Page 70 of A Bargain with the Fae King

His lips tug downward. The blue of his eyes reflects deep sorrow. Just when I expect him to respond, the look vanishes, and his characteristic smirk slides back into place.

“I have a feeling someone comes for you,” he says instead and grabs my wrist.

“What—”

He tugs me along.

“Wait.”

Galen and Sylvie rush over, almost faster than my eyes can follow.

“Lia, are you—” Sylvie starts.

I shrug best I can at her question while Sigurd leads me through the field, back toward the doors of Arbrean, which I’d exited that morning. He draws us to a halt and releases my arm moments before Riven steps through the doors.

Riven’s attention snaps to where the four of us stand in a tight clump near the edge of the stone pathway. All the gentle softness that had graced his face in sleep is gone. Magic crackles in the air as his gaze lands on the shirtless fae king standing at my side.

I step away, increasing the space between us, but that only thins Riven’s lips further.

Shit. We’d finally gotten back to a good place—better than—and now this.

“Thank you for keeping me company,” Sigurd says to me, ignoring his angry counterpart. “We’re still to have a ball this evening, are we not?” This question he poses to Riven.

Riven smooths out his features and inclines his head. However, I don’t miss the way his fists clench and unclench at his side.

“Excellent.” Sigurd stretches his arms over his head, the picture of a relaxed guest. “Well, I do think some rest and relaxation is in order before then.” He snatches my hand before I can react and places a courtly kiss upon it. “Until then.”

Chapter 22

TensionstillradiatesfromRiven when I emerge, cleaned and changed, from the washroom. Lunch is spread across a table on the balcony, tempting me with sweet baked goods and savory roasted vegetables, but even those delights haven’t softened the mood of the male waiting for me at the table.

The situation from his perspective has to look bad—I mean, shit, me standing next to his shirtless rival? Who wouldn’t take that the wrong way? Galen and Sylvie rose to my defense, which calmed Riven a little, though not as much as I’d hoped. It was as if all the closeness and connection we’d developed the night before had been washed away in a moment.

In my head, I pictured this day going differently. My thighs squeeze together. Much differently.

“Will you eat with me?” Riven gestures to the table. At least his voice is pleasant, even if the hard set of his jaw still lingers.

We eat in silence, though every time I gather the courage to look up, I find his gaze rapt on me and something other than worry or anger stirring the emotion in his green eyes.

Finally, he sets down his polished utensils. “About the ball…”

My own fork stills. Not the topic I expected, but a dying woman will take any water she’s offered. “It’s all right. Solona explained the situation.”

One brow arcs up. “Did she?”

“She said it’s an opportunity to show strength to your court and improve relations with the Court of Air.” Still doesn’t make me happy about it. It’s the very last thing I want with May missing and the Unseelie causing trouble, but the logical side gets it. There’s strategy at play, and he does, in fact, have more to worry about than just my sister. But damn if I didn’t wish it was different.

He nods. “It’s tonight. I’d like you to accompany me.”

I spear a piece of fruit and bring it to my lips. Cool sweetness coats my mouth. Let him stew a bit with my silence.

“I need you to be there,” Riven continues.

“Oh, I know,” I say around a bite of food. “Karin already had me fitted for a gown.”

“Good.” He grabs his fork again but releases it in the same motion, his mouth working in his jaw. “About this morning…”

Here we go.I barely stop the eye roll. “Nothing happened. We were running and he—”

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