I watched as the girls traversed the corner, noting the royals had left and it was just Norm and I in the Great Hall, frozen in place.
“You really can’t control it, can you?”I asked as he looked out the window, watching Wanda and the girls come into vision.I could see Violet pointing things out, see Desmond looking on with interest.Even his posture was perfect.
He was a Prince.She was a Princess.
What if his presence here had something to do with that?
I wasn’t a solid candidate.I had a claim on Violet, but under the law of Lir I wasn’t an official anything.We werecourting.Not bound.
Not until we’d both ascended through ourArdaimand until I’d been confirmed as viable.
Panic struck me along with jealousy and Norm let out a soft sound.
“Some things are beyond our control.No matter how much we wish they weren’t,” he said.His words settled on me.
“You’re wrong,” I said plainly.
Norman’s hand settled on my shoulder, making me jump.He pulled his hand back, looking at me with sadness.
“There was a bug,” he said, blinking.
“Come on,” I hissed as I headed for the exit, not bothering to wait for him to follow.
CHAPTER7
Violet
“So, ambi-magicked, huh?”Delaney said with an appraising gaze.
We both watched as Desmond casually strolled through the courtyard, chatting with Wanda of all people.
“Wanda never said she knew a prince?—”
Delaney tutted as she crossed her arms, the motion pushing her pale cleavage together.“Wanda isn’t the most forthcoming person, period.It’s wiseyouremember that.”
“What do you have against her?”I asked, linking my arm in Delaney’s.Bane rested on the bench, watching us, while Norman took up a seat by the fountain, his tentacles dipping and swooshing through the water of the pond, pushing the lilies and aquatic plants around like a golden retriever with a toy.
“She’s fickle.Can’t be trusted,” Delaney said plainly.
“She helped save me, Delaney.You know that.She was there.She’s been touched by my signature.You know that means something.”
Delaney rolled her eyes.“Yes, but, she tried to leech lust off you.Led you to that forest in the first damn place.”
I stopped, turning to face her.It seemed from her tone that something truly was bothering Delaney where Wanda was concerned.
The wind bristled the trees, sending a shiver up my arms and I rubbed them.
A strange heat blossomed beneath my skin, my veins lighting up ochre and gold, and suddenly the warmth was abundant.I looked at Bane, his eyes glowing with that familiar golden magic and he only smirked at me.
He was always so observant.Bane noticed everything, but people rarely noticed him beyond his striking features.Beyond what he showed to the world.
I smiled back at him, enjoying the warmth he gave me even from a distance.
“Earth to Violet!”Delaney snapped her fingers in front of me.
“I’m sorry,” I said, blinking.“I was?—”
“Making googly eyes at your boy toy, I get it,” she said with a soft grin, just as Desmond rounded the fountain, sans Wanda.
