Page 110 of A Bond in Blood

When I stepped through, I realized Adie had directed me to a passageway that did not open to the dais. No—this opened in the corner of the room. Hidden in the shadows.

My pulse calmed at her unspoken kindness.

No heads turned my way when I closed the door quietly and slipped into the room. Likely due to where I’d arrived and the utter lack of people around me.

A voice cleared near my knees and I glanced down, finding thetrollfrom the kitchen—Gard.

“Princess,” his rough voice spoke.

“Gard.” I nodded my head.

The creature’s eyes scanned my body and it grinned. “I see we should anticipate a show this Rite.”

I scowled. “Is that a problem?”

Gard turned its head and I followed their gaze, finding Ulrich sitting atop his throne. His horned mask of death was fitted tightly across his face while his eyes scanned the room. Olen stood at his side, unmoving with his hands behind his back but his body was bent as though he were addressing his king quietly.

“His grace will not be thrilled,” Gard sang. “Oh my. Oh my. He will not be thrilled.”

I lowered myself, meeting the creature’s eyes. “Will you get in the way?”

Gard smiled at me, its dark teeth sharp and jagged. “Myprincess,absolutely not. This palace has needed a proper Rite for centuries.”

I stared after Gard while it scurried away, opening a smaller door near the one I’d appeared through. My gaze went back to Ulrich.

His hands thrummed the arm of his throne while his crossed leg gave him an appearance of boredom and distaste.

While my ears were barely becoming used to the sounds of people lost in ecstasy, I could not decipher how this celebration was different from any other night. Yes, the music had that addictive beat to it, a noise that rattled my soul and bones. But there was laughter, food splayed across countless tables, and more wine than I’d ever seen in my life.

The only difference was the roaring fire in the middle of the room. Warming the space to a suffocating heat.

My hands wrung the skirts of my sheer gown, and I held my shoulders tight while I stepped out from the shadows.

At first, no one batted an eye at me. I was as invisible as I felt in Ulrich’s court. The whispers started.

Wraith.

Whore.

Harbinger.

Fingers pointed at me while hungry eyes licked up my body. But their mutters were still too quiet for the king to notice. Not one whisper grew louder than my ears to pick up.

I made my way through the ballroom, my eyes watching the king. Hoping he’d find me in the crowd. Wanting to see the rage light in his eyes at my disobedience.

I ignored the whispers while I slinked through the bodies like a serpent. A hand gripped my wrist, and I gasped, meeting the eyes of the man who had threatened me by the palace entrance weeks before.

Bjorn grinned at me with desire.

“Ulrich let his pet out,” he taunted.

I could not respond when the beat of the music was suddenly silent and a cold presence stood at my back.

“What the fuck are you doing?” Ulrich sneered above me.

Chapter 24

Scowling at the fae that had grasped me, I turned my attention to the king, offering him a sweet and tempting smile.

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