Page 86 of Court of Vipers (The Lady of Innislee)

Her heart in her throat, Riona crossed the stage and cupped his cheek, turning him to face her. “If our meeting was your undoing,” she whispered, “then it was mine, as well.”

His expression shattered at her words. “Riona…”

“I will not marry your brother.”

Auberon reached up and grasped her wrist, pulling it away from his face. “You must. You and I can never be.”

“Because you believe I would rather have the crown than you? Or because you think that loving me means you’re betraying Drystan? Tell me, and we will find some way to make this work. We can have a future.”

“We cannot,aramati.”

When he refused to say more, Riona took a step back, stung and hurt by his rejection. “Then why did you ask me to come here? Why confess your feelings for me? I love my kingdom and my people, but I would give it all up for you. If you asked me, Auberon, I would go to Erduria with you.”

Auberon glanced away, a storm of emotions on his face. But he said nothing.

Her heart breaking, Riona turned and walked away, leaving him standing alone in the middle of the stage.

For a moment, there was silence. The running footsteps pounded behind her, and Auberon caught her hand just as she began descending the steps. She whipped around, her anger and pain flaring, but whatever objection she’d been about to say vanished when his lips met hers.

Shock froze her, only to be swept away by a rush of desire as his hands came up to cup her face, his fingers tangling in her loose braids. His wicked, clever mouth was soft, moving against hers with the same hunger, the same passion she had seen burning in his eyes. She’d wanted this. There was no denying it as his silver tongue slipped between her lips, teasing her own. She threaded her fingers through his hair, pulling him closer, every soft curve of her body pressed against the hard planes of his. He was wicked and cruel and manipulative and deceptive. He was kind and charming and selfless and brave. And she found that she wanted him more than anything she’d ever wanted before.

One of his hands slid down to cup her breast, heat igniting under her skin as his fingers trailed lightly across the curve of sensitive flesh. She prayed he couldn’t feel her heart pounding against her ribs. She guided him backward until his legs hit the piano bench, and he sat, an arm wrapping around her waist and pulling her onto his lap. He pulled away only to kiss just below her earlobe, sending shivers down her spine and drawing a soft sigh from her lips.

Auberon leaned back and looked up at her with love and longing in his beautiful blue-gray eyes. “I just had to do that once,” he whispered. He reached up and ran a light finger along the edge of her lower lip, something like wonder in his voice as he said, “I’ve never seen you smile like this.”

She hadn’t even realized she’d been smiling. She wasn’t aware of much of anything, except for the way he was staring at her lips, the way his heart was pounding where her hands rested on his chest. “Marry me,” she breathed, “and make me smile like this every day.”

“Let’s not discuss it now,aramati.” He gently eased her off his lap, then took her hand and drew her to the center of the stage. “Dance with me.”

“We don’t have any music.”

Auberon smiled, a hand slipping around her waist to rest at the small of her back. “Indulge me.”

And then he began to sing.

Riona gaped at him as his rich voice swept over her, filling the silent theater. The song was in one of the northern languages, and although she did not understand the words, there was no mistaking the beauty, the longing, in the words. It was a ballad.

Dehan dhoh-sha mo tuijía, mo chroí

Cuille solis-sa aire mo sudhin

Bhiodha d’iarrain, bhiodha d’ireach

Làhm mo anam tro’na firinne tué

Is, Ceartan, mi dhoja daonan latha tué

Riona wrapped her arms around Auberon’s neck and rested her head against his shoulder. He swayed slowly as he sang, holding her in a tight embrace, their bodies fitting together as if they’d been made for this moment. Every touch sent a flare of warmth through her. She didn’t believe in soulmates, but every fiber of her being ignited at the utterrightnessof this moment. Ofhim.

When the song ended, they fell still, neither wanting to break the spell that had fallen over the silent theater.

“We never finished our dance the night that I was poisoned,” Auberon eventually said, his breath soft and warm against her ear. “Every night since, I’ve wanted to know what it would be like to hold you in my arms. To not have to maintain some ridiculous façade for the court or consider what Drystan might think of every little smile, every little touch. Now, I don’t have to wonder any longer.”

Riona pulled back just enough to meet his gaze. “Marry me, and I will never dance with anyone but you.”

Auberon opened his mouth to respond, but then his attention shifted to something behind her. She only had time to register the terror that flashed through his eyes before he shoved her behind him, ripping the sword from the sheath at his hip. She caught her balance on one of the twisting skeletal trees and whirled just in time to see three black-clad figures emerge from the shadows at the edge of the stage, their blades gleaming under the candlelight.

“Stay behind me,” Auberon commanded as they swarmed him.

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