Paige stood quietly for a moment and held Lady Kaelthra’s gaze. The Princess didn’t flinch. “I understand that loyalty is a foundation upon which all strength is built.”
Lady Kaelthra’s eyes gleamed with amusement. “A fine answer.”
I wanted to throttle her.
She stepped back with a graceful bow, but her words lingered in the air like smoke, leaving us all to inhale her doubts and criticism long after she’d finished speaking.
I was so focused on her that I almost didn’t hear the commotion at the door.
The sharp click of boots on marble caught my attention first, followed by the hiss of the heavy doors opening. I turned, the clawing in my gut the only warning I had before the young, handsome male marched into the room as if this were his home.
Fuck.
Prince Martainn.
Not just him, but a contingent of guards dressed in the queen’s blue walked with him. He needed eight fully armed guards? For a dinner party? Perhaps this asshole wasn’t as stupid as I’d believed. Or their presence was a deliberate show of power.
Or a threat. He strode to the front of the room as though he owned it, his golden sash glittering over a pristine white uniform.
I hated him. Plain and simple. Not only because he avoided work and responsibility like a child would, but because he was betrothed to the princess. My Paige.
My mother stepped forward to greet him. “Prince Martainn. Welcome to our home.”
“Forgive the intrusion, Lady Fiona,” he said, his voice smooth as silk but loud enough to silence the murmurs around him. “I wasn’t aware you were hosting a formal gathering to welcome the Princess. I guess the royal couriers must have lost my invitation.”
Mother didn’t flinch at the passive aggressiveness of his words. “Of course. You are always welcome in our home.”
Wasn’t aware? My teeth clenched. Liar. He knew exactly what was happening. He was also dangerously close to accusing my mother of treason.
More importantly, how had he found out about Paige? How did he know exactly when to appear and take notice of who was in the room, and who was not?
Martainn’s gaze swept the room, cataloguing and then dismissing everyone as inconsequential until it landed on Paige. The smug curve of his lips deepened. And his gaze darkened.
My fists clenched even tighter.
“Princess Paige,” he said. “My betrothed. What a surprise to discover you are alive and well. I am honored to meet you. However, I am curious as to why my mother and I did not have the opportunity to greet you at the palace.”
Paige’s mask didn’t falter. I had to admit, the man was attractive. Females would easily be satisfied by looking upon him. Even Paige should be pleased with the appearance of the male her mother had betrothed her to.
“Prince Martainn,” she said, inclining her head. “I’m afraid that was my fault. I took advantage of Lady Fiona’s hospitality and asked for a few days of quiet to adjust to my new life. I’ve never transported across the galaxy before, and it was quite tiring. This is all so new to me, I suffered a shock when I arrived.”
The lie slid effortlessly from her lips, but I caught the briefest glance she shot my way. It was so fleeting I almost missed it, but it was there—a spark of something. A message? A warning? Fuck. I didn’t know.
Maybe it was the hope that I would announce to everyone exactly why she was so tired after her arrival.
Martainn’s smile widened. “Of course. I understand. I’ve been told you grew up on another planet and did not know your true identity? How remarkable.”
Was he asking her to confirm what his spies had told him, or letting all of us know that he and Queen Alienor knew everything already? He bowed to Paige with a flourish and gave her a bright smile I had no doubt he believed to be seductive. A glance at my sisters and I could see by their dazed expressions that he was as entrancing as he hoped.
“Do not worry, Princess. I am here now. Soon we will be married, and I will take care of everything.”
“I see. How…reassuring.” Paige smiled but there was no answering sparkle in her eyes. Surely she was not going to believe this idiot’s lies. After all her talk about refusing to marry him, she was remarkably silent. Why didn’t she refuse him here and now in front of all her allies? Why didn’t she step on his balls?
“My mother, Queen Alienor, is eager to meet you,” he continued. “I’ve come to escort you to the Queen’s Castle, Princess.”
What? The palace? Alone?
Fuck no.
