“My brothers can be very…free with their attention,” Alastor continued.
No kidding.“I’m not trying to start anything, okay? I don’t want any drama either.” And after tonight, I wasn’t going to try anything with Octavian again, so at least my fears of finding myself in the middle of an awkward love triangle would no longer be an issue.
Alastor’s eyebrow twitched. “Forgive me if I don’t believe you. We’ve known you a matter of days and already you’ve gotten yourself entangled with both of my brothers.”
“Not intentionally,” I responded, with more attitude than I intended. Okay, maybe that Nectar had finally hit my bloodstream, because I was having a little trouble self-regulating my volume right now. “It’s not like Iplannedto meet three cursed brothers, accidentally transport myself to their world, and make out with all of them. I’m supposed to be home writing fanfic and talking to my succulents right now.”
Alastor stepped closer—probably, in retrospect, because I was talking pretty loud and he didn’t want others to overhear—but I misinterpreted the disapproval in his eyes.
“I misspoke,” I said, raising my hands in front of me in a placating gesture. “Obviously I haven’t made out withallof you.Believe me, Your Highness, you have nothing to worry about from me. I have no interest inyouat all.” I mean, hedidsmell very, very nice—something I was very aware of right now, with him only a couple of steps away—and hehadbeen very tender towards me just before and just after going through the portal. But those things hardly outweighed all the rest.
He stopped, his frown deepening. “You seem very determined to believe I dislike you.”
“Don’tyou? You’ve made it pretty clear you primarily see me as a nuisance. Or, considering this conversation, some sort of succubus sent here to seduce your brothers or something.” Tipsy me was actually pretty good about calling people on their bullshit.
Alastor was very still, his face impassable as he considered my words. Finally, he said, stiffly, “My first duty is and will always be to Therador. And where duty is concerned, I cannot bear distractions. I don’t think anyone—including my brothers, and includingyou—would dispute the fact that your presence here…complicatesour situation. And things are tenuous enough without added complications.” His dark eyes met mine, hard but not necessarily unkind. “I don’t dislike you, Marigold. In fact, I owe you a great debt. You brought us home. I will not forget that for the rest of my life.” His eyes didn’t quite soften, but I sensed something beneath their steady surface—one of those rare glimpses of something more complex under his steely, arrogant exterior.
If he was honestly trying to convince me that he liked me, then his little speech could have used some work. But it was a start, I supposed. As was the surprising offer of his arm.
“I don’t believe either of us has any interest in spending the rest of the night in this alleyway,” he said.
I raised an eyebrow. “You’re not planning on dragging me back beneath the Hill, are you?”
“I’m not heartless, Marigold. I do know how to have fun when required. I thought we might go enjoy the Festival.”
“The fact that you only have fun whenrequiredis exactly the problem.”
His exasperation was plain in his eyes. “Do you want to go back to the Festival or not?”
He still didn’t look exactlypleasedto be acting as my escort this evening, but he was clearly making an effort, because he didn’t look resentful, either. Just…resigned. And perhaps a little stubborn, like he wanted toprovethat he wasn’t some boorish grump who had a problem with me.
And I was amused enough by his efforts to smile as I took his arm. Maybe it was because my head was slightly fuzzy from the Nectar, or maybe I was just high off whatever hormones Radven’s tongue had activated in me, but a wicked little voice inside me pointed out that I could definitely,definitelyhave some fun with this.
Alastor certainly deserves it.
37
Bullying the Prince
AssoonasAlastorand I stepped back into the busy street, arm-in-arm, he stopped and scanned the crowd. Probably looking for danger.
I surveyed our surroundings, too, but for a different reason. And the universe rewarded my efforts immediately.
Not far from us, half-smushed on the stones of the street, was a flower crown. Someone had lost it during their reveling. It was missing a fair number of petals, and the ribbons trailing from it were stained with mud, but at least it was in one piece.
I slipped my arm out of Alastor’s, then bent down to grab it before it could become victim to another pair of dancing feet.
“What are you doing?” Alastor demanded as I twirled back around.
“I found you a crown,” I announced, and before he could object, I popped the ring of flowers on top of his head.
He froze, as if he had no idea how to react to the sudden appearance of blossoms on his head. And I had to admit, he looked a little absurd with that crown of pink and violet blooms resting on his thick, wavy hair—especially with the white and silver ribbons trailing down his back.
I grinned, fighting laughter. “It suits you.”
He finally moved, reaching up to pull it off, but I grabbed his wrist.
“Don’t,” I said. “It makes you less conspicuous. Everyone else here is dressed to celebrate and you look like you’re heading to a funeral. Besides, you’re the one who insists that you know how to have fun. Prove it.”
