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“Why isn’t she in the ball?”
“She doesn’t like crowds and prefers to be entertained privately.”
I arched a brow. “A royal who doesn’t like the spotlight.”
“It happens,” he said, his hand gently pressing against my back. “Do we have a deal? I’ll wait on the second staircase for Draven if you stay here?”
I swallowed thickly, gazing up into his sharp stare. He did have a better chance than me, and if it meant potentially bringing down Kalon, then I supposed it was for the best. Besides, the thought of climbing those stairs again sent a sharp dagger of pain through my lungs.
I nodded, and he linked his arm with mine. “For the next forty minutes, you need to loosen up and look like you’re having fun. We need Sargon, his guards, and as many witnesses as many witnesses as we can gather that we were here at midnight.”
Before he could escort me back inside, I pulled him to one side. “How will she die?”
“Erianna will have the taster give her a fast-acting poison. She will die in Kalon’s arms, then wake up a vampire. Her guards will sound an alarm. She has around twenty of them, two of which are sorcerers.”
“I bet Sargon hates that.”
“Yes, he does.”
“Where’s Zach and Anna?”
“Anna’s in her room on the side of the castle. Zach wanted her left out of this.”
“Understandable.”
“Zach is keeping watch over the princess and Erianna to make sure she doesn’t get caught up in this. They should join us shortly after, but don’t worry, no one will suspect them. They know what they’re doing and know how to hide if need be.”
My stomach knotted as he escorted us inside, smiling his pearly whites at Velda and Gwen as she sauntered in a skimpy, sequin dress next to her mom, who moved elegantly in a ballgown fit for royalty. “Sebby.” Velda stepped in our path, reaching out to touch his chin. “I’ve been waiting for the chance to speak with you.”
“Back off, bitch,” I snapped, stepping in front of him.
Her eyes burned with a possessiveness that beat through the emotions, wrapping around us like a snake. “I wasn’t talking to you,mortal.” She somehow made the word sound like an insult. “Sebby would never speak to me like that.”
“Stop calling him that.”
His fingers squeezed gently on my shoulder and moved to my side. “It’s okay, love.”
“It’s not. She’s a vile snake and doesn’t deserve to be anywhere near you.”
Her thin, blonde eyebrows raised. “I was led to believe this engagement”—she snapped my hand in hers and wrenched me toward her to examine the ring on my finger—“was a facade, but perhaps you really do have feelings for him. It’s a shame they’ll never be reciprocated.”
“Let her go.” Sebastian took a step toward Velda, and she laughed, dropping my hand as if it were made from hot coal.
“Fear not, I don’t want to touch her any more than I have to.”
I rubbed my wrist, shaking my head as I glared at her up and down. “Come on, Sebastian. Let’s dance.”
“I was going to ask him the same question, and I’m sure he’d rather dance with me. That is, unless you want me to talk with the king right here about your treacherous little plans, or maybe I’ll save myself the time and just rip your throat out.”
Of course Kalon had told her everything. “You wouldn’t.”
“She would,” Sebastian said, his tone thick with rage.
“No.” I placed my hand on his chest, standing between them. “She’s bluffing. Kalon has plans in place, else I’d already be dead, and Sargon would know the truth.”
He tilted his head, and she observed him. I realized, out of everyone in the room, she was the only one he might fear even the slightest amount. She had, after all, killed his entire family in front of his eyes and then kept him prisoner.
“Goodbye, Velda,” I said and pushed past her.
