Then the kingdoespull free of my grip…only so he can casually slide his hand into mine, intertwining our fingers more tightly than he has all night.
“If you’ll excuse us.” He gives a polite dip of his head. I follow his courteous lead—though there may be a touch of smugness in my expression when I look up and give Lady Desna one last glance before walking away at Reave’s side.
“A rather possessive move, interrupting me like that,” he muses, drawing us to a stop as we come to a large magnolia tree, its shadow providing us with some measure of privacy. “Some might think you were jealous.”
“I’m only trying to make our act believable.”
He lets out a quiet laugh at his own words being used against him, then turns to face me, slipping a hand around to my back. “Of course, now the question becomes…how do wekeepmaking it believable?”
“I’m sure we’ll think of something.”
His fingers trail along my back slowly and deliberately, tracing the gold designs edging the dress’s opening while he lifts his other hand to cup my face and angle it toward his.
“A hint of affection will suffice,” I whisper, close enough now that our noses bump. “It will fuel their imaginations well enough…that’s what you said, wasn’t it?”
“It was.” His lips barely part with his next words, as though he didn’t truly intend to let them out: “Though I might be regretting that statement, now.”
I start to give a teasing reply, but I go still at the hunger that flashes through his eyes. At the obvious desire smoldering in their depths. He looks as if he’s a heartbeat away from claiming my mouth with his, regardless of who’s watching us.
And I’m horrified by the realization that part of mewantshim to do exactly that.
I force myself to take a step back. The tiniest of steps. I desperately need space, but I’m determined not to ruin the careful performance we’ve been giving all evening. It’s like balancing on the last patch of solid ice, feeling the cracks threatening, knowing it’s dangerous both to move and to stay.
I briefly close my eyes, taking a deep breath, trying to recalibrate.
When I open them again, the yearning in his gaze is almost enough to drive me fully, immediately back into his arms.
Luckily, he blinks the emotion away quickly—fast enough that I can tell myself I was only imagining it. But he’s still agonizingly close. The air between us hums and crackles with uncertain, unspoken things.
Kestrel and Briar save me before the standoff becomes too disastrous, swooping in and claiming they’ve been looking for me. Kestrel playfully scolds her brother for hogging me. Sparkling laughter rises from everyone within earshot. I’m not fooled by her words; I know she’s just providing me with a gracious excuse to put space between myself and the king, a natural exit that won’t make a scene, that won’t have people talking tomorrow.
After pulling me away, she parades me around and introduces me to more people. She’s exactly like her brother: aplayer on a vast stage, perfectly reciting her lines, never missing a step.
Or exactly like Ithoughther brother was, at least.
But the way he was looking at me a few minutes ago…
It didn’t feel rehearsed.
It felt dangerously unscripted.
“Are you okay?” Briar whispers.
I’m about to reassure her that I am, when suddenly I turn my head and find Reave’s eyes fixed on me, even though he’s surrounded by others who appear to be trying to have a conversation with him. He looks away quickly. But the damage to my composure, to all my carefully laid plans, is already done.
“Owyn?” Briar prompts.
No.
No, I’m not okay. I’m lightheaded, confused, dizzy from questions that I don’t really want the answers to.
Why is he searching for me across a crowded space?
Why am I looking back and meeting his gaze—and why does my heart stop when I do?
“I’m fine.” I give my best friend a weak smile. “You know I hate being the center of attention, that’s all. I just need to find somewhere quiet to clear my thoughts after all of this.”
“Go ahead,” Kestrel says, her usual sharp-eyed appraisal somewhat softer. I can only assume it’s the copious amount of alcohol she and Briar have consumed that’s making her so willing to protect me. “Others are beginning to leave, anyway. I can make an excuse for you.”
