Page 113 of A Court Bright and Broken

“No matter how… ” Stellon prodded, grinning at me like he expected an adoring compliment to come his way, as if he expected me to fawn all over him like the Fae women did.Ha.

“No matter how muchotherwomen might want to be a princess,” I self-corrected in a haughty tone.

“Seeing your life up close, I’ve realized being a Fae royal is rather miserable,” I said. “You have almost no freedom in your life. You can’t choose how you spend your days, or where you go, or even whom to marry. Speaking of that, whyareyou home so soon? Did you succeed in identifying the ‘lucky girl?’”

And why hadthatcome out sounding so grumpy? What was the matter with me?

Stellon’s grin widened, and he loosened his collar, unbuttoning several buttons until the sides listed and revealed his collar bones and the tops of his chest muscles.

“I left early, because I was bored,” he said. “I realized I’d have a much better time here with you.”

He tossed his cravat onto the settee and rolled up each sleeve. Perhaps the Elven saol water had heightened my senses, but I couldn’t help but notice the flex of his forearm muscles or the appealing way the veins stood out in his hands and wrists.

“With me?” I gulped.

“Yes. You’re far more interesting than anyone down at that dreadful party.”

Collapsing onto the nearest settee, he draped an arm across its back and sat in that spread-leg way men did when they were relaxed and confident.

“Why don’t you come and sit with me.” He patted the cushion next to him. “We’ll enjoy the music, and you can tell me about what you did today. Did you read anything good? I’ve been dying for you to get to the Auspexiate’s memoir so we can discuss it.”

Shaded stars. How did he always know exactly what to say to put me off my guard?

Did heknowthere was nothing more appealing to me in the world than discussing a good book with a friend?

Make the “friend” look like him, with that face, that… physique… and the allure was nearly impossible to resist.

But I had to.

“I’m too sleepy.”

Glancing over at the empty pitcher, Stellon raised his brows. “I can see why. That’s alotof saol water for someone your size.”

His eyes flicked up to meet mine. There was a knowing gleam in them.

“Any particular reason you decided to imbibe so profusely this evening?”

That look—and his tone—didn’t sit well with me. He was so arrogant, suggesting it had something to do with him.

“If you’re implying that I was jealous because you were down there… cavorting with other women, you can think again.”

Stellon laughed. “I assure you, nocavortingtook place. Neither did anyfrippery—ordalliance. There wasn’t even a singletrifle.”

I frowned at his provoking tone. “If you think your big, fancy, rich-boy vocabulary is going to get you out of this, think again. You were insinuating something, and I want to know what it is.”

“Well, youdosound a little jealous,” he said. “Maybe it’s just wishful thinking on my part. If you’d been the one downstairs ‘cavorting’ with other men, and I’d been the one up here alone,I’dbe jealous. I’ve already spent far too much time thinking about the men back in your village who might be courting you.”

What? Shaking my head, I tried to clear it.

How had the conversation even gotten here? I wasnotjealous—and even if I was, it was pointless.

Stellon’s romantic life had nothing to do with me.

And what was that he’d said about wishful thinking andhimbeing jealous?

My brain was all muddled, and my feelings were too loose and close to the surface. I needed to end this discussion before it spun entirely out of control and I started saying things I had no business saying.

“I need to go to bed,” I said, turning toward the refuge of the mattress then spinning back to point at him. “You should sleep on the sofa tonight.”

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