I studied his face, but his expression remained blank. “Unless you purchase my footwear, I don’t see why it's of any interest to you what I do with my feet.”
The male moved to the side, stepping directly in front of me. “There’s no need to play coy when you clearly just conjured that flower from nothing but damaged dirt.”
“I did no such thing! Magic isn’t even allowed here, how dare you falsely accuse someone of such a crime.” I looked at him defiantly.
Taking a deep breath, he surveyed the area, looking at the empty night around us. Nothing but crashing waves and small, scurrying creatures filled the still air. He took a step forward, our bodies nearly touching. His towering stature was a looming threat and, despite my best effort, I flinched from the closeness.
“Your king’s ridiculous rules are none of my concern.” He looked down at me. “Do you have magic that affords you the ability to produce something from nothing? From less than nothing?”
I stood in silence, too scared to lie, but unable to admit the truth that he’d seen with his own eyes.
“What else can you grow?” His brown eyes were full of questions, but I knew better than to answer. He took one more step forward, our bodies going flush before he threw a leg between mine, parting me like the sea. He stomped down into the peony, covering it entirely with his large boot.
“Hey!” I shouted, but he offered only a smirk in return, staying silent.
“Good evening, Audryn,” a female voice cooed from behind the man. “Are we interrupting something? Perhaps you’d like some privacy for whateverthisis.”
I stepped to the side and pushed forward onto the gravel path, coming face to face with Maris and Leanna, each splendidly dressed. Leanna’s hair was braided in multiple plaitsagainst her head and pinned into a complicated floral design, with a single arched braid from one temple to the other, suspended in mid-air.
“I see you’ve met King Grave.” Leanna tilted her head and forced a smile. “Maris, this is the King of Kuroden.”
Maris dipped into a low bow, and I immediately followed suit, realizing I hadn’t properly greeted the king. My face heated, but fear quickly chased away the embarrassment. If he told anyone about what he had seen, I’d be dead.
I rose and nervously looked between Leanna and King Grave.
“It appears you’re feeling better,” Maris drawled, her eyes assessing me, “and don’t you look lovely.”
My eyes shot to the woman, ready to retort but it wasn’t the large purple dress that captured my attention.
“Thief!” I gasped in Maris’s direction. “You stole my mother’s necklace!”
She drew back, placing her hand against her chest to cover the dangling pendant. “What? I did no such thing!”
If I weren’t already in on her antics, I would’ve believed the act she was putting on for all to see. “Give it to me.” I stepped toward her with my hand out. “You have five seconds before I no longer afford you the opportunity to walk away from here.”
“This doesn’t belong to you,” she gasped. "It was a gift!"
“It sure the fuck does. It’s my mother’s and if you don’t give it to me right now, you’ll soon meet her in the afterlife where she’ll tell you herself!” Rage ran through my body and I didn’t care who was there to see it.
“Wait a minute.” Leanna attempted to squelch the argument. “I’m sure we can figure this out. Let’s talk this through, there must be a mistake.”
“The only mistake is that she’s still standing.” I lunged forward, pushing Maris toward the prickly rose bushes.
Her violet skirts snagged beneath her boots, forcing hersideways into the murky, shallow pond. The billowing skirts floated up as her arms frantically flailed, attempting to steady herself. Taking a little swim was the very least she deserved. The only problem was my mother’s necklace had gone in with her.
The corner of King Grave’s mouth ticked up while Leanna hurried to the side of the pond shouting for help as she moved. Several guards rushed over and assisted Maris to the edge of the waist-deep pool of green water. She crawled out slowly, with my mother’s dangling necklace clanking against the ground.
If she broke it, I’d kill her. “Take it off,” I demanded before allowing her to stand
“Prince Sutton gave it to me, not you!” Maris shouted while pushing her waterlogged strands of straw from her face.
“What’s going on out here?” Ryder’s voice boomed. His eyes darted around, looking for anyone willing to offer an explanation. King Grave looked at him with a sly smirk; at least I’d entertained the prince’s guest.
“I left my mother’s necklace on the bathing room vanity and it was gone when I returned,” I pressed. “I spent the evening looking for it only to discover it was around Maris’s gullet the entire time.”
“How would you even know? You were in the gardens alone withhim!” Maris snapped, her eyes aimed at the visiting king. “I don’t believe you knew what was around my neck or for how long when you were busy with the King of Kuroden.”
“What?” Ryder turned to me, his face red in an instant. “What were you doing in the gardens alone? And with Grave.” He sneered at the king who stood leisurely and unbothered.
