Page 77 of Moonmarked

Words died on my tongue. Suddenly I felt self-conscious again, and I was already thinking back to whatI’d done since I came down here, like I was some kind of criminal.

Lyall saw that I was looking at him, so he moved away from the pillar he’d been leaning against and slowly began to walk toward me.

He moved like his feet didn’t even touch the ground, merely slid over the cobbles. Head up and shoulders back, and that smile was still on his face that I saw clearer and clearer as he approached. Easy to imagine how powerful he was—even the way he moved his arms, the confidence with which heexisted,walked like he owned this entire worldscreamedit at anybody watching.

His eyes were on mine, and his gaze was so intense that I almost blushed.

But before I did, I looked away, turned to the other side to get myself together, and…

Rune.

The shock that went through me shook me to my core.

Rune was coming from the other side of the palace, his unblinking eyes on me, his lips a perfect straight line. No sign of any kind of amusement or agoodfeeling anywhere on his face as he strode over to me, his every step precise.

My knees shook. Something about being looked at by Rune like that.

And something about being looked at by Lyalllike that…

For a moment there, I felt like a helpless little prey trapped between two predators. They were coming for me from both sides, and I knew that no amount of running was going to save me. I was done for.

Then the prince spoke.

“I always said that these gardens would forever remain the most beautiful thing inside these walls.” He stoppednear the guards, smiled widely, bowed his head. “I stand corrected.”

The guards bowed their heads, too, as he slowly came closer, his hand out to reach for mine. I automatically put mine over it without even thinking, until he brought it up to his lips and kissed my knuckles.

Fuck, it’s so hot out here…

Especially when Rune stopped at my other side, and his shadow fell over me, and ittouchedme as if it was his hand.

Our eyes locked for a short second, and I saw all the colors in them, the silver maps around his iris—the way he wanted to set something on fire right now.

Preferably Lyall.

I pulled my hand all the way behind my back, as if to hide it. As if I’d done something wrong.

“Good morning,” I said out of sheer awkwardness, andthatpissed me off, too.

Why the hell was I feeling like a damn criminal when I’d donenothingwrong?!

“Good morning,” Rune said, his voice low, that rough whisper my ears adored, and the hair on the back of my neck stood at attention.

Goddamn you, Mr. Moody.

“Good morning, Nilah. I hope you slept well,” Lyall said, then nodded at Rune. “And you, my friend.”

“I did. Not sure why I’m here, though,” Rune said, his attention on the prince for a moment, which gave me a chance to breathe, to calm my mind, to get myself under control.

It worked.

“Can’t I simply want to see a friend?” Lyall laughed, and it sounded like fucking birds chirping.

“Certainly, but you so rarely have the time,” Rune said, unbothered.

No more murderous look in his eyes now. He’d composed himself, and I had done the same.

“True, true—unfortunately. But pretending to be dead frees up time on one’s agenda, believe it or not,” Lyall said with a mischievous grin that brightened up his already bright face. “And I wanted to invite the two of you for a hand at my favorite game.”

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