Page 37 of Chosen By the Fae King

“Did you mean them?”

“Yes, but I didn't mean for them to reach your ears.”

I chuffed. I doubted Nox had any clue how to apologize. The nagging fae condition wouldn't let you say words you didn't mean.

“I was caught off guard. You were the only one having ... difficulty, shall we say. Even your Sofiya was graceful and fluid.”

Ouch. “Well, I'm probably the only one of the contestants who has scarcely even looked at a pair of fine shoes.”

“Obviously.”

I pressed my fingernails into my palms. “Did you summon me here so you could remind me of my shortcomings? Humiliate me, perhaps?”

He at least had the grace to grimace. “No.”

“Then you summoned me so you could say you didn't mean for me to hear your comment on my shortcomings, thus alleviating yourself of what? Guilt? No, it couldn't be that. The king means what he says. I'll have to assume it's to pacify a contestant who may disrupt the flow of your contrived trials. Well, don't worry. I worked something out, something better suited for me in the end, so perhaps I should be thanking you for the motivation.”

Nox pushed off the wall, prowling slowly, eyes gleaming silver. The air crackled between us. Shadows swirled behind him, evidence of his dark fae magic.

I'd heard beings in the Otherland could sense and touch souls. In Torrach Realm we could only get a general sense of aura.

Would Nox's soul feel dark if I could touch it?

The wild thing inside me stretched awake, hungry and wanting, like some separate entity reaching out to take what it wanted. It wanted to reach for Nox's soul.

“It was not my intent to injure your pride, little hellion. I know how catty the others can be.”

“Yet, you called it out loud enough for them all to hear?”

“A mistake. One I now regret.”

I bit the inside of my cheek, processing, chewing on his admission. I couldn't reconcile it, not from this male.

“For the record,” he added, “that's as close to an apology anyone has ever gotten from me.”

I had to remind my lungs to inhale. As he prowled closer, sexual need burned through my limbs.

“You should probably practice apologizing until you can actually manage it,” I suggested offhandedly, far too aware of his proximity, not even sure if my words were coherent.

He licked his bottom lip. “I'll take it under advisement.” Slowly, so slowly, he continued closing the distance.

I knew I should leave before he reached me, but my voice lost its assertiveness when I found it. “If that's all, I have training to attend.”

“Not yet. There's another matter I wish to discuss. I've noticed you've befriended the frost nymph.”

He was now close enough to reach for me. I took a step back, my rear bumping the desk.

“What do you make of her?” he inquired.

“Raina? Why do you ask?”

“Because I want to know your thoughts.”

Though I found it odd, it was an easy question to answer. “She seems kind, though her situation is unfortunate.”

“Her situation?” Nox scoffed. “You mean her failed betrothal to Liam? Yes, unfortunate that her greedy parents tried to barter her to the highest bidder and then broke the contract so she could have a shot at the throne.”

Callous male. “You shouldn't judge when you know little of her circumstances.”

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