Page 63 of Once Upon a Crown
He placed it on a small table next to one of the reading chairs. The plate was filled with bread and cheeses and dark purple grapes, a particular favourite of mine. My stomach rumbled at the sight of it.
“That’s uncommonly kind of you,” I responded with some hesitance.
“You think me incapable of kindness?” he asked, his expression suggesting it was a serious question.
I continued to look longingly at the food, contemplating.
“Do you really want me to answer that?”
In his other hand, Lance held a cup of wine from which he took a big swig.
“Maybe not,” he said after a moment. Was it only my imagination or did he look a little hurt? But then I reminded myself that my opinion could never matter to someone like him.
“Thank you for the food.” I turned the page in my book. “Have a good evening, Your Highness.”
Lance didn’t move. I lost the sentence I’d last read and frowned.
“Why are you avoiding me, Lady Gwen?”
I gave a shrug, still scanning the page. “I’m not avoiding you.”
“Yes, you are.” In my peripheral vision, I saw him taking a step closer. “You think I haven’t noticed that you do everything in your power to avoid us running into each other in the palace?”
Howdidhe know?
Lance took another step and another, slowly closing the distance to the shelf I stood by.
“Am I truly such a terrible host, then?”
“No, you’re not.” It was getting more difficult to pretend I was reading. Especially as the Prince of Everness came to a standstill in front of me while I was against the shelf, with no ability to back away from him.
“Then what is it?” His eyes were so blue, as I remembered them being from the first time we’d met in Norrandale. There was an iciness to them that unnerved me.
My book was now forgotten but I took hold of my walking stick.
“Nothing,” I insisted. I would never allow him to know the truth. There would be no point in it.
“I think you’re lying.” He didn’t appear upset now but rather intrigued. It only managed to annoy me more.
“I’m just not a very sociable person.” I continued to look up at him, not wanting to appear intimidated in any way.
“Now I know you’re lying.” In hindsight, it might not have been my best choice of words.
“Is it because you find me so attractive that every time you lay your eyes on me, you are at a complete loss for words?”
It was an effort not to bark out a laugh. “You wish.” I gave his chest a light smack with my book and then realised it could be seen as an act of flirtation.
“I think that’s exactly what it is. You’re simply besotted with me.” He had to be much more drunk than I’d initially thought. Although he’d always come across as rather arrogant, he’d never spoken to me like this before.
“I am not besotted with you, Prince Lance. In fact, I might just despise you.”
“Oh, despise me?” he said with raised eyebrows. “Is that what you tell yourself when you go to bed at night and dream of me?”
“You’re ridiculous.” I refrained from rolling my eyes at him.
“Kiss me,” he said, still looking down at me.
“What?” I blurted out.
