Page 54 of Court of Bone and Amethyst

“You’ve disrespected my queen,” I growl, eyes locked on the arrogant northern lord, voice low so no one around us can hear. “Walk away. Now.”

The lord’s eyes widen, bulging from his head. “Are you jesting? Do you know who I am?”

I lean in even closer, and I send my shadows out to encircle the man’s neck. I squeeze until his face turns purple. “You apparently do not know whoIam. I am Queen Sarielle’s guardian, and if you do not turn and walk away right now, I will cut your head from your shoulders in front of this entire court.”

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Sarielle

Istare in shockas a strand of Zyren’s shadows chokes the northern lord where he stands. It’s thin enough so no one would be able to see it unless they were as close as we are. The other dancers circling around us are looking at each other, paying us no mind.

The cocky northern lord lets out a small, strangled sound, looking from me to Zyren, and then nods.

“Apologize before you go,” Zyren snarls, his voice deadlier than I’ve ever heard it. A storm of dragons wouldn’t be as terrifying as Zyren in this moment. “Apologize to your queen.”

The eyes that turn to me are bulging, his skin so purple, I think he might pass out before he can make a single utterance. But he slurs something that sounds like “Apologies, my queen,” and Zyren releases him. The lord stumbles backward, then turns and cuts through the crowd.

Zyren turns to me and takes my hand. “I can take this song.”

He spins me, and now the crowd does begin to look, eyes resting on us as my guardian dances with me. “We cannot dance together, Zyren,” I whisper. “People are watching.”

“It’s too late. If we stop now, they’ll talk even more.”

He’s probably right. I’m surprised not many seem to have noticed the altercation that just took place in the middle of the dance floor, butthisthey notice.

“What did he say to you?” Zyren asks in a low growl as we move about the dance floor.

I can feel my heart rate slowing now that Zyren’s body surrounds me like a shield, his hand in mine, the other wrapped around my back. My body relaxes for the first time since we stepped foot in this room.

“He… he, uh, suggested that his cock was so powerful I’d be on my knees begging him for more every night.” My cheeks heat again just thinking of his slurred words in my ear.

Zyren’s expression is murderous. “I will kill him…”

“You willnot.” I shoot him a pointed look. “You made your point, and he’s gone now, for which I am grateful. That’s enough.”

“He should never have spoken to any woman that way, let alone a queen…”

“Let’s just hope he doesn’t tell Esbella what you did to him. Or withdraw his warriors from the battle.”

“To hell with all of that,” Zyren growls. “If you think I’m going to let you be disrespected, and shy away from protecting you because of court politics, then you don’t know me at all.”

I look up at him, and our gazes lock. “I know,” I say softly. “This is hard for both of us.”

We continue to spin around the dance floor, and I catch sight of Owyn and Merla a ways off, as well as the queen, who is giving us a curious look. Along with quite a few other people.

“Everyone is staring,” I say, my heart starting to hammer again.

A low rumble moves through Zyren’s chest. “Let them stare.”

“Okay.” I don’t take my eyes off his for a second. “One last dance.”

Zyren’s jaw rolls and he pulls me even closer.One last dance. Not just for tonight, but for always. Because after this, I have to choose one of these men to be my husband. Whatever bond Zyren and I shared, even fleeting and conflicted as it has been, will exist no longer. After tonight, things will never be the same between us again.

I melt into Zyren’s gaze, those storm-colored eyes. I feel the heat of his fingers touching my back, feel the warmth of his breath on my face. We spin, and everything else fades away. There is no crowd, only us, only this moment. Music wraps around us, and I smell Zyren’s musk in the air between us. That smell of leather and night, sensual and familiar. The dance feels like one of my dreams, like his visits every night, that comforting presence, the dark warrior who watched over me. I wish we could stay here, and never wake up.

But then the song is over, and another suitor is approaching me.

I smile and tell him I need refreshments, then walk away before he can follow. My feet lead me to one of the tables set with wine, and a servant hands me a fresh glass of pale liquid which holds a faint rose glow. It’s cool sliding down my throat, and it calms the sudden racing of my heart. I stride over to stand in the shadow of one of the huge columns at the edge of the room. Zyren follows behind, but gives me a few feet of space, as if sensing that we both need a moment.

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