Page 71 of The Curse of a Kingdom
“You are going to get it all over your white clothes,” Nava said, taking a healthy step away from him. She didn't need her dress to become more of a horror show.
“Does it look like I care?” Devon paused and shortened their distance again. They were far enough from the dance floor and other people that most wouldn’t be able to hear them. “Neither of you can stay here.” He grabbed her arm, something he hadn’t done before. Things had changed between them in a matter of days.
She tried to pull away, but his hand held her still. “Let go of me,” she said between her teeth.
“Calm down,” he whispered. “We don’t want to call attention now.”
Nava blinked and pulled her head back, meeting Devon’s calculating gaze. “Do not touch me again.”
He smirked but dropped his hand from her body. “Tell me, have you told my brother that you are soulmates? Does he know why he is burning for you right now? Why he wants to tear away every inch of that dress from your body? And to hell with the consequences.”
Nava’s cheeks burned hotter than before, and she wouldn't have been surprised if she combusted at any moment. She cleared her throat before speaking, but her insides fluttered with need.
She gazed at her mate from across the room, and her throat became drier than a desert. “If it’s such a big deal, why didn’t you?”
“I have been busy translating a book for him and assuring him we aren’t engaged.” He looked around before focusing on her again. “I also thought it was none of my business.”
Nava swallowed, and the pit in her stomach grew, weighing a ton. She couldn’t tell Devon that she was afraid Arkimedes would reject her. That she was giving him time to fall back in love with her, which was a stupid plan, but it was better than kidnapping, which had been her other idea.
Nava had to be cautious about how much she shared with her mate, and how fast, especially since he’d been so distrusting of her. She didn’t want to lose him.
Well, maybe she’d tell him today.
“I’m afraid we are in danger tonight at this party,” she admitted. “What if the king plans to get rid of us? It’s such a busy night . . . Arkimedes might be distracted to notice us gone.”
“He won’t be distracted from you tonight.”
Her cheeks burned. “Well, still, I thought I would stay away after I told him my concerns.”
Devon pondered her words. “Yes, it’s a possibility. Why do you want to stay away again?”
“Be-because of consent? I don’t think it’s a good idea for me to be near him. We aren’t in our right minds right now, and it seems wrong to take advantage of him—” Why in the hell she was opening up to this man, she didn’t know. Nava must be more distressed than she’d thought.
His laughter shook her out of her panicked thoughts. “Take advantage? You won’t be able to avoid him.”
Nava’s mouth opened and closed a few times before the words bubbled out. “How could you possibly know that?”
“I was not locked away in a non-magical island for a decade like you. I have seen things. Read many other things . . .” Devon lowered his voice. “You have your head on your shoulders now, but at some point, you won’t care whatever noble reasonings you’ve told yourself, and neither will he.”
In other words, he would look for her—and she would do the same. She had to get him out of here, and they had to go somewhere away from prying eyes.
Devon’s eyes traveled over her shoulder, and his brows dipped. “He doesn’t like me being this close to you, but he is not moving away from that damn table.”
“It’s better not to call for the king’s attention,” Nava reasoned and was proud of her own self-restraint not to look around.
“Let's dance.”
“Um, no thanks.”
“Look, I want it as much as you do, believe me. You have to get out of here, and I might be able to go back to my room if I’m leaving with the two of you.” Devon scratched his chin with a long pale finger.
Nava shifted the weight of her feet, wanting to squirm out of this dress. The uncomfortable throbbing between her legs grew ever so present. She clenched her thighs together to relieve some of the pressure, to no avail.
Maybe she didn’t care if everyone here saw Arkimedes devour her. It might make them understand he was hers, and nothing the king could do would separate them.
Oh, no.
“Good, now she gets it. Let's dance.” He offered her his hand, and her stomach dropped as she took it. A year ago, she would have scoffed in horror if someone had told her she’d dance with her archnemesis. The one who now had become an ally of sorts.
