He was hers to claim the victory over, and he was ready and willing to bend a knee to her... even before they’d ever laid eyes on one another in person.
His heart was practically beating out of his chest as he searched the room for Ezer now, knowing she would be here tonight. Izill had let that little bit of information slip, after she’d come to deliver Kinlear his mask.
“Becareful,Prince,” the servant had warned him, as she’d left his room. “With her heart and yours.”
He’d just held out his gloved hands, winked, and said, “am I ever anything but?”
Now, he was buzzing with energy.
He hadn’t felt this good in weeks, and the music practically flowed through his veins.Debauchery.It was one of Kinlear’s favorite things, bless him, particularly when it came with a free pass. He quickly grabbed a goblet of winterwine as a servant skirted by. He downed the entire thing in three gulps, then moved past his people, his cane pounding in time to the beat.
Lovers -- forbidden, except for today -- were already embracing in every shadowed corner of the room. His stomach did a littleflipas he imagined himself there with Ezer.
Slow,he told himself, though every part of his body objected.You will go slow untilsheleads the way.
He set down his goblet on another tray, head already buzzing, and was just getting ready to circle back towards the enormous window-wall when the crowd parted. He swore it was a moment gifted straight from the gods of romance novels, for a beam of fractured evening sun suddenly shone through the windows, pushing past the frosted panes until it landed onher.
His entire body went taut.
Because the Raphonminder?
She. Was.Glorious.
She was dressed in all white, like any good Sacred, but her braid was loose. Her dark hair hung in delicate waves to her back, and her small Absolution mask wasred.
Red to match the desire that flared in his chest.
She could have been the most pious Sacred in the room, until she turned, searching for a familiar face. And in that moment, he caught sight of thebackof her dress.
Well...hell,Kinlear thought, as his eyes widened.
He’d be damned if he didn’t admit he’d justgasped.
Her dress leftverylittle to the imagination. It was made of soft white silk, caressing her every perfect curve in a way that had his fingers gripping his cane a bit harder...if only to hold himself back from the need to run them across her skin. As the waning sunlight caught it, shesparkled.As if her skin had a sprinkle of delicate stars painted upon it.
He could see all the way down to the small of her back, a perfect dip he remembered touching in his dreams. How helongedto run his hands across her now, pull her close, press her against the wall of this training room and claim her with his tongue and his teeth.
Soon,his mind promised him.
But he’d go to that godsdamned cave in the darknessright nowif he could. He’d walk all the way across the Expanse if it meant they’d get to that moment sooner.
Kinlear Laroux wasn’t impressed easily.
But today...he couldn’t have removed his eyes from her if dared.
And he most certainly didnotdare.
If anything, he was wasting precious time before another suitor swept her up. He followed the crowd until he made it to her, cleared his throat, and said, “I thoughtIwas the only one capable of looking so fine in both blackandwhite. And yet...here you are.”
She spun...and smiled. A true smile, without any shadows in her eyes. “You clean up well enough, Prince Laroux.”
She lookedrelievedto see him, as if she’d been searching for someone to be close and comfortable with, and he was more than happy to be it, to carry that burden for her, but then...she leaned in...andsniffedhim.
“Though...there’s a lingering scent of something strange upon you,” she said.
He almost panicked until he caught the playful lilt to her voice.
“Is that...war bear?”
