Page 70 of Shadows of Ruin

I nodded. “I need you to be honest with me and tell me why you thought you needed to bring me here.”

Kade spun my body out and then pulled me closer.Pushing a piece of hair behind my ear before wrapping his arm around me. “Later, Little Rebel. Too many ears.”

“Ah yes, Fates forbid the eligible maidens think you care for someone who isn’t them,” I said. I don’t know where it came from, but the jealousy I thought I’d successfully drowned with a glass of wine seemed to be creeping its way right back up.

He narrowed his eyes.

My mouth wouldn’t stop now though. Watching him merely dance with other women set this beast inside of me ablaze. He unknowingly owned too much of my heart, and if I wanted to come out of this unscathed, I needed to harden myself. “I didn’t think I’d be lucky enough to witness your own version of the marriage trials. Or at the very least, all these women clawing at each other to get to you.”

His face relaxed, brightening.Why the hell is he smiling?

“I didn’t think you’d have any interest in who might be vying for my hand.”

His smile made me want to punch him.

“You’re right,” I said firmly. “I don’t have any interest in who vies for your hand.”

He twirled me again, and when he pulled me in, flush against his body, his breath warmed over my neck. “Say it again, but this time try to make it sound like you mean it.”

I shoved away from his chest, but he didn’t let go of me. “This dance is over.”

At my words, he loosened his grip, his face shifting from playful taunting to serious again.

His eyes scanned mine, back and forth, and he rested his hand on my neck, his fingers running along my jaw. “If you told me there was even the slightest chance I could earn your trust and heart again, Little Rebel, I’d get on my knees before you right now and claim you as mine.”

My lips parted and I sucked in a sharp breath of air. My entire soul danced, even as my body froze, keeping me lockedin place with his hand touching me. Did he mean that? Even if I believed everything he’d told me thus far, his main purpose had been to take me for his own prophecy. Whatever it may be. Emotions, feelings, his heart—those weren’t in play, right?

The song ended and I swallowed, taking a step back. He watched me go, not breaking eye contact even when the next eligible maiden squeezed in front of him and began the next dance.

So I turned, fleeing the gaze that saw too much.

I couldn’t look at him right now, couldn’t watch him dance with anyone else. Even if his eyes were on me.

What was I supposed to say to that? Why did everything feel like such a mess?

My reckless heart unfurled from the cracked and broken state I forced it to remain in, soaking in his declaration.

As I stood helpless on the edge of the dance floor, Jax approached me with a glass of amber liquor.

He offered it to me, and I grabbed it and took a deep sip of it, immediately coughing as I stared at the strong drink.

“Whoa, whoa, easy there, tiger,” he laughed.

I gave Jax “the eye,” normally reserved for Kalliah and Ian when they had pissed me off.

“How dare he say things to get under my skin and then dance with someone who wants to marry him?Marryhim. When I was about to pick him for—” I stopped, realizing Jax might not be the best person to confess my deepest secrets to.

“Uhh…” Jax paused. “Let’s get you out of the way here, Princess. We don’t need any more eyes or ears on you than necessary.”

He ushered me toward the end of the ballroom. As far away from the king and Kade as possible.

Raya met us, drinks in hand, as Jax pushed me toward her. “You know, Raya, girl talk was never my forte. Th-this one’sfor you,” he stuttered, putting his hand to his ear. “I think Storm is calling my name.”

Jax turned and fled.

Coward.

Raya handed me another glass and I took a sip. Thank goodness it was wine and not the atrocity Jax provided. I’d tasted better liquor in Ellevail’s poorest taverns than what he’d offered me. “Aren’t you going to drink with me?”

---