Page 156 of Bride of the Midnight Prince

His eyes narrow, but they narrow in softness, not suspicion. “Kat.”

Blast this all.I don’t want to lie to him. I’m sick of lying to him. I desperately want to tell him what I am. This secret between us—it is going to eat me alive. But no matter how much part of me insists that if I tell him I’m the Ivy Mask, we might be able to navigate the situation together, I know better than that. I have so many people relying on me completing these next two raids. I may want to put my future at risk, but I cannot be so cavalier with theirs.

Everything Rahk and I have will crumble when he finds out.

When, notif. Because hewillfind out.

I opt for as much honesty as I can afford. “I know you always tell me you’re not going to hurt me—and I believe you. It’s only that sometimes, that old fear of you fae returns. Your statement made me afraid that your kindness now is only a ruse. It’s silly, I know.”

His eyes don’t leave mine, even when I cannot bear to return his gaze. “Your family was torn apart because of my people. I know it will take time for you to fully trust me, but I intend to show you every day that I want nothing except your happiness.”

He is too good. Too good for me. Too good to be in this horrible situation he knows nothing of. He may not see it, but I do; Nothril can never corrupt this man.

He will be devastated when he finds out who I am.

The dance ends.

As we leave the dance floor, I notice all the people watching us carefully—Rahk, especially. It’s as though by dancing with him, I’ve broken a spell of fear, and now several people rush forward to me, clearly desiring to be introduced.

“You should dance with as many people as you can tonight,” I whisper to Rahk between introductions. “It’ll greatly aid your efforts with the queen.”

“I’d rather dance with you,” he whispers back, but with a sigh he leaves my side and asks one of his new acquaintances if she would give him the honor of dancing. Her mouth falls open and she blushes mightily but quickly accepts. With her children grown, I don’t often see her dancing. I smile as I watch him escort her to the dance floor.

The moment he is gone, a new presence takes up residence beside me. From my periphery, I can tell it’s Sir Alsbee. The young man who tried to seduce me when I was barely sixteen. He sent a note from a private room, claiming to be one of my friends in need, and I went at once—only to be fortunate enough to pass by that friend reading quietly in the library. Instead of going into the room he summoned me to, I hid in the opposite room until I watched Alsbee finally give up and leave. I have hated him ever since.

So now, when he stands beside me, I pretend I don’t notice him. My bracelet wilts and turns soot black.

“Lady Vandermore,” he says in a syrupy tone. “Or should I say, Lady Varadirth.”

“Sir Alsbee,” I reply crisply.

“Will you honor me with a dance?”

I find Rahk in the crowd of dancers. It is not hard, since he is the tallest man in the room. He’s looking at me. Ignoring his talkative partner. Can he read my emotions from this distance? Or can he see the color of my bracelet? I paste a smile on my face and turn to Sir Alsbee. “I’m afraid I cannot. My husband is a wonderful man, but he is very possessive. He made me promise that I send all requests for a dance to him first. So you will have to ask him if you’d like to dance with me.”

“Blaming your dislike of me on your husband? That’s not very kind of you.” Sir Alsbee tsks his tongue and then takes my hand firmly, apparently counting on the element of surprise or my desire to not cause a scene being enough persuasion to go with him.

I yank my hand out of his at once, glaring at him. “I did not agree to dance with you, Sir Alsbee. I’ve told you what you must do if you wish to dance with me. I will not dance with you otherwise.”

“Katherine, darling, it’s only a dance.” He takes my hand again, grinning with the attempt at appearing good-natured. “I don’t even know why you’ve disliked me so much all these years. Let us make up for the ill will.”

I dig my heels into the polished floor. I don’t care how large and unseemly of a scene I must make: I amnotdancing with Alsbee. My bracelet turns so black, it crumbles into dust and falls off my wrist.

Alsbee takes two steps, pulling me after him. On the third step, he suddenly releases me, pitching forward. He cartwheels his arms and whacks a nearby gentleman’s drink out of his hand. His legs fly out from under him, and he falls hard on his back.

Cries of surprise and concern go up. My eyes widen. I take the opportunity to put distance between me and him. When I look up, Rahk is dancing only a few feet away, his attention on me. A familiar light gleams in his irises.

My mouth drops open in delighted astonishment.What did you do?I silently ask him. The corner of his mouth twitches, and then he’s lost in the depths of the many dancing couples.

Chapter 49

Kat

“It’shardtokeeptrack of you while you’re wearing those glass slippers,” Rahk tells me many hours later. I am catching up with a few acquaintances in a quieter room when he comes up behind me and almost startles me.

I’m so glad to see him after he’s been busy doing exactly what I suggested—dancing with the ladies of the court. I’m exhausted after this long night, but a renewed rush of energy fills me at the sight of him. “What do you mean?”

My friends make their excuses and leave, making space for Rahk to sit down beside me on the settee. The room is quiet, now just the two of us and curtains drawn over half a dozen enormous windows.

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