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“I’d love another dance.” I offered my hand again, and he pivoted us. “Why does it help you, though, to have a no-name fae in your arms?” I smirked. “Do you enjoy stirring up gossip about yourself, Prince?”
He shared my smile, but his voice came serious. “Can I tell you a secret? You feel like someone it would be safe to share with.”
The good feelings fizzed away, and I was back to remembering how I abused him, but I nodded. “Of course.”
He twisted us past a handful of other dancers, waiting to speak until we reached an emptier stretch of floor. Those thoughtful blue eyes of his landed on me, as if he assessed me. “I worry I may earn your disfavor in sharing, but I’ve never felt attraction to women. Not once in my life.”
“I’m sorry you think you’d lose any regard from me over that.” The tension in his shoulders eased, and I thought of Luz’s assessment of the King. “I’m guessing your father doesn’t approve?”
He ducked his head. “He does not. So, rumors spreading about me spending the evening with a beautiful woman in my arms,”—he smiled gently, and I returned it—“would help me. That’s what the name I chose for you means, by the way.”
“The name?”
“Álainn. It means beautiful.”
Heat swept over my cheeks. God, I betrayed this man. If either of us was a kitten loping down a cruel city street, it was Lennox. I felt so terrible I almost told him. But then I remembered Shaan. He deserved to have his zevar back. Lennox had shamed him with his actions. I didn’t understand why, though.
Lennox dipped me, and I was so tangled in my thoughts I nearly lost my footing. I gripped his shoulder, my thumb sliding over his neck, to keep myself from falling. “Sorry,” he said. “I didn’t mean to catch you off guard.”
“It’s fine. I was caught up in my thoughts.”
“Worried about your mother?” He pulled me to standing. “We’ll come up with a plan.”
Oh, God, I was rotten to hurt this man. “Thank you.”
He turned us again, and the high neck of his suit pulled with the motion. My thumb slid farther down his neck, landing over the bump of not one necklaces, but two.
Lennox didn’t wear a single zevar cord.
He wore two.
CHAPTERTHIRTY-ONE
SAI
The serf staredat the three of us and then skimmed her eyes over the trashed room where we’d pulled all the furniture back from the walls, bedsheets and clothing tangled together, and piles of paper scattered around the desk.
She parted her lips like she might scream, and I shot a look at Orman. He dashed for the girl, clasped a hand over her mouth, and kicked the door shut.
“Start looking,” I said to Elisa before walking over to the girl. She had wide, freckled cheeks and pale skin that lost its limited color as I stepped over. The Seelie using human serfs made anger flare in me. Fairies had made a vow to separate from humans. Of course the Seelie would not only break that but abuse them as well. I met the girl’s gaze. “If you don’t scream, I’ll have him uncover your mouth. You can be quiet, can’t you?”
She bobbed her head, and I nodded to Orman who released his hand. “I’m gonna tattle on ya’ though, you bunch of fools, robbing the Prince hisself!”
Orman frowned down at her. “You aren’t a woman who values her life much, are ya?”
“You think you won’t get caught. The Prince’ll know. The King’ll have yer hides and hang ya’ up as an example. I know what it’s like to need more. I understand,” she continued, “but yer going to get yerself and yer entire families killed over this.”
I looped the glamour stone off my neck and let myself transform back into Sai, prince of darkness. When I’d initially started searching for the Prasanna heart stones, I never meant to create the reputation I did. However, a few fairies saw me mixing shadow and memory magic, and the rumors bloomed. At first it didn’t bother me. In some ways it helped. Lowlifes fucked with us less when they knew whose team they were dealing with. But then gossip spread until I’d become the creature that snatched children or murdered innocents from the shadows. I’d killed no one, and it stung to have my reputation maligned to where this human stood trembling in front of me despite her brave face. I didn’t doubt King Carrington had a hand in crafting the stories about me. However, my reputation would come useful here and, Goddess, I hoped this girl told Lennox exactly who destroyed his life as easily as he’d damaged Shaan’s. My brother would rise again, but I’d happily watch Lennox burn if I could. Trashing his room would have to do.
“Yer the devil hisself aren’t ya?” The serf gaped.
“Listen,”—I leaned in closer to her—“we don’t wish to harm you. Your prince stole something from us and we’re here to retrieve it. I’m afraid we’re going to have to tie you to a chair for now. We can’t let you expose us just yet.”
Her lip trembled. “But what am I to tell the King? He’ll… he’ll punish me.”
“No. You’ll tell him the devil and his crew overpowered you. You’re not but one insignificant girl, right?” I nodded until she mimicked the motion. I pulled a gem free from my pocket and tucked it in her hand. “Something for your trouble.”
“They’ll think I stole it. They’ll flay me.”
