Page 160 of Ashborne Forged

I wanted to glare at him, but kept my eyes on the floor, apologized, and followed him meekly into the ballroom. Yet, throughout the boring evening, my heart raced.

Voski drew nearer with every passing moment. Every sense had come alive with him an hour earlier, and I could feel him as I had in the Keep. He was here.

‘Where are you?’

‘Keeping myself out from under Breckon’s nose,’ he returned darkly. ‘And working out how to get close enough to touch you.’

This castle was peppered with secret passages, hidden servants’ stairs and corridors, and so many shadowy alcoves and corners, it was barely an effort to disappear when no eyes were upon you. I’d familiarized myself with most of them on my last visit, and knew Voski was even more skilled. And yet, I should have told him no. That it wasn’t worth the risk. Breckon was too present. We had to find our way out of this marriage before we could truly reunite. But I was too weak, my body aching for him, my heart thumping. Already, my eyes stung with unshed tears of joy as he sent an image of holding me, cupping my face, pulling me into a kiss, and clinging to each other.

I had to blow out a breath and steady myself. I’d already lived through the dragons reuniting twice. Both times, Koa brimmed with such joy and love, it made me happy. But the perpetual smiling irritated Breckon.

‘You are beautiful, my love,’ Voski whispered in my head and I wanted to dance.

‘Where are you?’ I darted a glance over my shoulder again, scanning the room. He had to be physically close for me to sense him so clearly. Had he hidden among the servants? Or was he like Hanson, sitting in a chair along the edge of the room, peering between sleeves and skirts, like a lion in the grass?

He didn’t answer, but the images he sent flipped my heart in my chest. Ignoring Breckon, he showed me myself—walking down the corridor toward the ballroom, my hair swept up in the currently fashionable coil, select curls dusting my jaw and collarbones, my eyes sparkling, smiling bright.

Because I could sense him.

But it wasn’t the image that made me want to weep with happiness, it was the vision of it. Somehow, he’d imbued the picture of me with a particular softness, strength, admiration. I looked impossibly beautiful. Intelligent. Strong in body as well as mind. So, the watcher yearned. For me.

Even with Koa, I had never felt more wanted, more loveable. More necessary to another heart.

I bit my lip, blinking back happy tears as Breckon led me through the ballroom, stopping to speak along the way to the men he sought to impress.

It wasn’t until he’d chuckled and bragged, and we turned away from the third cluster of bored men, that he leaned a hair closer, muttering in my ear, his hot breath rushing against my bare shoulder and making my skin crawl.

“What makes you so damn happy?”

“I told you, my lord: I am an ecstatic bride-to-be.”

He glared at me from the corner of his eye, but I brightened my smile further.

“Isn’t that what you wanted?”

I shoveled love toward Voski in the bond as Breckon scowled like he’d curse me. But he brightened immediately, when the king called his name, and the entire room turned to watch as, both the royals beckoned us to join them near the refreshment table.

It was a stunning honor.

Breckon had never been prouder, traversing the ballroom with most of the Court watching enviously. And I had never been more unsettled.

‘What makes you nervous?’

‘The king is showing personal favor to Breckon, and I don’t understand why.’ I felt a jangle of unease from Voski, but it only affirmed my instincts. To receive this kind of favor so publicly was no mistake. Usually, if the most powerful couple in the kingdom wished to gain the attention of a particular person, a servant would be sent to escort them for a private audience. Yet here, the royals made a point to let everyone see them call to Breckon like a childhood friend.

I would have gaped, but Breckon muttered, “Don’t fuck this up,” then tugged me along.

I curtseyed as we reached them, grateful that Breckon finally released my arm to more properly bow, allowing me to shift to his other side and speak with the queen.

“Your Majesty,” I said quietly. “It’s very good to see you again.”

“Yes, yes, dear. Very nice,” she said, patting my arm. But her attention was clearly on the men. The king had gripped Breckon’s shoulder like a brother and leaned into his ear. The two exchanged quiet words, then separated.

Breckon smiled, nodding. “Of course, Sire.”

Suddenly, I was ushered out of the ballroom in the wake of the royals. Breckon’s guards fell in behind us as we passed out of the double-doors from the ballroom, into the hallway. I grew even more wary when Breckon urged me to keep up.

“Don’t worry, you’ll remain safe while I’m engaged.”