Page 237 of Primal Bonds

Ula squeezed Marjani’s hand and dropped back. The perfect servant, when once she’d been an alpha’s mate.

And she was the lucky one. What the king had in mind for Marjani was worse.

She squared her shoulders and headed toward the two ice fae.

Chapter 32

The click of Marjani’s heels against the white marbled granite sounded loud in her ears. Sindre and Roald turned to watch her.

“That will be all,” the king said to Ula.

“Very well.” With a nod, she left Marjani alone with the two purebloods.

Marjani quelled the cowardly urge to run after Ula and beg her to stay. Instead, she kept moving, stopping a few feet from the men and inclining her head like the alpha’s second she was. “Good evening, my lords.”

“Good evening, Marjani mín.” Sindre looked her over with unmistakable satisfaction. “You look lovely. I thought that dress would suit you.”

She wanted to growl that she wasn’t “his” Marjani, but she forced herself to thank him. “So do you,” she added.

He lifted a brow in question.

She smiled sweetly. “Look lovely, I mean. The silver brings out your eyes.”

Take that, you condescending prick.

A beat passed, and then Sindre broke into the most genuine smile she’d yet seen from him. “Thank you,” he returned, while beside him, Roald harrumphed.

Two elves bearing trays of appetizers emerged from one of the arched doorways. A third elf, a white-haired, dark-skinned man with a cheery smile on his round face, appeared at Marjani’s elbow.

“Some nectar, Miss?” He offered her a sparkling gold liquid in a crystal goblet.

Marjani’s eyes widened. She’d heard of fae nectar, of course. An army could travel for days on the sparkling drink, which magically provided both energy and necessary nutrients.

“Thank you.” She accepted the goblet, no longer worried about eating and drinking Sindre’s offerings. He wanted her to willingly accept his geas, which meant no tricks on his part.

Sindre touched his goblet to hers. “To a productive negotiation.”

“I look forward to it, your highness.” She let her lips curve.

His left brow quirked.

She’d surprised him. Good. That was the plan: Flirt with Sindre. Let him think she’d changed her mind so she could catch him off-guard—and then strike.

She brought the goblet to her mouth. The nectar smelled amazing, like ice wine and apricots, and tasted even better.

Fane arrived along with a man who looked so much like him that she blinked. Same lean good looks. Same blond hair, although the older man’s reached halfway down his back. Same wry smile and gravelly voice.

“Arne,” said the king. “I wasn’t aware you were invited to dinner.”

“My lord.” The handsome blond fae inclined his head and then grinned. “I assumed it was an oversight, since both my father and my son were included.”

Sindre’s answering smile was indulgent. “I’ll tell the elves to set another place.”

Marjani barely heard as Fane gave her a slow, hot look that moved down the aqua dress to the silly satin heels and then back up.

“Hey, there.” His deep voice was soft. Intimate. “You look like you’re feeling better.”

She couldn’t control her body’s reaction at that heated look and voice. Her nipples tightened and her stomach hollowed out. But her reply was cool because she had to convince Sindre she’d switched her interest to him. She couldn’t even tell Fane why, because she knew he’d try and stop her.

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