Page 99 of Knightfall
I closed my eyes. There was no way I could not react to whatever Quinn might do next. I followed Abbas’ by feel through the next few steps of the dance. “Your Highness—” I started.
“No,” Abbas cut me off and my eyes flew open. “You aren’t to respond yet. Think about it. My country is full of magic. An alliance with us could only increase the amount of magic here. My powers would be at your disposal. And I hear you might have need of a little magical assistance …” his eyes grew calculating.
I sucked in a breath.
Does he know about the dragons? Or is he talking about my power? I wondered.
Quinn what is he thinking?
The sarder is deliberately clouding his thoughts. He keeps picturing squirrels, erasing any other thoughts that might start to form. He knows I’m listening.
Shite.
My gasp had let Abbas know he had the upper hand. There was nothing I could do to take that back. So instead of bluffing, I asked, “Why would you propose this? What is it you want?”
“You’re not reason enough?” Abbas’ lips quirked.
“I’m not that naive.”
“Let’s say I have a vested interest in an alliance with you. Consider my proposal.”
“Without an honest answer, I won’t.”
“It was an honest answer. Just not a specific one.”
“You expect me to trust you—”
But before I could finish my sentence, Abbas kissed my hand and strode away, leaving me in the middle of the dance floor, mid-song, as women in a rainbow blur of dresses whirled by.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Connor gently left his dance partner, so he could accompany me off the dance floor.
The rest of my knights followed suit.
We officially retired for the evening, allowing everyone one last opportunity to bow before they began to truly enjoy themselves without the supervision of their monarch.
Our group made its way out into the hall and down a long corridor. We didn’t speak until we reached the Royal Wing.
As soon as we’d passed through the guarded doors, I whirled on Connor. I grabbed his elbow. “What was he feeling? Did you get any glimpses?”
“There was a tinge of desperation I think might have been real. But, like Quinn’s been telling me about his thoughts … Abbas is a master, Bloss. He was great at masking. He brought in an overload of emotions so quickly. It was like he was shuffling cards.”
His servants at the tavern seem sloppy drunk, and all they know is that Abbas and his father had words before the prince’s departure. They seem too mixed up to give my people a real rundown on what those words are,Quinn reported.
I bit my lip. “Why would he want to break from his father?”
“The djinn who’s been ruling Cheryn for centuries? Maybe because he’s evil. Crazy. Crazy evil. Who cares?” Ryan scooped me up. “Let’s figure that out tomorrow. You’re our sarding wife now, Bloss. Declan can’t block this cock anymore.” He nuzzled my hair. “I’m gonna pound you so hard, they’ll hear it in the ballroom. Maybe even in town.”
Declan stole me out of Ryan’s arms. “Wait. There’s only one fair way to do this. We’re all gonna want to go first. So …” Declan backed up against my door. He turned the handle with one hand and threw open the door. His other hand reached into his pocket. He pulled out a pair of dice and balanced them on his palm in front of him.
My eyes narrowed. “You’re going to gamble for me?”
“Hell yeah!” Ryan scooped the dice out of Declan’s hands.
“Hell no!” Connor and I both shouted.
I started and stared at Connor. “Why did you say no?”
