Page 88 of A Game of Love and Betrayal

Fuck. How had she missed that?

Brynleigh stared at the board, trying to think of a way out of the inevitable checkmate as Jelisette added, “Never forget, you must always be planning several steps ahead.”

“I won’t fail you.”

Those words echoed in Brynleigh’s head as she broke eye contact with Jelisette. Hoping her Maker couldn’t sense the turmoil churning beneath her skin, Brynleigh dipped her head and forced a smile on her face as she retracted her wings. “I’d be delighted to dance, Ry.”

She would just make sure there were no emotions involved.

Ryker smiled and took Brynleigh’s hand in his. She ignored the way it felt good to be touched by him, ignored those sparks running up her arm as he led her onto the dance floor.

The first song wasn’t too bad. The orchestra played a slow waltz, and she mostly succeeded in hiding her two left feet and keeping emotions out of this.

That wasn’t the end of it, though.

The songs kept coming. She thought that after the first, they’d be done, but no. They danced and danced.

Damn it all, but this activity with Ryker was far more enjoyable than Brynleigh would ever admit. He moved with grace and ease, unencumbered by his tailored black suit.

Each wave of music, each dance, each moment Brynleigh spent in Ryker’s arms chipped away at her resolve to keep emotions out of this situation.

It wasn’t her fault. Not really. From a purely physical standpoint, Captain Ryker Waterborn was a well-built, muscular, tall fae. His jaw was chiseled, his ears were pointed, and a fire in his eyes burned brighter every time he looked at her.

“Do you trust me?” Ryker whispered into her ear, his hand splayed across her lower back as they danced their fifth song in a row.

There was a multitude of reasons why she shouldn’t. And yet, as Brynleigh stared into Ryker’s eyes, she nodded. “Yes.”

Her eyes widened at the admission and the truth behind it. What did that mean? She couldn’t trust him. She knew what he’d done.

And yet…

She didn’t take back her statement.

Ryker’s grip tightened on Brynleigh’s hand. His eyes sparkled, and he spun her away from him before twirling her back. Brynleigh couldn’t help it. She giggled like a love-sick schoolgirl. Ryker brought something out in her that she couldn’t label.

It had to be his handsomeness. That was the only logical reason for this kind of reaction.

After all, Brynleigh wasn’t the only one who noticed how good-looking her fiancé was. As they spun across the dance floor, she caught sight of several other women and even a few men eyeing Ryker with unmasked lust.

Brynleigh wanted to snarl at each of them to keep their eyes to themselves. This man, with his sharp jaw and lips made for kissing, was hers.

At least for now.

Was jealousy a bad emotion? Should she shove it down like the others? She wasn’t sure if it was dangerous or not. It certainly wasn’t as awful as the feeling that had welled up within her when he proposed.

That one, she refused to name. If she didn’t label it, it wasn’t real.

Except it felt far too fucking real. All of this did.

Ryker’s gaze never wavered from Brynleigh’s. His hand was a brand against her back. Even as he led them across the dance floor, he made her feel seen in a way that no one else ever had. It was like he peeled away all the layers of her identity and peered into her soul beneath.

It was extremely unnerving and made it difficult to remember this was all an act. He made her feel like…

No.

She wouldn’t even acknowledge that feeling. Whatever it was, she would ignore it until after the life drained from those chocolate brown eyes.

Two more songs went by, and Brynleigh… enjoyed them. Each chord, each note, affected her more than the last.

---