Page 45 of The Heir's Bargain

Fynn rolled his eyes, his shoulders dropping. "Don't worry. Dani's simply mad because I didn't give her a goodnight kiss last night, aren't you, love?"

Fynn's lashes fluttered across his cheeks as he blinked at me.

My nails bit into my palms. I exhaled, slow and steady. "Right, love."

"I think we're done training for the day, Terin. Do you mind?" Fynn asked.

"Sure," Terin said, elongating the word. "Whatever you need. I don't want to be in the middle of whatever is going on between the two of you, anyway. Later, Dani!"

I haphazardly waved at Terin as he strolled away, my gaze never leaving Fynn as he shoved his hands deep into the pockets of his linen trousers. He casually leaned back on his heels as if everything was fine.

Because to Fynn, this was only another one of his games.

After a moment, Fynn smacked his tongue against the roof of his mouth and nodded, pointing in the direction Terin had left. "This has been fun, but I better get going. You know, princely duties await."

Fynn made to step around me, but I cut him off. "Nope. You're not going anywhere," I said, ramming my hand against his chest.

His chest was surprisingly firm for a prince who seemingly would rather spend his time drinking and sleeping around. I, however, refused to think about whatever other muscles might have developed over the past few years.

"If you insist." Fynn brushed his fingers through his hair. He groaned, his hand falling to his side. "What are you so worked up about, anyway? I thought last night went well. Terin seems to?—"

I spun on my heel. "Worked up? Fynn, you took me to the concert hall."

"And? I thought we had a nice time."

"A nice time? A nice time?"

"Yes," he said, taking a few steps back. "Am I wrong? Or is it simply your strange aversion to the word nice?"

"Let me make this clear, Fynneares. Because apparently, it needs to be repeated." I stalked forward. When Fynn swallowed, his smug attitude dropping for a moment, a small part of me was overjoyed that he at least marginally feared me. "I have a reputation to uphold. I am not one of the women you can parade around?—"

"What in the stars are you talking about?" he asked, interrupting.

I groaned. "Marisil?"

"What about her?"

"You took her to the concert hall, didn't you?"

"Sure, but I've taken a lot of people there. It is a common place for?—"

"People or women, Fynn?" I interrupted.

"Well, both." Fynn shrugged nonchalantly. But nothing about this was nonchalant.

That's what I deserved for not having thought this through—for having been distracted by his stupid smirk. Again.

"You're unbelievable!" I spun on my heel, pacing the castle's training grounds. "If the leaders are going to take this seriously, they have to believe it's not another one of your silly little flings! If your mother is going to believe this?—"

"All right, all right, I get it. Look, Dani," Fynn said, grabbing a hold of my wrist and forcing me to a stop. "I meant nothing by it. Many people—yes, myself included—take their partners to the concert hall. I thought that Lorenza's performance would provide enough publicity without the need for unnecessary conversations with others. I knew we hadn't had enough time to get our story straight, so a performance would provide the entertainment we needed to prevent those conversations."

Crossing my arms over my chest, I snorted. "Well, it had enough publicity, that's for sure. My soldiers are already talking about it."

"That's a good thing, isn't it? The whole point was for people to know. It's not like my history is a secret."

"Your history is none of my business."

"But you just?—"

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