“Well, you better make a move soon, or you’re going to have a very large audience and I?—”
A knock on the door interrupted him, and Leanna walked in half a breath later, not waiting to make sure I was decent.
“You’re dismissed,” she said curtly and eyed Orion. He dipped his head and left without looking in my direction.
“It started coming out,” I lied, fiddling with my hair, “so I figured I’d let it down.” My fingers continued working, sending my locks tumbling down to loose waves.
She’d been so kind to me over the last two days that I’d nearly asked for her help to get my father out of the castle, but didn’t. If there was one thing I knew for certain, it was to never trust a Sutton.
“You’ve lasted longer than I expected.” Leanna lifted her chin and tilted her head as she inspected me from a distance.
Caught off guard, I wasn’t sure how to respond. Her tone was cold and sharp.
“I honestly thought my brother would have dismissed you after the citrus in Allura’s tea.” She pursed her lips and strolled toward me. “Even the buttercups weren’t enough for him to send you away.”
“I wasn’t responsible for that.” I shook my head and fidgeted with my necklace.
“Even taking your mother’s necklace and destroying her dress couldn’t get you to leave.” Leanna dragged her fingertips along the wall. “When you ruined his dinner party, I thought you’d surely be gone, yet now he says you’re his mate.”
I gasped at the accusation as I watched her in the mirror. “Someone poisoned me.”
“Oh, I know,” she replied and waved a hand. “The ipecac was inyourbag, though. Interesting that you’d bring it into the castle with you. What was your intention with it?”
My breath caught, the corset constricting around my ribs.
“Were you going to give it to Ryder, and that’s why you didn’t report it missing? You didn’t even notify me.” The corner of one side of her mouth ticked up. “Was I not helpful enough for you?”
My mind raced, trying to make sense of the information.
She moved toward the podium, and I stepped off, backing away from her. I started mentally assessing the distance to the door and wasn’t sure I’d get to it quickly enough. There weren’t any guards to help, though they probably wouldn’t assist anyhow.
“Oh, Audryn. I don’t want to kill you,” she purred, “but I don’t want you to marry my brother either.”
“Seems we can finally agree.” I blew out a breath and allowed myself to relax a fraction.
“Then leave.” Her eyelashes fluttered. “Go with King Grave. We both know that’s where you truly want to be. He’s quite fun in bed, isn’t he?” She walked languidly around the podium, drawing in close to me. “I’ve heard the guards whispering—what they saw while they were there. What my brother saw and still ignored.”
“And you’re going to help me leave?” I asked and stepped to the right. “You’re going to make sure my father and I get out of here safely?”
“No, of course not.” She chuckled sweetly. “You’ll have to do that all on your own. But I wouldn’t stop you. Now my brother—well, he’s the one you’ll need to worry about.”
The door clicked, and I flinched, my head snapping to the open doorway. Leanna kept her eyes on me, completely unbothered by the intrusion.
My father limped in, cane in hand. I’d never seen him dressed so handsomely, his attire looking similar to Benton’s when he had escorted me to the ball. Even through the beauty of his clothes, his discontentment was written across his face.
“You’re still here?” I wrapped my arms around him, unable to ask if he’d spoken to Jaspar. Leanna and Ryder had done an impeccable job of keeping us apart. We weren’t afforded even one moment alone together.
Holding on tight and not letting go of the hug, he whispered, “Don’t go through with it. We can leave.”
I pulled back, but he only stared.
“Hello, Bride.” Ryder called from the doorway, and moved into the room.
He looked stunningly beautiful. He wore mostly white aside from the long draping aqua cloak dragging behind him with swirling gold embroidery. A large aquamarine gemstone sat on either side of his collar, clasping the cloak closed. A golden crown with a wavelike pattern topped his dark hair.
He leaned in and hugged me, but I didn’t hug him back.
“Act as if you’re happy to see me or your father will be disciplined for your inappropriate behavior,” the prince admonished through gritted teeth.
