“Even if the others don’t believe you, I do,” he whispered after a moment. “Isn’t that enough?”
I stepped back. How could he say those words, as if only the two of us mattered? How could he look at me so tenderly after what I told him?
“No. It isn’t,” I said stiffly, even as my heart screamed otherwise. “The entire kingdom hates me, and for good reason. Even if you don’t—”
Bennett pulled me to him in a sudden embrace. My breath caught. I was terrified by how much I craved his affection. How was it that when he held me, I couldn’t bring myself to worry?
“That’s not true,” Bennett said. His voice made his chest rumble. “And even if it were, you’ll win them over.”
I meant to push him away entirely, to extricate myself from his arms, but I only managed a mere two inches. His eyes caught mine. And suddenly it felt like we were closer than ever.
“Kiss me again, Cissa?” Bennett whispered.
My pet name coming from his mouth undid me. I didn’t know what I was doing. Or what I was feeling. My hand found his cheek on its own accord. His scent, the curve of his philtrum, his lashes that fluttered closed—everything about him was so magnetic. I tipped forward, pressing a lingering kiss to his jaw. Then to the corner of his mouth. One more kiss wouldn’t hurt, would it?
Our lips brushed. Bennett’s breath hitched.
You mustn't let this opportunity go to waste. Get close to the crown prince. Make him trust you. Better yet, make him love you.
And suddenly, Mother was there, looking imperiously over me as I did her bidding.
I jerked back.
Bennett opened his eyes, his expression shy. He touched the faint red prints where my rouge had stained his skin. “Apologies. That was inappropriate of me. You didn’t have to—”
I forced a laugh, hoping to lighten the mood. “If I recall correctly, you already stole a kiss when I was unconscious.”
He blushed. “I promise I didn’t mean it that way.”
I stepped away and opened the door, slipping inside to put some distance between us. My heart was threatening to burst out of my chest for more reasons than one.
Bennett was playing his part of Mother’s plan far too well. He was falling for me.
And most confounding of all, I was falling for him. But how could I truly love him if that was exactly what Mother wanted?
“I’m teasing.” I pulled on a smile. Luckily, he was too embarrassed to notice its fraudulence. “Good night, Bennett.”
He returned the smile, though his was genuine. “Good night, Cissa.”
I watched him leave before I closed the door, dragging a hand over my face and pressing it to my neck. My skin felt feverishly hot.
This was dangerous.
Mother escaped once. She could do it again, ready to resume where we left off. How thrilled she would be at the progress I had made.
My lungs constricted as I recalled Mother’s gore-drenched hands in my nightmare.
You don’t have a choice, Narcissa. We are bound by blood.
It would be best if I held Bennett at arm's length until I knew it was safe.
I trudged over to Misty’s sleeping form and ran my fingers over her head, wishing I could drown my worries in her company. I sighed. There was little sense in waking her when I told her the same concerns less than two months ago. She thought I was too paranoid.
But was I?
