“Were you on your back when he offered to escort you, or on your feet?” The prince sneered.
“What? He was at the doors of the hall when I arrived.” I keptmy voice low. “I got here as quickly as I could, even jogged halfway. Ask Fisher.”
“I don’t need to speak with a guard to confirm you were late when I have two fucking eyes.” He squeezed tighter, and I recoiled. It was amazing he’d been able to get his fingers around my leg with the three layers of skirts between us.
I shifted in my seat attempting to get his hand loose, but he stayed clamped on my limb.
“Andthat’sthe damned dress you chose to wear from Leanna’s four dressing rooms?” He assessed me. “Could you have used some common fucking sense before you walked in and humiliated me?”
“I’m sorry,” I whispered. “I chose one of the three gowns brought to my room.”
Ryder sat back and drained a glass of wine before an attendant quickly refilled it. I almost took a drink from the pre-filled glass in front of me until I remembered proper etiquette required I wait until after the toast.
My eyes shot up to Grave, who had his gaze set on me. His vision shifted down to the table—below the table. And then his stare drew back to mine. Onyx flashed in his eyes for half a breath before returning to a dark-brown hue. My body stilled, and I drew in a shaking breath. Deciphering which royal I was more fearful of was an impossible task.
“Are you okay?” Leanna’s voice was filled with surprising concern.
“She’s fine,” Ryder answered for me. His fingers thrummed loudly against the top of the table. He knocked back another glass in one fell swoop. And when the attendant went to refill the vessel, Ryder yanked the bottle from their hand. The prince filled the glass and kept the bottle close by.
“It doesn’t seem she is,” Grave growled, “though you’d know it if you let Audryn answer for herself.”
“Shit.” Leanna blew out a breath, and the few dozen peopleat the table went silent. I’d spent weeks in the castle and had yet to hear her use profanity, even when the other women and I annoyed her.
Ryder and Grave remained locked in a staring match, neither backing down, and silently daring the other to make a move. This dinner was an important one, and it was going to crap. I did the only thing I could think of and stood.
I’d faced greater threats than a table full of drunk men; in fact, I’d faced an entire tavern of drunks on any given night. Plastering a smile on my face, I looked around the table with my glass in hand and stood.
“Good evening to all of you.” My heart fluttered at seeing the dozens of pairs of eyes staring back at me. “My name is Audryn, and I’ve had the pleasure of spending the last few weeks at Sutton Castle.” I made a conscious effort to look at each guest; it was the foundation of every good toast. “The time I’ve spent here has been the greatest experience of my life,” I lied. “The hospitality shown to me and the other women has been unmatched and is appreciated.”
Ryder sat with an elbow on the table and a flexing hand. He was completely incensed, ready for battle. And I was his opponent.
I bit back tears realizing he was anything but appreciative of the toast. “I want to thank Prince Sutton for opening his doors and welcoming us all here this beautiful evening. May the food sate our bellies, the wine warm our hearts, and the conversations enliven our souls.” I raised my glass. “To our future king.”
“Here, here,” voices simultaneously filled the air.
I took a long drink and was instantly yanked down. Barely keeping my glass from spilling, I plopped into the seat with Ryder’s hand still wrapped around my arm, his fingers digging close to the lingering purple blemishes.
Grave’s chair pushed out, and he stood, eyes narrowed on Ryder’s still-clenched hand. My stare met his kohl circles, and Icould no longer blame the change of color on my wild imagination. Despite starting the book on Kuroden, I hadn’t yet reached the part where it documented the native fae’s magic. I'd never heard of color-shifting eyes.
He inhaled a long steadying breath, letting his eyes drop shut for only a moment before opening them again, revealing the brown globes. He looked around to those seated at the table. “It would only be prudent to thank the equally prized royal in our presence.” Grave’s dimples popped as he offered a coy grin. “Perhaps superior in some respects.”
Leanna blew out a heavy sigh.
“Princess Sutton.” Grave continued, his voice oddly warm. “Thank you for co-hosting what I’m sure will be a marvelous dinner. Your hospitality offered to Amalee and me has been nothing short of exceptional.” He raised his glass, and the table hesitantly followed, eyes glancing apprehensively at one another. “To Princess Sutton, perhaps not the ruler Rivale gets, but the one it deserves.”
I moved to press my glass to my mouth, but Leanna placed her hand on my arm. “Don’t drink,” she warned.
I stayed still and glanced at Ryder, who was sneering at the king. Grave leisurely took his seat and looked to his sister, who wore a mask of irritation. Ryder gestured to the group to continue their disrupted conversations. A low rumble of voices moved through the crowd, though Amalee, Grave, and Leanna sat silently.
The prince turned to face me. “Are you done, or shall I assume you will continue to make a fool of not only yourself, but of me? ”
I lowered my head as Ryder finally released his grip and gestured to a nearby attendant. On cue, a dozen kitchen staff trailed into the room, carrying a dome-covered plate in each hand. I gulped the rest of my wine and put the empty glass down as a plate was placed in front of me.
Still under the cloche, the salted scent of fish wafted up to my nostrils, churning my already nervous stomach. Ryder laggardly refilled my glass. Perhaps he thought if I were drunk enough, I’d keep my mouth shut.
“Dinner is served,” Ryder announced as the shiny covers were removed.
A thick fillet of fish sat on my plate with small silvery-black beads of caviar. Creamed mashed potatoes flanked one side of the dish while finely chopped radishes sat across. My stomach dipped and growled loudly.
