Page 33 of Blooms of Darkness

The next two Fae were Lords from houses to the north and west of Ellevail. They were announced one by one.

“Lord Levi Thatcher.” An average-looking man stood before my father, with no discernible features. His short black hair lay slicked back and his pale skin seemed to glow against the darkness of his suit.

“Lord Casimir West.” His short red hair and green eyes complemented each other. Not so bad to look at, his body clearly toned under his clothing. He stood with his chin held high, slightly looking down upon those around him. He clearly thought himself superior to the others already standing in line.

I bowed my head at each contender as they approached, keeping my smile as relaxed as I possibly could.

“Hale Bardot, Your Majesty.” My smile became genuine as I met the familiar pair of deep brown eyes, immediately recognizing him. I didn’t dare look at Ian, already aware how he felt about Hale.

We had both known Hale for the past decade. He bored Ian to tears, but for me, whenever there were formal functions,we often used one another’s company as an escape from our parents. Sometimes through a dance in a ball, others with a walk around the gardens, but there were a few occasions where it had been more.

While the kissing and exploring each other had hardly left me pining for more, it at least meant a friendly face amongst the crowd of strangers.

Hale brushed my hand ever so slightly as he walked by, moving on toward the back of the line.

“Frederich Hansley.” A stout-looking, middle-aged man approached. His mustache was as large as his head.Fates, no.Perhaps I could issue a royal decree about body hair as my first act as Queen.

Two more names were announced as official candidates, but I lost track of who they were or what they looked like. Ryland Lockbane and Edmund Fairweather. How much longer would this take, and how many more would be allowed to participate in these ridiculous trials?Fates, I wanted to be anywhere but here.

“A fine group,” the king announced proudly. I looked up, thankful the end drew nearer. “I call for one final chance to enter before the trials officially commence. Are there any other contenders brave enough to vie for my daughter's hand in marriage?”

“Here, Your Majesty.” A deep voice thundered throughout the ballroom, reverberating in my chest.

Pushing forward through the crowd from the back of the room, a hulking man, taller than most by a head, pressed toward the front where we stood. My breath lodged in my throat as I tried to force it out. Power radiated throughout the room.

Thick strands of black hair fell loosely across his tanned face as he strode forward, knowing exactly how he commanded the room. All eyes were on him, and the half-smile he wore as he approached the dais. My face warmed at the sight of him, and ifI could have pinched myself right there to pull myself together, I would have.

I refused to acknowledge the familiarity of the sensations taking over my body when this prick was nearby. But he appeared before me. The damned mysterious, cocky, rude Fae himself.

Kade.

After speaking about the king so horridly, he wanted to marry his daughter?

I’d only observed him without his hood for incredibly brief periods of time. But the gleam in his damned eyes couldn’t be forgotten.He’s not that attractive,I tried to persuade myself. The number of muscular men with broad shoulders storming around the palace were adequate, a few standing in the contender's line before me. What was one more?

I didn’t even bother hiding my eyes narrowing on him.

He bowed at the waist, not kneeling like the others, and rose before being acknowledged. “Blackthorn, Your Highness. Kade Blackthorn.”

I noticed more than one of the women in the sea of faces pushing their way toward the front of the room, attempting to catch a glimpse. Men, too, seemed unable to look away, their stares likely from the power radiating from Kade.

My father stiffened, narrowing his eyes in response to that very power filling the space before him. “And where exactly are you from, Lord?—”

“Just Kade, Your Grace.” He’d interrupted my father,the king,something no one generally dared to do.

The king inhaled sharply, clearly taken aback by Kade’s lack of manners. He regained his composure before proceeding. “Where are you from, Kade?”

“I’ve lived in many villages here in Brookmere,” he answered. “I’d be remiss to call any of them home at the risk of claiming any one village holds more of my heart over another.”

I studied him carefully,notonly because I couldn’t look away. His storm-grey eyes were so uniquely full of arrogance as his gaze held the king’s. I scowled, not bothering to hide my reaction. His sexiness infuriated me.

I wish he wore his stupid hood, so I didn’t have to notice more about him.

“Kade Blackthorn.”

The king announced Kade as an official contender and waved his hand for him to get into line. He strode past me, meeting my gaze and immediately winking. A whisper of warmth slithered over my body as he passed. He smelled of a summer storm. The kind of peaceful, saturated heaven nature left behind once thunder and rain moved on.

His scent drew me closer. Everything about him read like a trap, unless you knew better. Like I did.

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