Page 50 of Prince of Never

Isnatchedataglass as soon as I spotted one on a tray, knocking it back in a single swallow.Wished it was something stronger.Imogen was nowhere to be seen.I should have gone to find her, but if every time I found her, I kissed her, then she was better off being left alone.And I could feel the queen’s stare from across the room.She wouldn’t be the only one watching me, though she was one of the most dangerous.Even if I played my role perfectly now, there would already be those who were asking questions.

Briyala drew near, arching an eyebrow as I picked up another glass.

‘Lovers spat?’

I swallowed my mouthful, flashed her a glare.‘Just the usual joys of a ball.’

‘I would have thought a kiss like that would put you in a much better mood.’She tossed her hair, considered her nails.

‘It was you are the door.’

‘And aren’t you lucky it was?’She stood next to me, watching the dancers twirling on the floor.‘I thought the agreement was not to embarrass each other.’

I snorted.‘You’ve kissed your lovers at balls before.’

‘But I haven’t paraded the fact that I’m about to all over the dancefloor first.’

‘Next time Solas has his hands all over one, let me know how you take it.’

She laughed quietly, shaking her head.‘You need to stop letting him rile you.He enjoys it too much.’We were quiet for a moment as the song changed to something slower.‘So, who is she?’Briyala asked, picking up a glass for herself.‘Someone important, I gather, if she was worth that little show.’

I didn’t respond, which was answer enough.

‘If she’s important, what was she doing in the hunt?’she continued, taking a sip of her wine.‘Seems a risky form of foreplay.’

‘She wasn’t supposed to be there.’

‘Mm.I assume that was Vesryn’s doing, then?I saw them together earlier in the night.’The dislike was obvious in her voice.She and Ves had never warmed to each other.

‘Something like that.’

The white-haired half-breed who’d taken Imogen’s hand in the hunt approached the drinks with a Seelie lord in tow, and when he caught sight of me, he stared at me for a long moment, boldly assessing me.I suddenly realised I recognised him, but I couldn’t remember from where.Then his companion grabbed him around the waist and dragged him away.

‘I’ve never seen you look at someone the way you looked at her on the dancefloor, Tarian,’ Briyala said, before she turned to me, leaned a little closer.‘If she’s that important to you, you should get her out of here as fast as you can.I won’t be the only one who noticed.You have to be extra careful with humans.They’re so fragile.’

‘Believe me, she’ll be out of here as soon as I can manage it,’ I muttered.

She patted me on the cheek and drifted away, sending a saucy look at one of the dancers as she was swallowed up by the crowd.

Briyala was right.I needed to get back to Dreadhold.If I was as obvious as she suggested, then seeing out the rest of the ball wasn’t going to help anyway.It might even make it worse.I scanned the room again, looking for Imogen, seeing her nowhere.I shouldn’t have taken out my frustration on her.But between the bond and the way she seemed primed to push all my buttons, with her backtalk and her defiance and her vulnerability, I couldn’t seem to have an interaction with her that went the way it should.

I caught sight of Ves sauntering back into the hall from the gardens.He caught my eye and flicked his head in the direction he’d just come.

The grey sunlight outside was muted by the vines wrapping the arcade stretching from the door of the ballroom.The ball would continue until night fell again, spanning the entire first day of the season, ending in a lavish display of illusion at dusk, curtesy of the Seelie Court.There were others strolling the arcade, enjoying each other in the dim quiet.I ignored a couple pressed into an alcove who giggled as I passed.

I found Imogen sitting on a bench, staring towards the steep cliff-face at the edge of the palace grounds, jutting out over a tumultuous grey sea.The wind had blown some of her hair free, and she was watching flashes of lightening on the distant horizon.There was something sad and lonely about her, and that twist of guilt turned in my chest again.

‘Imogen,’ I said softly as I approached her, not wanting to startle her.

She closed her eyes.‘Leave me alone.’

I sat on the bench beside her.‘What are you doing out here?’

‘Well, since fae are real, I’m guessing gods are too, and I’m just trying to figure out which one I’ve pissed off so badly that they punished me by binding me to you.’

‘There are no gods,’ I said flatly, trying to ignore the sting of her words.

‘Of course, that’s the part you’d fix on.’She opened her eyes, shooting me a glare.‘You know, I’ve met other fae who are actually charming.I wonder if I can swap.’

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