Page 62 of Pawns of Salistya

‘Oh, Minx, I really do,’ he goaded, desire sparking in his eyes.

‘Are you flirting with a kept woman, Your Highness?’ Despite my anger, I couldn’t deny his eyes admiring my body sent a fit of butterflies south. Damn fucking fate.

‘It depends. Is the ‘kept’ woman in question emotionally, spiritually, and mentally ‘kept’? Not just physically?’ he challenged. He shot me a knowing look.

I hummed, ‘And you say I ask the intense questions.’ I lowered myself back down onto my elbows, hands gripping into the sand to stop myself acting on the devil in my head screaming to jump him.

He shrugged, lying down on his side to face me. ‘Would we call that intense? Or simply calling it how it is?’

‘And how is it, Pretty Boy?’ I retorted.

‘You don’t love Eliasson,’ he said simply.

Of course, he would say that, knowing what we both are. Deceitful prick. ‘Interesting perspective. You can love someone in myriad ways though.’

‘True,’ he conceded. ‘You may love him as a friend and share a mutual understanding of what it means to be a royal and the obligations that come with it. You may even enjoy his body. But you aren’t in love with the man romantically.’

‘I thought it was clear that I’m here to escape the politics. I would say trying to drive a wedge between my husband and I isn’t exactly leaving politics at the door,’ I deflected.

‘I think driving a wedge between you two would imply there was something there to start off with and, rest assured, this discussion is the furthestthing from a political move.’

I had to suppress a scoff. Furthest? Really? I fucking doubt it.

‘What’s the Kingdom of Marlyst like?’ I questioned, abruptly changing the topic. I was also curious to see how much information he’d provide.

He cocked his head, eyes narrowed in annoyance from the change in subject. ‘Smooth, Minx. Real smooth.’

My eyes closed in frustration, and I took a few slow, calming breaths. I enjoyed his persistence when I watched him debate theother royals, especiallymy sister. But when that focused persistence moved to me? It was half a turn on, and half me wanting to scratch his eyes out. With the current True Infinite situation – a situation I had to remember he has no idea I’m aware of – it was the latter I was leaning towards.

‘Marlyst is beautiful. A lot colder than here if you’re up in the northern mountain range. My people who live in the south close to the Pass enjoy the heat that the Arloman Kingdom does. Most of them are blacksmiths who can work wherever and choose to be in a warmer climate. The further north in the Kingdom you are, the denser the forest becomes. In fact, most of the land is covered in acres of pine trees in the lead up to the Moondallelle Ranges.’

I opened my eyes to see him dreamily staring out at the ocean. He was clearly very fond of Marlyst.

‘And your palace?’ I prompted.

He cleared his throat. ‘What about it?’

‘Where is it in your Kingdom? Is it in a town like Amarald? I don’t know anything about it,’ I pressed.

‘Somewhere between the pine trees and mountains.’

He doesn’t trust me. Despite what he knows about me. Aboutus.Honestly, the only one who shouldn’t trust the other in this situation is me. ‘What’s it called?’

Obviously not seeing the harm in telling me the name, though, he replied, ‘Mayurial.’

‘Hm, that’s pretty.’

His eyes swung around to land on mine, ‘Indeed. Very pretty.’

Despite myself, I couldn’t help the blush that rose to my cheeks, catching his double meaning.

‘What do you do for fun in Mayurial?’

‘I’ll have to show you one day,’ he said.

What game was he playing? He’d already ensured I’d be coming to his Kingdom. Still I shot back, ‘Is that an invitation?’

‘It is,’ he replied sincerely.

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