Page 66 of A Blightress of Wrath
“Isyour mother…unwell?”Iinquired, taking a glass of something that smelled like citrus from the servant who passed us.
“Very,”Lannaanswered, her eyes darting around the crowd, obviously in search of someone. “She’sa stubborn woman, though, and is hanging onto life by a thread.”
Ieyed her in surprise. “Youand your mother have a…strained relationship?”
Herlaughter boomed through the room and several eyes glanced our way.Sheled me to one of the windows where we could see the shades of green painted on the roofs, designating the southSpire. “Mymother is…” she began, pulling her lips to the side, “an interesting woman.Shedid her best to force the fight from me, but never succeeded.”
“Oh,I’msorry,”Isaid. “Shecouldn't accept your independence?”
“No,” she laughed, pulling at the sword strapped to her waist, somehow appropriate, even in her long silvery gown, “Sheliterally could not force the fight from me.Shetried to raise aLadyof theSpireand got a soldier instead.”
Itwas my turn to laugh with her.
“Isee you two are getting along swimmingly.”ThevoiceI’dknow anywhere came from behind me.Ispun in my heels, my face still in a laughing grin asIlooked uponThevin.
Hismouth opened in awe and his brows rose. “Saelyn,” he breathed. “Youlook…” his words faltered and he closed his mouth, swallowing.
Lannaleaned over my shoulder and laughed, “Doesn’tshe,Thevin?Doesn’tshe look…” she trailed off in a jest.
Igave a stinted laugh, butThevindidn’t respond, nor did he move as his eyes flickered over my gown.
“Oh, dear,”Lannamuttered, “Ido believeViceroyMediyr’sdaughter is calling me.”Shesqueezed my arm once and winked, her body flowing into the crowd seamlessly.Iwatched her go, biting the inside of my cheek.
Iwasn’t expectingThevin’sreaction at all.
Iglanced back to him, only to find his eyes caught at the sheer fabric that did little to hide the shape of my legs.Ishrugged nervously. “Didyour parents chastise you much?”Nervouslaughter escaped me. “Mymother wasn’t angry at all, if you can believe it.”Imet his silent stare, now assured my dress had been too daring, too revealing, even though the style was common among the women in the room.Ifrowned down at the sheer sparkling powder blue fabric and then looked back up toThevin. “Isthis not right?”Iglanced around. “Amayasaid it was the latest?—”
“Askme whatI’mthinking,” he whispered low, his words barely audible under his breath.
Ilaughed in relief. “Whatare you thinking,Thevin?”
“I’mthinking you should only wear this color.Nothingelse will do.”
Ilaughed again, nudging into his shoulder where he caught me, surprising me by pulling me into his arms. “You’rebeautiful,Saelyn,” he continued in my ear.Ashiver spread through my body, shaking me slightly as he pulled away, kissing my cheek as he went.
Now.Ishould tell him now.Ishould confessIloved him.
Myheart raced in my chest and my cheeks burned, butIdidn’t care asIstarted with, “Thevin,I’vebeen wanting to tell you?—”
Heshook his head, grabbing my hand. “Comeon.Let’sfind our seats.”Hepulled me toward the table where guests were beginning to sit and settle for the meal.
“But,I—”Itried again.
Insteadof listening, he yanked me harder, avoiding the conversion that was well overdue.Iran my tongue along my teeth in annoyance, even as the dinner bell chimed and the room quieted to a low murmur.
Thevinpulled a saffron cushioned chair with a low back for me to take, andIsat in a puff, sighing and folding my hands into my lap.
Anotherding sounded and the man at the end of the table, whomIrecognized as theViceroy, stood to begin a speech.ThevinandIsat somewhere in the middle of the table across from his parents and my mother.LadyLannalooked bored next to theViceroywhile a pretty young woman sat across from her, making a face.Lannaheld in her snicker and the speech began.
Ihardly made out a word of what was said, still fuming and now set on a course to end this betweenThevinandI.
I’dtell him tonight.
Ididn’t care if he didn’t want to hear it;Iwas saying those words.
Damnthe timing, damn the odd desireIhad to proveIcould be just as strong asLanna, and was more than a simple girl fromFelgrenForest.
Hewould know by the end of the night thatIloved him and could do with that truth whatever he wished.Iwouldn’t wait any longer to take the riskIhad dreamed of sinceIwas fifteen years old.Itwas time to put aside my fear and live for the future.
