Page 74 of Cages and Crowns
“Temporarily.” I correct. “What does this mean for your father?” I whisper.
“I think it would mean he’s been demoted.” I turn and look at the king,his eyes shadowed, a smirk plastered to his face.
“I don’t think he knows that yet.” I respond.
“I don’t think so either.”
Chapter Forty-Two
TheCaged
Nithe’s hand stays planted firmly on my lower back as we are congratulated and greeted in the ballroom. I don’t know how they were able to set up the room for a reception so quickly, or who any of these people are, but it was done. Just another thing reminding me of the weeklong carnival celebrating Tobias and I, but instead it’s Nithe next to me.
I kept trying to step out of his grasp, but all it did was win me sidelong glances from our guests. I have a part to play. I have to act like I am happy for this marriage, for this union.
I sip from my glass of white wine. Both tart and bubbly, a drastic difference to the wine I had last year. A wine that ruined sugar for me.
“How long must I stand here?” I whisper as Nithe gives someone walking by a smile. He exhales through his nose.
“The same amount of time I have to.” He replies, his tone dry.
“Which is?” I counter. His hand slides to my hip, and he squeezes,digging his fingers into the flesh.
“Too long.” I step slightly away fromhim, his hand returning to my lower back.
“I need something to eat.” I say with a smile, walking away from him. Tingling starts in my fingers, but it’s not the same. Something is off, something feels wrong. Not that any of this feels particularly okay since it’s so new, but it doesn’t feel bright like it did at first. It feels as if the light inside of me is slowly being dimmed.
Slowly dying.
A hand grazes my elbow as I reach a table filled with finger foods. My head swivels, but I catch sight of her chestnut hair before I react. The smile plastered to her face doesn’t reach her eyes.
“This should feel different than last time, but it feels the same.” She admits quietly.
“Unfortunately it seems I will remember this time around.” I pointedly glance at the glass is my hand.
“I’m sure they have hemlock here somewhere.” She says with a smirk.
“Not funny.” I say dryly.
“I thought it was funny.” She pouts and picks up a cube of cheese.
“He won’t stop touching me.”
“He likes you.” I snort, wine shooting up my nose causing me to cough. “I’m serious.”
“You can’t be. I’ve only known him for a couple of days.”
“Emery propositioned him a few weeks ago when she was bored and lonely.” Her face falls a little. “He said no and that he was more or less engaged. That he had no desire to sleep with her.” She gossips. My pulse skips and my lips freeze where they are resting on the rim of the glass. I pull it away, my mouth slightly ajar, speechless.
“Why?”
“Why did he say he was engaged or why did he say no?” My words failme, and she smiles softly. “I think he felt like it would be cheating on you, even if you didn’t exist yet.”
“Scar, I can’t do this. This is too much, too soon.” Her hand grasps mine and she pulls me in for a hug.
“Don’t do anything you don’t want to do. Maybe I’m wrong, maybe it has to do with honor and not his heart.” She pulls back. “Or maybe I am right and there is someone in this room who likes you and has no desire to control you.”
“That we know of.” I retort.
