Page 34 of Reign of Betrayal

“Would you like to dance?” she asks.

“I don’t think?—”

“He would love to,” Kylo interrupts. My jaw clenches in annoyance. As usual, he’s right. I have a duty, a duty to my kingdom, to socialize. I stand, take Miya’s hand, and lead her to the dance floor, carefully placing her hand on my shoulder, ensuring it stays away from my chest. I take her other hand and whisk her into a dance.

As we are dancing, I feel it—the tingling sensation. Reign must be looking my way. I turn, seeing her staring at me. The second our eyes lock, she averts her gaze. The song changes to something more fast-paced, and we are moving. Miya is spinning and dipping. Suddenly, I don’t seeheranymore. I look along the edge of the dance floor, and I find her draining a glass of wine with Lilyana. They are both laughing at something. She looks peaceful, free. But damn it, she has the first trial tomorrow.

I release Miya’s hand, and before I know it, another maiden stands before me. She’s the daughter of one of my royal guards. I’d bedded her once, but her name eludes me. Desperate to forget about Reign, I start dancing with her. Her hand slides from my shoulder to the back of my neck, her touch lingering, and I can see the desire in her eyes. Maybe I’ll use her as a distraction tonight. She’s beautiful, and perhaps that’s exactly what I need.

After two more songs, I notice Reign and Lilyana finishing another glass of wine. Kylo approaches Reign and asks her to dance. She accepts, cheeks flushed—probably from the alcohol. Stupid. Reckless. She and Kylo are dancing and smiling.

As the song ends, I excuse myself from my current partner and rush off the dance floor before another woman traps me.

Gods and goddesses, I hate these damned events. It’s bad enough I have to be here, but now I must babysit a prisoner to ensure she doesn’t drink herself into recklessness.

I decide it’s my duty as the one in charge of her to stop her from being so foolish. I push through the crowd, almost reaching her, when Cora steps in my way. Reign’s eyes finally meet mine, and they’re unreadable.

“There you are,” Cora coos. “I was just speaking with the king, and he told me to come dance with you.” I glance at my father, and he gives me a confirming nod. Damn it.

I place her hand on my shoulder and take her other hand in my own. I turn her so I can look at Reign. Cora is saying something, but I don’t hear a word she says. Reign never breaks my gaze. Her cheeks are flushed, and there is a glint in her eyes.

“How about I come to your room tonight?” Cora asks. I don’t answer. “Lukene?” she presses.

“I am busy tonight, Cora.”

“Lukene, it’s been so long. I miss you.”

“Excuse me, Cora.” I leave her standing there alone and stride over to Reign, Elm, Larah, and Lilyana. I grab Reign’s upper arm and pull her away, earning glares from my sister and the two prisoners.

“What in the burning double hells are you doing, Prince?” she seethes through gritted teeth.

I snatch the wine glass from her hand, setting it down on a table nearby. “The trials start tomorrow. What areyoudoing drinking so much?” I scowl. She tries to yank her arm free, but I don’t let go.

“I am not a child!”

“Then don’t act like one, Reckless.”

“Oh, so now you care?” Her eyes are on mine, looking for any sign of what she said to be true.

“Nope, not at all. But it’s my duty to ensure you don’t do anything foolish. I am paired with you, after all.” I raise one side of my mouth into a grin.

“You are insufferable,” she snarls. “You are a prince. Aren’t you supposed to be kind and patient?”

I laugh loudly from my chest. “Insufferable I may be, but what I am supposed to be and what I am are two different things. I am neither patient nor kind, but for you… I am trying to be both. However, both are running thin this second. You are going to bed now.” I pull on her arm to drag her to her room.

“I most definitely am not.” She yanks her arm again, but my grip holds firm.

I lean in close, my face brushing against hers. I notice her shiver at the contact. She needs to be reminded of the monster that I am, the cold heartless killer that I am.

My lips brush against the shell of her ear and I whisper, “Do not make a scene, Reckless. Do not forget who I am. Even if you do make a scene, you will end up leaving anyway. And we don’t want poor Elm or Larah to suffer because of your actions now do we?” I inhale deeply before I back away. She smells of sweet berries and warm vanilla. It’s intoxicating as much as it is distracting. I could breathe her in and stay drunk off the scent of her for eternity.

She grunts in frustration but walks toward the exit of the ballroom. I follow right behind to ensure she gets to her room—and not into any trouble.

As I stand with Larah, sipping the delicious blackberry wine that Lilyana keeps supplying me with, I see Lukene making his way toward me. But before he can reach me, Cora intercepts him. He hesitates briefly, then decides to dance with her. Good. They deserve each other—vile, insufferable creatures. Every morning at breakfast, Cora makes snide remarks about me being a Drifter or prisoner. Let them enjoy each other’s company. They’re both cut from the same rotten cloth.

Even as Lukene dances with her, his gaze stays locked on me. Heat rises to my cheeks under his smoldering stare—or maybe it’s just the wine. Probably the wine.

He’s been watching me all night, and I’ve struggled to act like I haven’t noticed. But I have. I’ve caught glimpses of him—when he was in deep conversation with Kylo, or when he danced with other women. Each time, I couldn’t help but look. And gods, he’s handsome—annoyingly so. Not that I’d ever admit it to him. His ego doesn’t need the boost.

---