But Dorian clung to her, asked her to read from the Scrolls book Draven had sent, shared the herb he’d grown from his own garden, and begged her to tell him about the creatures in the forest. Some days they would go to the cliffs, and on those days they took Nyssa with them. Aydra would set up makeshift targets for her sister to practice with, helping her with her stance and confidence.
It made her miss the days she and Rhaif had shared together like that.
CHAPTER FORTY-ONE
ON THE NIGHT before the next Council meeting, Aydra couldn’t sleep.
Her stomach was in knots. She’d not had a moment to see Draven before that hour having been so consumed with duties and pre-meetings with the Nobles about the securities of their towns.
The dress she’d chosen for that meeting was solid black, long fitted sleeves that went down over her hands, capped shoulders, and a plunging V that didn’t stop until it pointed beneath her breasts at her waist. The bottom was full and flared over her hips, a high slit on the right leg that went all the way up to her mid-thigh. The dress trailed behind her when she walked.
“Fallen at your feet, my Queen,” Lex said as Aydra emerged from her room.
“Maye truly knows me, I think,” Aydra said, speaking of the seamstress she favored.
Lex fell in step with her as they walked. Aydra couldn’t stop fumbling with the ring on her finger.
“Your fidgeting is makingmenervous,” Lex said.
“I haven’t seen him in over a month,” Aydra managed.
Lex chuckled under her breath. “Funny. He said the same.”
Aydra stopped and stared at her. “You saw him?”
“Passed him on the way up to your room,” Lex answered. “He is also looking rather delicious today. This will be fun.”
Upon their reaching the doors of the Chamber, she paused and turned the ring on her finger over three times as she’d started doing. She nodded at the Belwarks, and the doors opened.
Gold reflection bounced off her crown from the windows’ lights as she walked inside. Heads turned, and they bowed upon her passing. Her eyes found her sister on the other side of the room, and she and Lex made their way over.
Aydra grabbed a wine on the way over, downing it before even reaching her sister.
“Drae!” Nyssa exclaimed, crossing the space between them. “You’re early for once.”
Aydra laughed. “Ready to get this meeting over with, more like,” she answered.
Nyssa began talking to her about something, but Aydra’s attention faltered completely. Her heart skipped upon doing a double-take at his cool figure across the room.
Draven was standing by the window, gold goblet in his hand. His teeth tugged on his bottom lip as he took the drink away from his lips. One of the Nobles was standing in front of him trying to talk to him about something, but she knew he hadn’t heard any more of the man’s conversation than she was hearing of her own sister’s.
His gaze found hers, and he stilled. He looked over her deliberately, and she watched as his tongue darted over his lips, jaw clenching distractedly as his weight shifted.
“—hear me? Drae?” Nyssa’s voice entered her ears, but Aydra shook her head.
“I’m sorry, Nys. I just need to speak with the Venari before the meeting. About the Infi,” she lied.
Lex almost choked on her drink, and Aydra glared at her.
Draven was already moving across the room to her. She met him halfway, and the noise of her heart thudding in her chest nearly made her ears bleed.
She didn’t know what to say.
His eyes traveling up and down her figure didn’t help matters.
Another jagged breath filled her lungs, and she felt her mouth open just slightly to let out the air she could barely breathe in the first place. She wanted to reach out and touch him, feel the burn of his skin against hers. A small smile rose on her lips as his eyes finally locked with hers.
“You know this would look a lot less suspicious if the two of you would say something instead of simply eye fucking each other,” came Lex’s nudging voice behind Aydra. Aydra nearly jumped at her suddenly appearing behind her, and Lex gave her smile upon pressing a drink into her hands. Lex left them just as quickly as she’d appeared, and Draven smirked at her as she sauntered away.
