“Then what do you require?” Rhael asked, shifting me so I moved upright withhim. Not breaking contact but leaning closer to Aasim to lower his voice, ensuring the conversation remained between the three of us.
“To keep it plain. An heir, I wish to take a bride from Vaetharyn. Someone as close to you as those you once took from me.” Aasmin smirked, his eyes narrowing as he let the words sink into Rhael’s skin.
The shadows that usually held at the edges of the room moved closer as the Fae King’s anger threatened to overwhelm him.
Rhael’s grip tightened on my hips, no longer fuelled by make believe desire but anger. However, before he could respond music blared through the hall signalling the beginning of the festivities. Cutting off any and all chance of public conversation until the kings were alone again.
Rhael stood moving me onto my feet, so I now stood beside him once more. I kept my hands on his chest, steadying myself as I got used to being on my feet.
“Ah, perfect. Miss Elara. You would honour me with your first dance?” Aasim asked as he stood, holding out a large hand, expecting me to take it.
For a moment I looked to Rhael, expecting him to refuse. I wanted him to refuse. Instead, he gave one curt nod, and I found myself being whisked onto the sparkling dancefloor in the arms of a man I did not know and did not trust.
Chapter Seventeen
The moment the music started Aasim drew me close to his chest in the centre of the dance floor. His hand was settled on the small of my back, guiding me with ease. The confidence of the Dragon King didn't surprise me. Of all the land kings Aasim was the most self confident. Years in seclusion could do that to a man.
I knew his hold, which was closer than the dance required, was intentional. He wanted people to stop and stare. Aasim wanted Rhael to notice, and wanted to get under his skin.
“You seem much more self assured than what I was expecting for Rhael’s woman,” Aasim murmured, his voice so low I almost lost it beneath the music.
“I move where I am placed. If you find that arrogant, I am afraid that I cannot help you,” I responded, as I forced my expression to say soft and composed. Even though I wanted to stand on his footor snap at him.
Rhael’s words lingered in my mind. He needed this, and it was my job to find information that would help him.
“And if I was to ask you what you wanted, if I could help you? What would you choose?” Aasim’s lips curved, pleased. As if he enjoyed my polite, compliant tone.
I felt his hand as it moved across my back. Travelling until he held my hip. Pulling me flush against him in a way that felt almost invasive. His chin dipped as his warm breath flowed over my ear.
My instinct was to squirm away from him. I didn’t. I let him hold me how he pleased. Despite Rhael’s promises of me remaining untouched. Although, I suspected this is not what he thought would happen when he made this promise.
Thinking of Rhael I sought him out, finding him at the edge of the hall. He stood rigid, dark and commanding, even though he stayed still. His silver eyes fixed on me even though another courier hovered close to him.
A Fae woman draped in a silver gown that hung over her skin, the sides of her breasts exposed. Her hand brushing over his arm and chest as she laughed at something he said.
Something sharp twisted in my chest and I instantly recognised it as jealousy. I swallowed it, ignoring the way it burnt as it travelled down my throat. Instead of staring too long I turned my attention back to Aasim, who still held me too close as he waited patiently for my answer.
“I want what my King requires from me,” I smiled looking back up at him as he spun me smoothly. My skirts flaring as he caught me with his arm firmly around my waist. His grip lingered, tested. As if he was wondering if I would melt against him the same way I did Rhael.
“You would thrive in Pyrhador, you know. The dragons would feel your strength in their bones,” he whispered but I felt nothing to his closeness. No pull, no heat. Nothing that sparked inside me the same way as when I felt Rhael. When the Fae King stood near me, when his hand held my waist, or he whispered in my ear, I felt everything.
“You would be free with me. The Fae King would not harm you, he would not keep you here locked up,” Aasim smiled as his voice dripped once more, a seductive edge there as though he thought it would sway my mind.
I understood then, why the Dragon King had pulled me so close, why he had put on a show. He wanted me to choose him, to take revenge on Rhael by seeking what Aasim thought he wanted most.
I fought back a laugh. The great Dragon King thought that I was so valuable that he wanted to use me as part of his revenge. If only he knew the real circumstances of our arrangement, of how Rhael did not want to touch me unless someone was watching. How I was just a pawn in another King's game.
“What makes you believe I am not free here?” I asked with a smile so fake that it hurt my cheeksto maintain.
“You like being dressed up, paraded in front of his court without even a chair to sit on? For him to show you for an audience? If you were with me, you would not have to pretend,” Aasmin laughed, spinning me once more.
“Yet here I am, pretending all the same,” I smiled moving slightly so my hair fell back off my shoulder.
If the game was to make him want the alliance and that meant flirting, it was a game I could play. My hands held his as I kept my body still. Lighting up my eyes as I spoke playfully, making it seem like there was no way I could not be enamoured with the proud and brave Dragon King.
“If circumstances were different, I would have enjoyed breaking you in,” he whispered, his lips brushing against the shell of my ear.
“I suppose it would have to be in another lifetime,” I said with a heavy sigh. He needed to believe this. To believe he had a chance with me, then he would be able to confirm to Rhael he had an alliance. It would work. It had to.
