Beside me, August clears his throat. “Mae, I’m not sure how all of us have failed to mention how stunning you look tonight,” he says, followed by a chorus of agreement.
I blush. He is wildly good-looking. “Thank you, August,” I say.
He smiles, his icy-blue eyes crinkling as they hold onto mine.
“Where is your trusted stag?” Asmo asks, interrupting the moment.
I turn to him. He’s still not eating, only using his fork to shove bites of roasted chicken around his plate.For the Mother’s sake.
“I’m not sure. The last time I saw him, he was still at the foot of the throne. I guess he didn’t feel like joining us for dinner,” I say.
That earns a chuckle from Barrett. Asmo glares at him.
“What about you? Do you have an anaconda that keeps you company on your throne?” I ask him.
“Are you asking to see my anaconda, princess? Because that can be arranged.” He rests his fork on the table and leans forward, placing both elbows on the table as he levels his devilish grin at me.
Heat rises to my cheeks as I think about him sitting on the throne, his hands wrapped around—
Koa clears his throat, interrupting my entirely inappropriate thought. “Can I steal you away for a moment?” he asks, standing from his chair. Before I can even respond, he pulls my chair out for me and offers me his hand. It’s soft in mine as he leads me outside of the dining room.
He pauses and looks around. “I have no idea where to go, to be honest. I just wanted a chance to talk to you alone,” he confesses.
I smile and lead him to an alcove off the hallway that I spotted earlier. There’s a window seat overlooking the gardens, and we sit down, thighs touching.
“I’m sorry for my inappropriate question earlier,” he says, twisting his hands in his lap.
I tense at the unexpected apology. “Thank you,” is my only response.
He runs a hand through his thick brown hair. “I don’t know what it’s like in the Deer Court, but in the Panthera Court, it’s cut-throat. We’re a close family, but we’re raised to be predators. We’re raised to attack. You seem sweet, and I’ve been raised to not trust that, at least not from people in the royal kingdom. People who come across that way are usually anything but.”
“I still don’t understand the purpose of your original question,” I say, turning to look at him.
He hesitates, then says, “I was intending to throw you off, to test you. As was Asmo. You can’t be soft in a position like this. None of us knows you, so we’re still trying to feel you out.”
“Barrett and August have been perfectly pleasant,” I counter.
Koa tilts his head to one side as he considers this. “Their courts are different. They raise their young with compassion. In my court, we’re all raised to be the top predators. So far, I think you’re a sweet girl—”
I hold my hand up to stop him. “Don’t say that. It sounds patronizing.”
He sighs. “I didn’t mean it like that. I think you’re a genuine person, and I think you say what you mean. We’re used to people hiding insults within compliments. We grew up learning how to be deceitful, and you don’t seem to operate like that. I wanted to warn you and tell you to be careful. Don’t trust everyone. Every prince sitting at this table wants you to choose them as your husband. Everyone wants the crown. Be smart and intentional with whom you choose.”
I nod, mulling over what he said. He’s right. I’ve been naive to forget what my hand in marriage means. “Thank you, Koa.”
“My father would tell me not to apologize, but I am sorry,” he confesses. “Can we start over?” He looks at me, a smile on his face and hope in his eyes.
At the mention of his father and the way he was raised, I feel some sympathy toward him. His comment may have been inappropriate, but at least it wasn’t the manipulative trap his father laid out for me.
“Sure. Let’s start over,” I agree.
He holds his hand out and says, “I’m Koa. Nice to meet you.” His emerald eyes twinkle and his smile, once again, disarms me.
I take his hand in mine and shake it briefly. “Mae. Nice to meet you, Koa,” I say with a smile. He doesn’t let go of my hand, instead dropping both of our hands to rest where our thighs meet.
“August was right earlier. You look beautiful tonight.”
Butterflies take off in my stomach at the compliment. “I believe the word he used was ‘stunning,’” I say with a grin.
