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I sighed again and resisted the urge to hang my head as I cast a silencing Shield around us. “I just wish everyone knew about him, and I wish everyone knew the truth about the king.”
“Wishes will get us nowhere, dear Ilara. It’s best to accept that.”
“I know, but how do you do it? How do you stand by while the entire realm thinks Norivun’s a monster when really it’s the king who’s the demon?”
The guard glanced over his shoulder, but no one was around. We were still in the prince’s private wing, which was usually empty save for a few scurrying servants, but I wasn’t stupid.
“I cast a silencing Shield around us, Sandus. Nobody can hear us. You may speak freely.”
His eyebrows rose. “You did? I didn’t even feel it.”
“My air affinity has grown quite strong, and subtle, but back to the matter at hand. How do you stand it when everyone detests him?”
“It’s hard.” The guard shrugged. “All four of us struggle with it, as you saw in High Liss when Nish wanted to ram his sword down your throat, but I imagine that it’s probably even harder for you to stomach since the crown prince is your mate.”
I wrung my hands. “Do you think the entire realm knows we’re mates now?”
His lips quirked. “You two practically set that dais on fire, so yes, I think it’s safe to assume most know. That kind of explosive attraction is only seen between mates.”
“Will the king do anything about it now that he knows?” A shiver ran down my spine. Just thinking of the king’s comment made me want to run.
Sandus’s mouth tightened. “That, Ilara, is a very good question.”
* * *
Michas swepttoward me the second I stepped into the dining hall. The Osaravee noble slipped my hand around his forearm, getting a glower from Sandus that Michas merely brushed off.
Across the room, the rest of the Trial occupants watched as the young lord made a show of escorting me.
“Someone’s been keeping a secret,” Michas said quietly as he leaned down to whisper in my ear. “And here I thought I was potentially in the running for winning your heart.”
A pounding aura suddenly pressed into my side, and I knew that the crown prince had just entered the room. I tried to dip farther away from Michas, but he followed and stayed plastered to my side.
“I shall marry whomever the king deems me suitable for,” I said carefully.
Michas’s lips kicked up in a smile. “Are you sure the crown prince would allow it?”
“I don’t think he’d have a choice.”
Energy continued to pulse from Norivun. Veins swelled in his neck, and his eyes glued to Michas.
“You’re playing a very dangerous game,” I said quietly to my date.
“I like to live dangerously. I’ve never courted a mated female before.”
“We’re not mated yet.”
“Oh? You’re saying he hasn’t bedded you?”
I squirmed and wondered why I’d blurted that out. “Who I bed is none of your concern.”
He scratched his chin as music drifted through the air, and a floating tray glided by us. He snatched two flutes of champagne off of it, then held one out to me.
“I suppose this does explain the prince’s attraction to you,andsince you’re not bonded to him, but he’s fully bonded to you, it would explain his absolute rage and inability to control his reactions where you’re concerned.” Michas grinned. “Do you know this is the first time in my life that I haven’t seen the crown prince under perfect control? Usually, he’s so cool. Nothing ruffles him. But three months of you in the court, and he looks set to explode like the volcanoes on the Dresher Islands.”
The knots in my stomach tightened more. It was exactly as I feared. Everyone knew. And if Norivun was truly incapable of controlling his instincts right now, then it fell to me to keep the wolves at bay.
“He’ll kill you if you prove too bold,” I said casually and sipped my champagne.
