“Then trust me.”
Evelyn froze in front of the sitting room. Leo and Hannah were on a couch and… he was kissing her. The kiss was light, not passionate, but it was still a kiss.
Evelyn’s whole being went numb. She wasn’t angry or going to cry. She felt like a candle whose flame had been blown out.
No.
Haydn cleared his throat. “Come on, Princess.”
Leo broke the kiss with Hannah and paled when he saw Evelyn.
She finally remembered she wasn’t in a void and continued up to the third floor with Haydn. Damien hadn’t been kidding about the soldier at her door.
“Good night, my love.” Haydn kissed her again, then whispered in her ear, “Give me ten minutes.”
“Did you miss me?”
Evelyn spun around from her spot by the window. Haydn stood just a few feet from her.
“How did you get there?” she asked.
“My—what did you call it?—weird Traveling magic.”
“It works inside the palace?”
“It works everywhere.” Haydn ran a finger down her jaw. “My love, you look unhappy. Are you upset about Alexander?”
“No,” Evelyn lied.
“You haven’t seen him and Hannahtogetherbefore, have you?”
She shook her head.
Haydn pressed his body against hers. “I can make you forget.” He kissed her cheek. “I can make you feel better.” He kissed her jawline. “I can make you powerful.” He kissed a sensitive spot below her ear.
Evelyn’s breathing grew heavy.
I’m ready to forget. I’m ready for something new.
“Let me make you happy, Princess. Let me have you. Let me love you.”
I don’t love Haydn. I know that. I’m intoxicated by him, ever since the night we met in the bar, but that’s not the same thing as love.
His next words were a command, not a wish. “Say yes.”
But if he can promise to love me… I can try.
“Yes.”
He took a step back, which was not the reaction Evelyn expected.
“Haydn?”
“Take off your dress,” he ordered. When she didn’t move right away, he spoke again. “Do it now or I will rip it off you.”
Slowly, Evelyn removed her dress and undergarments, tossing everything onto a chair. Haydn watched her every second, hardly blinking. She expected to feel embarrassed or nervous under his gaze, but she didn’t.
This is another one of his games. This time, I want to play.
