Page 70 of A Court Bright and Broken

“I want you to know I put no credence in it. My brother’s acting strangely tonight. It probably has nothing to do with you. Honestly, I think he might be afraid of losing me,” he said.

“Losing you?”

Panic stabbed my gut. Had Pharis somehowknownI was a danger to Stellon?

Had he told him mind-to-mind that I was an assassin?

Was that why he’d brought me back inside, so he could reveal me publicly and the guards would be close at hand to escort me away?

“Losing our relationship,” Stellon clarified, “in its current form. Things will naturally change when I take a bondmate.”

I’d no sooner released a sigh of relief than I realized where Stellon had led me—to the raised platform at one end of the room.

It was empty now, the seaglass throne abandoned. Apparently the King had tired of the festivities, and he and his attendants had left.

What werewedoing here? Oh gods, I hoped he didn’t intend to make me dance with him up here in sight of the entire crowd.

Stellon urged me to ascend the few steps then moved from my side to stand facing me, taking both my hands in his.

His eyes were bright, his smile uncertain.

What is going on?

Directly in front of us, couples on the dance floor were performing yet another dance I didn’t know. But one by one, they stopped and stared up at us.

The musicians stopped playing, and a hush fell over the ballroom.

“As much as I would have sworn I wasn’t ready for it before the Assemblage began,” Stellon said. “I am now.”

And then he dropped to one knee, keeping hold of my hands while gazing up at me.

My heart thundered, and it felt like I was seeing him—and myself—from far away. What was hedoingdown there? What was happening?

“I don’t need to dance with anyone else,” he began.

Oh no.

“I don’t need to discuss it with anyone.”

My eyes flickered away from Stellon as Pharis stepped into view, emerging from the crowd behind him. His glower was hot enough to melt the glass throneandthe castle’s stone walls.

“Idon’tneed any additionalcounselon the matter,” Stellon went on, obviously aware of his brother’s presence, though I wasn’t sure how.

My eyes dropped to connect again with the Crown Prince’s earnest light blue ones.

“I have made my choice,” he said, more loudly, speaking not just to me but so that everyone could hear.

“Lady Wyn… you have captured my heart, and I know you will hold it for all eternity. Would you do me the great honor of becoming my betrothed… and the future queen of all Avrandar?”

Oh no.

Chapter 19

Trapped

Raewyn

A collective gasp rippled through the room. Utter silence followed.

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