Page 80 of The Heir's Bargain

Since his hand gripped my thigh.

Since his fingers brushed the bare skin of my back.

The ghost of his gentle touch still lingered there as if he had somehow marked my very soul.

Hours must have passed, yet I couldn't get the taste of his lips off my mind.

Movement flickered in my peripheral vision—a staff member strolling by balancing a precarious number of thinly stemmed glasses on a silver platter. I grabbed a glass as he passed and drank, letting the cool wine simmer the rising heat in my stomach.

"Oh, you missed it, Ter and Riley," Fynn said. "The two comedians were making a joke about the bull king and his?—"

"I'm going to get some fresh air," I said as Fynn prattled.

Not bothering to wait for a response, I weaved through the crowd. As I downed the rest of the wine, I tried to drown out everything around me: Fynn's voice, his laughter, the phantom warmth on my back, on my lips, on my?—

"By the gods," I groaned.

I kept walking until the fresh air swept across my face. But Pontanius himself must have cursed the sea's breeze, for it did little to soothe the burning consuming me.

I had set aside these feelings a long time ago. There was no reason I should have been getting heated about Fynn.

It was all pretend, I reminded myself.

He kissed me to ensure the kingdom believed we were serious. Yet the only thing it did was seriously confuse me.

I rubbed a hand across my face, groaning.

What am I doing? I asked myself.

"Danisinia."

I straightened at the queen's gentle voice and turned, curtsying. When I stood, Esmeray smiled. I could barely make my lips twitch, though, as her searing blue eyes bore into me. I had only known Esmeray to be a kind woman, but I had heard rumors about her gift—how she could rip memories from one's mind and claim them for her own. I had never feared her before, but now. . .

"Where's Fynneares?" Esmeray asked.

"Oh, uhm." My gaze flitted across the garden. "He and Terin are watching the rest of the performance. I came outside to get some fresh air."

She nodded, her gaze slipping to the manor behind me before her attention returned to me. "These events can be a lot sometimes."

"Indeed," I mumbled, twisting a curl around my finger behind my back.

"Walk with me for a moment?"

I tipped my head, unwilling to deny the queen. "Of course, Your Highness."

Esmeray strolled forward, and I walked beside her.

"Now, Danisinia, how many times have I told you? There is no need for such formalities. I have known you for your entire life. By the gods, I was there when you first started walking. We are practically family, so please, call me Esmeray."

I chewed on the inside of my cheek, the discomfort of the lie growing thick in my throat from the Queen's words. I had always been comfortable around Esmeray, but now she wasn't simply looking at me as her boys' childhood friend. In her eyes, I was now something. . .more.

But it was all a lie.

"Of course," I said with a tight smile, keeping my hands close to my body as she led us through the garden.

The captain of her guard walked several paces behind us. While his hands were folded behind his back, he remained alert as people celebrated the solstice all around us.

Despite only three or four hours left before midnight, there was still plenty of daylight ahead before night fell upon us. Music from the ballroom swirled around the manor’s land, wrapping around the jovial faces of the guests who ran and danced and rejoiced in the gardens.

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