‘And give her the satisfaction?’ He snorts. ‘No, don’t worry. I’ve got this.’ He clears his throat and all eyes turn from me to him, every whisper and chatter disappearing. Huh. ‘Ladies and gentlemen, may I present my dearest friend and a most formidable warrior – who, as her face betrays, takes her work rather seriously – Rose Kultavaris. She is, regrettably for our enemies, the reason your earl still breathes this evening.’
Another gasp rolls from the guests. This one has the slightest hint of awe mingled in.
‘Earl?’ I mutter in shock. Sure, I knew Benny was nobility.Richnobility. But there’s something about the way he said his title that held gravitas.
‘My mother is the Duchess of the Eastern Isles,’ he tells me. ‘Her ruling over the kingdom is?—’
‘Second only to King Korvane,’ I finish for him, as the pieces finally slot into place.
‘Speaking of which … looks like you definitely caught someone’s eye with that outfit of yours.’
My eyes are drawn across the room to where Kyor’s standing staring at me, lips apart, as if he’s in shock. As if I’m the most mesmerising thing he’s ever seen. Which is ridiculous, because compared to him, I’m nothing.
Only as I smile does his expression flicker, and a grin takes hold of that perfect mouth of his as he strides across to me.
‘Your Royal Highness,’ Benny says formally with a dip of his chin.
‘Lord Benaris,’ Kyor responds just as politely before turning to me. ‘I’m guessing from the glowers that this look of yours is courtesy of our friend from Rowell.’
I huff. ‘I don’t know why I believed a single thing she said to me.’
‘Because you’re trusting and want to think the best of people. And that’s not a bad thing.’
‘Right now, I feel like it is.’
‘You have to give it to her that it’s a bit more inventive than her normal stab-you-or-set-you-on-fire approach,’ Benny counters.
‘Yeah, maybe,’ I say. ‘She gave me one of her daggers and everything. I’ll use it when I stab her through her heart.’
He snorts.
‘Well, it’s good to see you up. Any chance you’ve got it in you to meet a couple of people before you get out of here?’
I know exactly who he’s talking about, and the answer is a resounding no. Kyor puts his arm around my waist in a show of support.
‘If you want, I’ll be with you the entire time,’ he says, shooting Benny a look that says there’s no point trying to disagree with him.
I nod, knowing there’s no real way out of this. ‘Okay, I’m ready.’
Both men brace me as we walk further into the room, Kyor holding me steady and helping me ignore all the eyes following my every step.
‘If I tell you they’re staring because you’re beautiful, would you believe me?’ Kyor whispers.
‘No. But I appreciate the effort.’
‘Well, I’m staring because you’re beautiful. How about that?’
Some people are talking now, returning to their conversations, but I can’t help casting another look at Zara. Her smug smile has been replaced by a scowl. She’s clearly less than impressed that I’ve overcome this problem so quickly. Still, I shift my daggers further around my waistband so they’re not quite so visible.
‘Rose,’ Benny says, coming to a stop. ‘This is my grandmother, the Dowager Duchess.’
The woman in front of me is dressed in a dark silver gown that’s almost the exact shade as her hair, the sapphire- and emerald-encased tiara on her head looking almost like a crown. Something tells me this is the type of woman you curtsy to, and so I do, though with just a small bend of my knee.
‘I’m truly very pleased to meet you,’ I say in all honesty.
Her smile tightens slightly as her gaze shifts to Kyor at my side before coming back to me. ‘I hear I should be grateful to you for keeping my grandson alive.’
‘I believe we have both kept each other alive,’ I reply truthfully. ‘I am sure I would not be here without your grandson, and the other islanders, who I also counted among my friends.’
