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“I’ll say I’m giving up my seat for the Laurent prince. It’s a great courtesy to sit close to my parents, and no one can deny it.”
“Right.” I swallowed. “Are you ever going to tell me anything?”
The prince laughed. “I apologize for the secrecy. I need others to believe I’m seducing you. It is not uncommon for highborn males to stake a strong claim on a female if they desire her. Saga and I thought it would look better for you if you were pulled along, rather than scheming to ensnare a prince after your engagement was dissolved.”
“Seduce me?” I scoffed and brought a coquettish hand to my chest. “Are you that much of a strumpet?” His eyebrows rose, taking the jest in stride with an amused twitch of his lips. “Or is it really just because you and Roar don’t get along?”
“If you must know, there’s a rumor that he stole a faerie lady I was interested in once.” Prince Vale shrugged. “It wasn’t true, but most people believe it. And they know the warden and I despise one another. They’ll see this as me getting revenge.” His eyes locked with mine. “I can’t say I mind. Spending time in your company is a pleasant sort of revenge.”
My cheeks warmed, and while I wanted to ask more, to learn how we’d leave the castle and I’d flee, I did not, for at that moment, the other royals and their entourage entered the dining hall.
Everyone stood as the Aabergs filed in. Calpurnia Vagle, Prince Gervais, Lord Riis, and three other fae accompanied them and talked amongst themselves as if they hadn’t witnessed horrific murders. Though I still felt a little queasy, I realized it would behoove me to act as unaffected as the rest.
I rolled my shoulders back. “Who’s the high lady by Calpurnia?”
“Nalaea Qiren, Lady of Silks,” Prince Vale replied.
I cringed. I should have known from her silky ebony skin and long raven-wing curls that I’d seen on only one other fae, that she would be Aenesa’s mother. I found it bad enough that Calpurnia would sit at the head table. If Aenesa had told her mother anything about me, Lady Qiren might not like me either.
“The elder fae is my grandsire, Lord of Coin, Airen Vagle.” The prince nodded to the oldest male, who I’d seen before at the tourney. “The other is my uncle, Captain Eirwen Vagle. Calpurnia’s father.”
So, Lady Qiren was the only non-family member.
“Why is the Lady of Silks invited to sit at the head table?” I asked quickly. They neared, and soon I’d have to keep these sorts of questions in and play along with Prince Vale’s plan.
“Her alliance with my parents is strong. She’s trying to bargain for her daughter’s betrothal.” He swallowed thickly.
I wondered if that would be Aenesa or a sibling? I did not get to ask, however, because just then the royal family arrived at the table.
“Son.” King Magnus kept his tone tight as he glared at me. “I allowed her to sit with us in the Pit, but is this the place for her?”
“She’s my guest, and I’m happy to give my place to Prince Gervais.” Prince Vale gestured back to the vampire and others joining the royal family. “After all, Lady Neve is now an unaccompanied female at court. Is there a problem with me helping her to feel more comfortable, Father?”
The king scowled at me. “Fine. She can stay tonight, and be your plaything, but do not get too comfortable among us, Lady Neve.”
So he was fine with pairing me off with a noble lord if that pairing benefited him, and definitely fine with me being a part of his harem, but the king was not happy to see me with his son. Not as anything other than a faerie to sleep with anyway. My fingers itched to toss the king a vulgar gesture, but I held back.
Instead, I smiled placidly and placed my hand atop Prince Vale’s. The prince’s fingers twitched. He had not expected me to take the lead, but he recovered and lifted my hand to his lips to kiss it.
“I thank you for your family’s graciousness.” Determined to play up the ruse, I threw the prince a simpering look that sent whispers washing through the dining hall. If Prince Vale wanted me to act seduced, then so be it; I’d act my wings off.
The king stormed to his seat, followed by the queen, Prince Gervais, Prince Rhistel, and Princess Saga. Only the princess appeared disinclined to hurl me from the high table. In fact, she seemed to be trying not to laugh.
But then Calpurnia glared at me. As she strolled by me behind her father and grandsire, she whispered, ‘whore’.
I swallowed. Surely others thought it, too, but what did it matter? I only played along with this charade to escape the kingdom. Soon enough, I’d leave, and the opinions of these fae would matter nothing.
Still, I felt all too glad when Calpurnia sat at the far end of the table. There would be no speaking with her tonight. That left only Lady Qiren to drop into the seat between Lord Riis and Prince Vale. The Lady of Silk’s bright green eyes took me in with interest. Stars this woman was not only stunning, but she radiated an aura of confidence that made her slightly terrifying. I wondered if Calpurnia might not be a better option to spar with conversationally. This female appeared far too shrewd.
“Lady Neve, we have not met.” Lady Qiren inclined her head.
Had we been standing; I would have curtsied because she was of a higher rank. Instead, I bent my head too, and maintained the position for longer than she. “Good evening, Lady Qiren. I’m pleased to make your acquaintance.”
“Deepest sympathies for your broken betrothal.” She paused. “Though you seem to be losing no time in finding another suitor. Do all females move so fast in the villages?”
I cleared my throat. If that was how she wanted to play, I’d rise to the occasion. I opened my mouth to reply, but the prince shifted his large body between us so that I could barely see Lady Qiren.
“Lady Neve is my guest. Such talk is not welcome at this table, Lady Qiren. Is that understood?”
