Page 61 of A Tale of Treachery

“No, Your Highness.” I fidgeted uncomfortably, glancing at the princess out of the corner of my eye.

He let out a long-suffering sigh and turned to Gabriella to offer his hand. “Princess Gabriella, it would greatly please me if you would dance with me.”

Her cheeks flushed red in embarrassment, but despite the humiliation, she elevated her chin in a regal display and proudly accepted. “It would be my honor, Prince Aiden.”

A collective exhalation of relief sounded around the table as Gabriella’s parents visibly relaxed, and King Drake smiled at his son, seemingly satisfied.

Aiden and Gabriella slipped onto the dance floor, hand in hand, the way it should be. The way it was meant to be. Despite the night's chaos, she smiled up at him with a dreamy look.

King Drake’s glare burned against the side of my face. He’d played along with his son’s wishes, but it was clear that he was reaching a breaking point. I didn’t look back at him for fear of reprisal, and instead, sat with a fake smile pasted on my face as I watched the happy couple dance and twirl to the music.

* * *

It was growing late.People were laughing and dancing, inebriated from the chalices of wine they’d guzzled. I was the only one left sitting at the royal table. Aiden and Gabriella continued dancing throughout the night, taking their time and becoming reacquainted with one another. Gabriella’s parents socialized with the various royals and nobles in the hall, and King Drake entertained the long lines of women vying for his attention, taking turns dancing with each one of them.

I wasn’t allowed to leave until escorted to my room by a “trusted” guard, but George was dancing with the ladies, and Brandon was leaning against the wall, sipping his wine while seducing the Lord of Henshall from the Mortal Lands.

Brandon was trying his hardest to keep his interest in the lord unnoticeable. Still, the lord was a bit more obvious about his intentions, seeing as same-sex-oriented relationships were approved of in the Mortal Lands. For Brandon’s sake, I hoped the lord would stop being so obvious.

I looked around for an opportunity to escape. Thomas appeared to be available as an escort, making it clear in how he ogled me, but his leer sent a chill down my spine.

No, thank you.

Taking another sip of wine, I settled in for what was sure to be a long and uncomfortable night.

Aiden’s blue eyes blazed in my direction as he danced with the princess, and I returned his stare, using my expression to display my displeasure. I took another sip of wine, the alcohol causing my cheeks to heat, and he smiled, thinking he was the cause of my blush.

I looked away, unwilling to lead him on any further.

I needed to speak with him and make it clear that whatever we had was over. The thought brought a smile to my face and made it feel as though a weight had lifted off my shoulders. Tomorrow morning, I would go to his room and tell him the truth—that he wasn’t the one my heart belonged to. Not anymore.

My heart belonged to Ryken.

I searched for the assassin, desperate to see the male that had managed to viciously burrow his way into my soul. He’d been missing ever since he’d been called to the meeting with the king, and I prayed that he would come soon.

The flow of music faltered for a moment, and my internal bubble popped. I smiled knowingly. It was as if my thoughts had summoned him.

Ryken walked in, a mysterious figure dressed in black. Despite the hood and cloak that covered him from head to toe—or maybe because of it—everyone immediately recognized that they were in the presence of the king’s assassin. People darted glances at him as he made a pathway through the crowd and murmured under their breath.

I licked my lips, the cracked skin suddenly parched, and took another sip of wine. The sight of all that leather and glinting metal stretched tight across his body had a heated feeling churning low within my core. I rubbed my thighs together, trying to spurn the feeling and desperate to hide what the mere sight of him did to me, how he so easily melted me.

Especially after all that wine.

Whether he could sense my arousal or smell it, I didn’t know, but it was clear that he knew exactly what had crossed my mind when he glanced up at me, a wolfish smile peeking from beneath the shadowy hood. His eyes glowed the brightest silver.

My flush deepened, and not from the wine.

I stared straight ahead as Aiden’s eyes darted between Ryken and me. His lips pressed together, and his nostrils flared as he fervently watched the assassin striding in my direction, suspicion clear in his gaze.

Aiden’s attention whipped back to Gabriella when she grabbed his arm and whispered a question, her doe eyes filled with confusion.

I kept my gaze locked on the ocean of people in the hall, not wanting Aiden to notice my reaction to Ryken. But though my vision was diverted, I heard Ryken’s booted feet on the stairs and the whisper of leather as he climbed the dais and moved to stand at my back.

A static feeling buzzed between us, and I swallowed and sat unmoving while waiting for everyone’s attention to divert.

Aiden scowled, unable to get in the way of the man who was simply performing a duty. The cords of his neck stood out with the effort it took to hold himself back from making a scene. After a less than appropriate amount of staring, he redirected his attention to the princess, and the two of them resumed dancing.

Soon, everyone was occupied, and Ryken and I were forgotten.

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