something dangerous flickered in Kent’s eyes and I panicked, needing to find a way out of the situation.
“Lord Dayton, shall we continue?”
