“I’ll go first,” he said, inclining his head to the curtain. A veil had fallen over his eyes, cutting her off from him and any lingering feelings.
Right.They needed to go.
But this time, Lora was the one who didn’t want him to leave yet.
* * *
It didn’t take long for Layken to find her when Lora walked across the dancefloor. She could feel his presence behind her.
Annoyed, she stopped in her tracks and faced him. “Don’t you have something better to do?” she asked.
“Yes,” Layken said, surprising her. “But I’m stuck with you tonight, I’m afraid.”
“Why don’t you go back to whatever you were doing earlier today when you weren’t stalking me? Does Karwyn know you’re slacking?” Lora dared ask.
“Now you want more of me?” Layken asked, letting out a laugh. “Don’t mistake my absence for disloyalty. The king is very much aware of myduties.You’re on top of my list though, Adelway, don’t worry.”
“Get a life.” She turned on her heel and walked away fast, but she knew Layken would trail her anyway. She’d only come to the party to talk with Eyden so she headed to the exit. The runia strapped to her thigh was making her anxious. She couldn’t wait to take it off and store it somewhere else.
Making her way through the dancing crowd, Lora had almost reached the door when a voice called out, “Little Adelway! Shit—I mean Lora.”
Recognising Rhay’s voice, Lora turned her head in his direction. Rhay was standing by the bar. Ilario was sipping indigo wine next to him. A smile graced his lips when he noticed Lora. She hadn’t had a chance to talk with him.
Lora started towards them. When she got closer, she looked over her shoulder, expecting Layken fast on her heels, yet there was no one there. She searched the room, but saw no sign of him. Was he watching her in secret?
Rhay’s drunk grin grew when she joined the two fae at the bar. “Ah, there she is,” he said, clearly intoxicated. “Rio, this is Princess Lora, the newest and most fun member of our court.”
“It’s just Lora,” she said, smiling. Ilario returned her knowing grin.
“A pleasure to meet you, just Lora,” Ilario said. “I’m Ilario, and unfortunately not any kind of member of the court.”
Putting his hand on Ilario’s shoulder, Rhay drew closer to the fae. “Nonsense. You can be a member of my own court, love.” Rhay gave him one of his flirtatious winks before turning to the bar. “More drinks,” he shouted over the noise of the music.
“None for me,” Lora replied as Rhay pointed to Ilario, then her. “I’ve had enough for tonight. It was nice meeting you, Ilario.”
While Rhay was busy getting his drinks, Lora mouthed a silent “thank you” to Ilario. The fae caught her meaning and nodded in return. Ilario must have risked a lot to come here with Eyden and part of it was for her.
As Lora made her exit, a thought popped into her head. She had thanked Ilario, but she’d never thanked Eyden. She had her reasons, not wanting to get too close. But was it fair of her to make him believe she didn’t care at all? That she didn’t appreciate the fact that he’d done so much to get to her?
Lora was so in her own head that she almost walked into Karwyn as he rounded the corner in the dimly lit hallway.
“By Caelo, watch yourself,” Karwyn muttered as he stopped in front of her.
“Was I supposed to foresee that you’d be coming around the corner?” Lora replied.
“Do not play smart, cousin. It does not suit you.”
“You’d have to be smart to know when someone’s pretending.”
Karwyn’s face inched towards her. “Careful. You think there is nothing I can take away from you, but Ican.” He took in her outfit. “Like Rhay’s parties. The only reason I let you attend them is to appease Rhay and keep up appearances.”
“You don’t like it, do you?” Lora asked, a fire building in her even though she was exhausted by the long night. Varsha’s words lingered in her mind. Did the king have a weakness after all? It wasn’t a good time to start another argument with her psychotic relative, but he brought out the fury in her.
“Like what?” Karwyn sneered.
“That Rhay cares about me attending his parties.” Lora didn’t drop her gaze. “He doesn’t seem to be looking foryouthere.”
“Why would he when he knows I will not be there?”
