He smirked.“Don’t tell me I’ve become too much for you to handle.”
I brushed past him, heading for the door and desperately needing distance.
“I wouldn’t leave yet,” Valeris followed me.“She suspected I had an accomplice, which means she’ll be watching.”
I ignored him, anxiety rising within me as sense fled my mind.I needed out of here.I reached for the door handle, barely getting the wood open an inch before Valeris was behind me, slamming it shut.
“Where are you going?”he asked.
“I’m leaving.”
“We’re not done here, Analleia.”
His voice was too close.
I spun, my back pressed against the door as I glared up at him, breath hitching in my throat.“Then what do you want?”
His arm caged me in, hand firmly pressed against the door above me, face dangerously near, green eyes searching.I struggled to keep air in my lungs, fought the urge to shove him away.Fought to remain stoic and strong.
“You know.”His voice turned conspiratorial.“We make a pretty good team.”
“Youthink we make a pretty good team,” I muttered, squirming underneath his gaze.I looked anywhere but at him.
He cleared his throat.“I thought we might make another alliance after the finale ball.”
I rolled my eyes.“What kind of alliance?”
He shrugged.“Nothing serious.”His voice dropped lower.“For now.”
I caved and met his eyes, noting the question buried within their depths, the longing, and the hope.I couldn’t deny it anymore.Couldn’t keep shoving it away.He didn’t feel like my enemy because I was drawn to him.I cared about him.I—I needed to step away, needed to— Our breaths grew ragged as we stared at each other, our hearts pounding within our chests to an unknown rhythm.I tried to shake my head no, tried to get myself out of it, but I couldn’t.Couldn’t say no.Couldn’t look away.His head dipped lower, lips hovering above mine.Waiting.Waiting for me to tell him no, to push him away.I didn’t.I didn’t want to, even though everything within screamed to.Screamed that this was wrong.
But I didn’t listen.
My lips parted, and I raised myself ever so slightly to meet his.It was soft at first, tentative, like we were suspended in space, connected only through the kiss.We broke apart, then he kissed me again, harder this time.
And then again.
Heat rose within me as I kissed him back, my lips returning to his over and over.A warm hand slid behind my neck, gliding over my skin as he pulled me closer.His other lowered from the door, traveling down my back and finding its place at my waist.His body pressed against mine, pushing me into the wood, nearly suffocating me.I gasped for breath, but there was only him—and that was the problem.We’d opened this forbidden door, and now it would be impossible to close.I should have pushed him away, should have fled, but I was too weak.
I couldn’t tell him no.
Didn’twantto tell him no.
“Valeris,” I whispered, but his name was lost in the kiss.
I couldn’t get involved.Couldn’t allow this to go any further.I’d come here with a purpose.A mission.And this stupid prince was messing up all my plans.This stupid prince who got under my skin, irritated me, who was the most frustrating person I had ever met, and yet—
And yet, he seemed to be nothing like the vile, wicked man who was his father.This stupid prince danced among the commoners, cared about his people, cared enough that he wouldn’t allow his irresponsible sister to rule.This stupid prince let Nadiyah go when he could have exiled or executed her.I liked this stupid prince, a sentiment I should have never entertained and hadn’t meant to.All this infatuation would lead to was hurt.
Valeris pulled back for a moment, studying me.I looked up at him, disoriented, a million questions brimming in my gaze.
“I thought you never wanted me to touch you like that again,” I said.
He kissed me again, long and slow, before pulling away.“There are exceptions.”
We stared at each other, neither of us speaking as we caught our breath.
I cocked an eyebrow.“You were talking about an alliance?”
