Total pages in book: 140
Estimated words: 132625 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 663(@200wpm)___ 531(@250wpm)___ 442(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 132625 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 663(@200wpm)___ 531(@250wpm)___ 442(@300wpm)
“Are you ready to pretend you like me?”
His gaze is so potent as it scrapes over me, I feel it like a touch. Like callused fingertips across my skin. “You’re not the only one who can play a part when necessary.” He turns on his heel and leaves the balcony with the confidence of a male who has every reason to believe he’ll be followed.
“Have fun,” Abriella says with a wink.
I hurry my steps to catch up with Misha before he can exit the queen’s sound shield. “You know, a polite escort would walk at a pace I could keep up with,” I say to his back.
He slows and offers his arm.
I hold his gaze for a beat before I take it, ignoring the way my whole body lights up when I’m in contact with him. He hates you.
“I’m sorry you have to escort me,” I say as he slowly leads me down from the dais and to the ballroom floor. The apology is kinder than railing against him for emotions he’s more than entitled to. It’s fairer than all the heartbroken, unfair accusations I want to hurl at him. It’s less pathetic than everything I want to ask him for.
I lock those thoughts away before they can do something humiliating like flash across my face.
He cuts his gaze to mine. We need someone near you all night who knows the players in the court.
My eyes widen as I register that he’s not speaking the words but— You’re in my mind.
He arches a brow. Did you forget? Or do you only remember my more remarkable talents?
My cheeks heat. If I didn’t know better, I’d think he was flirting. Seeing me in Jasalyn’s form must be messing with his head. You didn’t speak to me this way when I stayed at Castle Craige.
Only the once. His throat bobs and he tears his gaze from mine. It seems the connection that materialized between our minds that night was never severed.
I feel it now—the path between us, the connection not so much like the thread I’d imagine. More like a rescue rope, thick and durable.
I’m not sure how I feel about that, I admit, and even though I can feel the connection and know I control my end of it, I still find myself asking, Can you hear my thoughts?
His russet eyes are so magnetic I couldn’t pull my gaze away if I wanted to. Only the ones you feed me.
The tension between us buzzes with everything unspoken.
Perhaps I’m not as good at shielding as I once thought.
He smirks. Or perhaps you don’t want to keep me out as much as you once did.
What’s that supposed to mean? Is he referring to my feelings for him? Really? Rude. You’re sure no one else is available to escort me tonight? The group Abriella pointed out is only steps away. What if they think we’re together and I don’t get close enough to either son to get what I need?
His gaze flicks to mine. If you’re so worried, you should probably stop looking at me like that.
Like what?
Like you know how my mouth feels on your skin and you’re wondering when you can feel it again.
I gape at him and he lifts a shoulder as if to say he can’t help how I’m feeling.
Stay close, he says as Lord Pandian notices our approach and turns to greet us.
“King Misha,” the lord says, acknowledging him with a curt nod before turning his full attention to me. “Princess, how lovely to see you in attendance tonight. You look stunning, as usual.” He takes my hand, lifting it to his lips and leaving a slimy trail behind.
Do not wipe your hand on your skirts, Misha mentally warns me. No matter how much you might want to.
I’m not socially inept. You’ll remember I fooled you without an issue.
Trust me. I remember.
Lord Pandian tugs lightly on my hand, bringing me forward. “Princess, it is my pleasure to introduce you to my sons—Leon and Ezra.”
“Good evening,” I say, bowing my head politely toward each of them. “Thank you for joining us.”
Ezra steps forward and takes my hand, bringing it to his lips as his father did. “The pleasure is ours, Princess.”
“It’s a relief to see you well,” Leon says, taking his turn adding his own slippery kiss to the back of my hand. “We’d heard you’d befallen a terrible fate.”
“Which rumor was that?” Misha asks. His eyes dance and his lips quirk as if he’s trying to hold back an amused smile. “Did you hear the one where she was kidnapped by the sea dragon or the one where she ran away with her goblin lover?”
As far as I know, neither of these is a rumor that’s been circulating, but that’s precisely why Misha’s using these examples—to make the rumors that hit a little too close to home seem equally ridiculous.