Page 35 of Burning Your Lies

He offers me his hand. “May I have the honour of a dance?”

I place my hand in his. “Is Elise down for the night?”

Xavier ignores my question. “Do you remember the last time we danced to a live orchestra?”

A green dress. Huxley’s rejection. Dancing with Xavier. Chest hammering. Eviscerating the moral line. Dress hitched up. Bent over. Moans of pleasure.

“That won’t be happening tonight. I’ll be going home with my husband.”

His fingers trail my exposed back. “Are you sure?”

“This is not that game, Xavier. We are not playing chess. I may still be the queen, but you arenotthe king. Not anymore.”

He spins me around the floor as the tempo picks up. My legs can barely keep up as Xavier moves us in fluidity with music. “What game are we playing?” he asks, when we’re back to swaying.

“If you have to ask, then you don’t deserve a seat at the table,” I whisper.

Huxley forces his body between us. “I’d like to dance with my wife.”

Like a gentleman, Xavier nods his head and lets go of me. He saunters off, leaving me with a tense Huxley.

“Nothing was—”

“He’s here,” he grits out. “Don’t look.”

My arms wrap around his neck, and I smile despite the nerves. “Rowan?”

He hums under his breath. “Did you invite him?”

I can’t help but roll my eyes. “Are you stupid? Why would I invite him? Has Xavier seen him?” Huxley spins me around, allowing me to have a look. “They’re talking. What are we going to do?”

“We need to get them away from each other. Who do you want to take?”

My eyes lock with Xavier, who stops talking to Rowan to meet my gaze. “Xavier. You get Rowan out of here.” I wave at Rowan, who is now smiling at me. “They’re walking over to us.”

Rowan jokingly pouts. “I’m hurt I didn’t get an invitation, my darling. You make a beautiful bride.”

“I didn’t think our wedding would be good enough for the great Basileus,” I lie. “But I’m glad you could make it.”

He looks around the venue before smiling at me. “You’re sweet talking me. I’d be careful, Huxley. Your bride may be tempted to run away with the king.”

Stepping closer to Huxley, I force a laugh. “Haven’t you heard?” I look at Xavier. “Huxley and I are the new king and queen. We have claimed our crowns.”

Rowan always looks like he is part of a joke none of us are privy to. “Like a deck of cards,” he muses.

My eyes do not move from Xavier’s. “Exactlylike a deck of cards.”

“Do I get to play?” Rowan asks.

“Depends what you’re willing to bet,” Huxley answers. “Would you bet your life at the risk of winning nothing?”

Rowan steps closer. “I think the bigger question is if you’re willing to bet your queen at the risk of losing everything?”

Xavier’s cold glare doesn’t waver from my face. “How much are you willing to bet the future all to find the past?”

“I guess you have to earn a seat at the table to find out. Are you brave enough to risk it all? How many lies will you bet on to bury the truth?” My stare with Xavier only breaks when I step away from Huxley and excuse myself. I leave the main hall with a look of determination and aura of power. I feel the pull of my train, but not more than the echo of Xavier’s steps behind me.

The door to the bridal suite barely shuts before he joins me inside. He says nothing at first. He takes a seat at the table and watches as I fix my lipstick. “I know the game,” he taunts.

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