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Chapter Forty-Six
Aika
Einar steps away as Remy comes closer, placing his hand on the small of my back.
“Forgive me, Your Majesty, but I must insist on this next dance with the lady.”
Do I detect a note of jealousy?
“Of course. Thank you for the drink, my lady.” The king reluctantly dips his head in a bow to both me and Remy, and there is a promise in his gaze that we will finish our conversation later.
With my head still spinning, I take Remy’s hand and follow him away from the bar to one of the far corners of the dance floor.
“Did you miss me already, my prince?” I ask sweetly as I take up my position to begin the next dance.
A dry laugh escapes him.
“Something like that.” He sways me to the music.
This dance doesn’t involve grand, sweeping motions; it isn’t a work of art like the others. This one is for couples to enjoy their time together, to gaze into one another's eyes, sharing secrets and whispered words.
Another one that the ladies are sure to be envious of, not to mention the fact that he sought me out, again, when they have to throw themselves at him in order to be seen.
Remy is quiet for a long moment while the violin swells to a crescendo. I take advantage of the break to replay the conversation with Einar in my head, picking apart each word for every possible way he meant them.
If he wasn’t talking about Mel...
“We were cut off before, when I was trying to get to know you better.” Remy interrupts my thoughts, his fingers running idly up and down the small of my back.
I suppress a shiver at the familiar touch.
“Yes, I was forced to take turns with the others.” I inject a bit of petulance into my voice to conceal my maelstrom of emotions. “I’m looking forward to when I won’t have to do that anymore. I never have been very good at sharing.”
“No, I can’t imagine that you are.” Remy’s mouth tugs up at the corner.
I’m not sure if I should take that as a compliment or not, so I let it slide all together.
“You know, if I close my eyes, I can almost imagine I’m at this little bar in the mid-sector. It has the same feel, though my company tonight is far better than any I ever found there,” he says, continuing to draw half circles on my spine.
The hell it is, arseface.
My next several thoughts collide as I attempt to respond as any young lady from court.
“And do you find yourself in the company of other women at these bars? Or is it more of a gentlemen’s club?” I keep my tone pleasant, though I refuse to look him in the eye.
“There are some women, yes. But none so lovely as you.” He lays the compliment on thick. “Mostly, we just play cards together. Do you play?”
“No. I can’t say that I’m much one for games,” I reply drily.
Remy lets out a small laugh, pulling me in tighter and whispering into my ear.
“Somehow, I very much doubt that.” His words are smooth, and it takes everything in me not to react.
“I’m certain the ladies there were quite taken with you, what with having a prince sneaking out to see them,” I say, batting my lashes at him while I wonder if I should let Mother plan his death, after all.
“Oh, but they didn’t know. I went under the guise of being a guard.”
“What a husband I’ve landed myself,” I grit out.
