“Rhay, can I talk to you?” the fae said, her hand playing with the fabric of her dress nervously.
Rhay took a long sip before addressing the woman. “Not now, Amira.”
Amira pursed her lips as she took a step closer and lowered her voice. “Youpromised.”
“I said tonight. Not right this minute.” He turned to Lora briefly. “I’m busy, can’t you see?”
Lora thought Amira might tear her dress judging from the fierce grip she had on the elegant fabric. When she took in the woman’s face again, the anger in her gaze almost made Lora take a step back.
“Can you scram?” Amira said, an unhinged edge to her voice.
Scram? Who did she think she was to tell her toscram?Lora ground her teeth, but she didn’t allow herself to be intimidated. Amira’s irises reminded her of a bruise. What was wrong with her?
On the contrary, Rhay seemed to be amused by Amira’s demand. “She’s not going toscram.I’m her guide tonight, and it would be rude to leave her alone. I’m sure you remember how it feels to be new here. And I’m the best guide there is, wouldn’t you agree?” His voice was taunting, laced with hidden subtext that Lora couldn’t understand. Who was Amira? A scorned lover?
Amira’s fists balled around the fabric of her dress. “You can show her around later.”
Rhay leaned back against the bar. “You don’t leave royalty waiting.”
The blood seemed to drain from her face. Amira’s olive skin turned ashen as she detailed Lora. “What do you mean by royalty?”
“Oh dear, I wasn’t supposed to say anything yet,” Rhay muttered unconvincingly.
“Dammit Rhay, be straight with me. Who is she? And where’s…thepromiseyou made me?” Amira ground out between clenched teeth.
“I’m sure Karwyn will tell you. And soon.”
“You want me to ask Karwyn?” A hysterical laugh left Amira. “Never mind. I don’t give a damn who she is. When, Rhay?” Her raised voice drew an audience. “When?” Amira gripped the front of Rhay’s sparkly silver-blue blouse.
Disliking all the attention on them, Lora stepped forward. Bringing her voice to a whisper, she said, “I don’t know what this is about, but really, I’m no one.” The woman glared at her. Lora looked pointedly at the crowd staring their way. “I’m sure if Rhay says soon, he means it.”
Amira glanced at her hand buried in Rhay’s shirt and dropped it quickly. “Find me later, Rhay. Youpromised.”
She turned to leave, but Rhay said, “She’s notno one,though. She’s an Adelway. Karwyn’s cousin. The palace has another princess now.” Amira stopped in her tracks but didn’t turn around. After a few seconds, she walked away.
Lora turned back to Rhay. “What the hell was that? And why did you tell her who I am? It was supposed to be a secret until tomorrow. Remember?”
Rhay shrugged. “She can keep a secret.” He finished his second glass in two gulps. “And, as Karwyn’s fiancée, she’ll find out soon enough.”
Lora stared at him, dumbfounded, but he was already busy ordering more drinks. This might have been the strangest conversation she’d ever witnessed. If Rhay really was friends with Karwyn, then what the hell was going on with him and the king’s fiancée?
Taking in the room, she turned away from Rhay. The crowd surrounding them had lost their interest and was splitting apart. She tried to spot Amira again. Something was off with her. With Rhay too. With everyone at this bloody palace. It couldn’t get any stranger.
Just as the thought left her, Lora’s gaze snagged on a tall fae across the room. Her knees quivered as she tried to make sense of what she was seeing.Whoshe was seeing.
It couldn’t be. Itshouldn’tbe.
But as her eyes drank in the figure standing on the other side, her gaze moving up to his eyes, it was undeniable. An ocean of pale blue stared right back at her.
Chapter6
Eyden
He couldn’t tear his eyes away from her. Eyden would be lying if he said he hadn’t considered taking the risk and sneaking away from the party to find Lora. It would’ve been the kind of risk he’d lecture Elyssa about; sometimes he warned his sister because he knew it was something he would do as well.
That didn’t mean it was the right call. It was therecklesscall. These days, he was pushed to act rather than watch and plan.
None of his planning could’ve prepared him for this. Eyden had had nightmares about Lora being tortured, locked up, or even killed, the light in her eyes dimmed forever before she could grow to accept her true self, herfaeside.
