“You know, I could put in a good word for you with your grandfather,” he said.
I raised my eyebrow. “And why wouldn’t you? We are, after all, friends.”
“Friends? You know I want more than that, Danica.”
I studied his face. So familiar, and yet occasionally, it felt like I was staring at a stranger.
A stranger who didn’t really want me, but was pretending to for some reason. I knew what a man looked like when he was longing for the woman in front of him. I’d seen that expression in my dream, when silver eyes had burned into me.
“And what would convince you to talk to my grandfather?”
“A kiss. Kiss me, princess, and I’ll tell your grandfather you were sleepwalking. Or perhapsIwas the one to rouse your curiosity about the dungeon, and you took our conversation as a dare.”
I angled my head. Pischiel was a powerful ally to have on my side.
“Just a kiss?”
Something like surprise flittered across his face. He’d expected me to say no. He nodded, his hand rising to cup my cheek. I had a sudden flash of silver eyes holding my chin captive as the demon glowered down at me, and I pushed it away.
“I’m… inexperienced,” I murmured, a blush rising to my cheeks.
Pischiel grinned. “I believe you know more about kissing than you think you do.” With that, he lowered his head. But he waited for me to take the next step. I rose to my tiptoes and placed one hand against his chest to help me balance. Then I pressed my lips against his.
Wrong. This is wrong.
Several things happened at once. My earrings began to burn my earlobes. My birthmark tingled, and something like sorrow welled in my chest.
Instinctively, I knew I couldn’t let Pischiel see any of it. I deepened our kiss, attempting to ignore the lump in my throat. If not for my body’s reaction, for the earrings—which I would definitely be removing from my ears—and the birthmark which had never tingled as far as I could remember, I would have enjoyed our kiss.
Pischiel’s lips were firm, his hand warm on my cheek.
Knowledge shot through me. There in my mind and then gone in a flash. I leaned back and punched Pischiel in the mouth.
He gaped at me, leaning over and cursing. I stumbled into the wall. But my body wanted to leap at him, wanted to smash my fist into his face once more.
What was wrong with me?
Pischiel slowly raised his head, wiping at his split lip. “I’d thought I could play along, could work with my king on this, but even now, you think of another. Don’t you?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
He gave me a knowing look and wiped at his mouth some more. “Get to bed, princess. Something tells me your grandfather won’t believe me when I tell him you were sleepwalking.”
4
DANICA
Grandfather invited me to his office the next morning. I wasn’t stupid enough to believe the invitation was because he wanted to chat about my love life—although he didsoenjoy attempting to convince me to give Pischiel a chance. No, he’d been informed about my nighttime wandering.
Nerves twisted my stomach as Yusilin helped me dress in a soft gray gown.
“This looks lovely on you,” she murmured.
I glanced down without much interest. The bodice gleamed with gray jewels, which matched the material, ensuring the dress was understated until the light caught it in the right place.
I cleared my throat. “Thank you.” I wasn’t sure why I was so nervous. If grandfather decided not to send me as his ambassador, I would be disappointed, but I would have other chances to prove myself.
“Is this your tactic? Play nice with the underking and perhaps he will let you live?”The man who’d said his name was Keigan had seemed shocked that I didn’t recognize him. He’d said grandfather hadtakenmy memories. But that made no sense. I knew, down to my bones, that if I told grandfather I was having issues with my memories, he would be disappointed. He’d likely send me back to his healers.
