If I wasn’t planning on leaving this Goddess-forsaken world, I would remind him that Caspien is my soon-to-be mate and there are a million things we need to talk about. But there’s no need to mention that since it won’t ever be happening.
“Nova,” I say quietly so the instructor doesn’t hear.
He nods slightly but doesn’t respond, trying to reconcile my answer and what he’s conjured in his mind.
“He has a theory about what happened,” I say.
This gets his attention, lines forming at the corners of his eyes when he looks down at me. “Does he?” he asks skeptically, searching my eyes.
The song is coming to an end, and I step back.
The instructor’s cautious steps approach us, but he stays more than a branch away. “Let’s run through it one more time. You had it towards the end, but the beginning—” He breaks off his criticism of me with a nervous glance towards the prince when Cillian narrows his eyes at him.
“Such an improvement.” The instructor is suddenly beaming at me. “Let's just run it one more time.”
“Turn the music on and then you are dismissed. I can teach her the dance.” The cold look is back in Cillian’s eyes waiting to see if the instructor questions his command.
“Yes, of course, Your Highness.” He nods, music fills the room followed quickly by the door slamming shut.
Cillian is more relaxed this time as he pulls me close as a slow melody flows through the room. “Now, we can actually talk. What does my brother think happened?” he says, tone sarcastic, his eyes now lit with amused curiosity.
“He thinks Varethiel may have staged the whole thing to weaken your family.”
Cillian’s brings us to an abrupt halt. His eyes go distant for a brief moment. “That… could make sense,” he says, words slow. He quickly picks the pace back up, continuing the conversation. “With Aiden, anything is possible.”
“Who’s Aiden?”
“The King of Varethiel’s son,” he mutters, as if there’s a bigger story to go with the name.
Whatever the story, he’s not sharing it now. It makes me even more curious. “Caspien mentioned a king and ruling council. He never mentioned this Aiden. Maybe he doesn’t think he was involved?”
“Varethiel’s king has passed most power to his son. Aiden makes the decisions for their kingdom even though he hasn’t formally reached his majority yet. If a move like that was executed, Aiden’s hands would have been in the fire.”
“So you agree that it’s possible?” I’m doing my best to ignore how we seem to be moving closer than necessary and how charged my skin feels anywhere he is pressed against me. Does he feel it too?
“It’s possible. Varethiel has been on the edge of rebellion for a long time. They want the Two Kingdoms to actually be two kingdoms. My father gave their king his throne. He’s more of a figurehead than a ruler. Aiden has been pushing for more. He feels our laws are outdated and restrictive, but…” His words trail off as we continue to sway and step to the song, his thumb at my back, rubbing up and down.
“But…?” I question.
“He’s arrogant and abrasive, but to kill Nova…” He shakes his head. “That would be extreme.”
“But he has more motivation than the humans?” I’m already getting an idea.
“I’ll look into it, Nissa,” he says, eyes narrowing as if he can see the wheels churning in my head. “Stay out of this.” He holds my gaze. “Aiden could be dangerous.”
We sway to the mounting symphony in silence, each step in each other’s arms as natural as walking. It’s a silent battle. I lift my chin in challenge, me staring at him, him staring back at me.
As the music slows, his ocean-blue gaze slips to my parted lips, and his eyes darken. Clearing his throat as the last note finishes echoing through the room, he steps back.
My body cools the instant his heat is pulled from me. My magic searching for the missing contact.
Chapter
Fifteen
NISSA
When I see an opportunity to bring up Varethiel in my lessons, I take it.
