With the sword still in my hand, I swing around, loop my spare arm into Llinos’s, and drag her away.
‘What are you doing talking to him?’ I hiss. ‘We don’t initiate conversation with Kyor.’
She lifts her eyebrows accusingly. ‘Well, how about I’ll keep my mouth shut … if you tell me the truth about what happened between you and him? And Jonas, too?’
I let out a long sigh. She’s not going to let this go, and maybe it’ll help to get some advice. After all, it’s not like it can make things worse.
Chapter 53
‘Idon’t know what it is between Kyor and me. Just physical attraction, I guess.’
‘But you and Jonas kissed,’ Llinos says, her brow creased in concentration as she slices through another ballgown.
‘Things have changed since then. Last night he wanted something more to happen, but I turned him down.’
‘And you said no because of this attraction to Kyor?’ Her eyes glint as she speaks. ‘Two hot guys wanting you. I can’t imagine how difficult it must be. I mean, have you thought about having both? At the same time?’
I offer her my best glower. ‘No, I haven’t.’
I haven’t seen Jonas since he stormed off at breakfast, and I’m sure it’s deliberate. We almost always cross each other’s paths in the dining hall or the battle yard, but today there’s been no sign of him. If it wasn’t for the fact that I’m desperate to see Kay, I’d skip the ball and hang out with Llinos rather than potentially having to face Jonas.
The dress Llin chooses for tonight is different from the others. The high neck cuts a horizontal line across my collarbones, while the back plunges all the way down to the base of my spine. While the top is black, the colour blends down into a deep blood-red on the skirt. The final detail is the slit. It’s a change from the normal fighting-shorts style – clearly Llin wanted to try something different – but it’s hardly modest, so high up my leg it’s almost at hip height.
‘Well.’ Llinos steps back. ‘If your aim is to have them physicallydrawing swords over you, this will definitely do that. And by swords, I mean?—’
‘Just don’t.’ I shoot her a glare.
She snickers. ‘I’m just saying it’s hot as hell.’ She studies me. ‘I think we should leave your hair loose tonight. Straight. Give me a minute and I’ll see if I can get rid of some of that frizz.’
For the next ten minutes, she works on pulling the knots and snarls out of my hair. By the time she’s done, it’s time to leave, and yet she still hasn’t even had a shower.
‘It’s not like anyone actually checks if we go,’ she says. ‘And I just don’t feel in the mood.’
‘But what about the wine?’ I try weakly. ‘You were so upset last time when you couldn’t drink.’
She offers a slight smile. ‘Maybe you can sneak a bottle out for me?’
I’m about to suggest that if she comes, we can sneak several out and carry on the party here later, but before I can, there’s a knock on the door.
‘Are you ladies decent?’ Benny calls only to immediately push the door open. ‘Disappointing,’ he sighs as he strides in and strips his top off, only to stop in the middle of the room and look at Llin. ‘Why aren’t you ready?’
With a simultaneous groan and roll of her eyes, she drops down onto her bed.
‘I told you, I’m not going.’
‘Right, but that was when Caroline couldn’t come.’
Her head tilts to the side. ‘What do you mean, when?’
A grin quirks at the corner of Benny’s lips as he nods towards the door. Standing there, in a deep green ballgown, is Caroline.
With the gasp still leaving her lungs, Llin rushes to the door and wraps her arms around her girlfriend.
‘How?’
Caroline looks fit to burst; she’s smiling so broadly. ‘Well, it turns out having a girlfriend who’s friends with the prince has its bonuses. I can’t believe you didn’t tell me you two were close.’
Llin’s jaw drops. ‘Ohwe’renot,’ she says, looking at me. ‘Rose, that’s not just physical. Doing stuff for your friends … that sounds like it could be bordering on actual feelings.’
