‘How touching,’ I say, swirling the wine. ‘A toast that manages to be both a blessing and a death threat. You must be the life and soul of every party.’
Llinos and Caroline approach, hand in hand.
‘Rose, there you are,’ Llinos greets me loudly. ‘We were looking for you.’ A flood of relief rushes through me, as – utterly ignoring Holden – the two women sweep me away in a babble of words. ‘Where’s Kay? I was going to introduce Caroline to her. And Kyor, too. We need to thank him.’
I refuse to look back but can feel Holden’s gaze boring into my back.
Once we’re far enough away, Llin lowers her voice and leans in close. ‘What was that about?’
‘The usual,’ I reply, then murmur, ‘He’s realised that there’s something between Kyor and me, and he’s not too happy about it.’
As if his name alone is a magnet, my eyes are drawn to the prince. Goddess help me.
‘Well, we don’t have to think about Holden now.’ Llin shifts my attention back to her. ‘Kyor, on the other hand … have you already spoken to him tonight? You have to tell me everything. Although, wait, I need a drink first. Like you said, I have to make up for last time.’
‘You don’t have to make up that much,’ Caroline warns. ‘I don’t want to carry you to bed.’ She looks around the ball, a small smile pulling at her lips. ‘Then again, there are a couple of men and women whose help with the task I’d be perfectly willing to accept.’
‘Hey!’ Llin pouts playfully. ‘You’re meant to have eyes only for me, right?’
Caroline’s grin wavers. ‘My lips and my body are definitely all yours … but my eyes are allowed a little wander now and then, aren’t they?’
‘This is why I need a drink.’ Llinos laughs, planting a kiss on Caroline’s lips.
I look around, but the waiter who served Holden and me only moments ago has disappeared.
‘Here, take mine,’ I say, handing Llinos my glass. ‘I’m not that thirsty.’
‘Are you sure?’
‘I’ll find another in a minute,’ I say, my chest tightening. It’s so damned hot in here, so hard to breathe. ‘I need some air.’
‘Really?’
I ignore Llin’s question. ‘I’ll just be a minute.’
I don’t know where I’m going, only that I need to get away from all the noise and the false smiles of nobles that would happily shove a dagger into my back rather than have a slum rat win this thing.
I push my way out of the cloying ballroom, and the moment I’m on my own, I can feel him watching me.
There are several hallways that lead off the ballroom. When I glance down the first one, it’s occupied, so I move to the next. There are doors on either side, though what type of rooms they lead to is anyone’s guess. I move to press my ear against one to hear if it’s empty, but before my hand has even touched the door handle, another hand has pushed it open and shoved me through it.
‘You shouldn’t wander off at these events,’ he growls. ‘There are people who would happily do unspeakable things to you.’
My pulse rockets and yearning spreads through my body at the sound of Kyor’s voice, though my attention remains on the room as I realise we’rein what seems to be a library of some sort. There are books, armchairs, and not another soul in sight.
‘There could have been someone in here,’ I say as I turn around to face him.
‘Then I would have ordered them to leave.’ He says the words so matter-of-factly, as if his pulse isn’t racing too. But I can see it in his eyes, the way his pupils have grown so wide that only a sliver of that icy blue remains.
He places his hands on my hips, their simple presence enough to make my body shudder. He doesn’t move them. Nor does he send those delicious sparks cascading across my skin, providing the rush I so desperately desire.
And he won’t. I know he won’t. Not until I’ve said those words.
My throat is dry, desperate for the taste of him again. Desperate for his mouth against mine. I know what I have to do, to say, but my breath is coming so fast I struggle to think straight. He’s looking at me as though he would devour me, ruin me, if I gave him even half a chance. And he will. Because I’m done fighting it.
‘I trust you,’ I whisper, wishing I could control the breathiness in my voice. And it’s true. How can I not? He saved mylife, and he’s kept my secret. A secret that would see me dead without question. This man before me isn’t the same boy whose lies destroyed my family. He’s a man who has had to live with the guilt of those actions. Who bears the weight of every death he sees. A man who wishes to atone.
I do trust him and it shocks the very foundation of my worldview. I lick my lips and look at him, begging him to believe me. ‘I do trust you, Kyor.’
