“Have you now?I’m afraid that offer has already expired.”
“Within a day?”
Her innocent act didn’t fool either of us.
I moved closer, inches from her face.I knew it would drive the gossips nuts downstairs, and she couldn’t back up.
“Winning a duel is all it takes for me to earn your attention?”
“It definitely wasn’t your charm.”
I leaned in to whisper and my lips brushed the shell of her ear.“Who says I used my charm?”
I eased back as a shiver ran through her, goose bumps pebbling in its wake.She swallowed, and I could tell it was taking everything within her not to push me away—most likely over the railing.
She lifted her chin.“I thought we might strike a partnership.I would benefit from your influence, and based on your failed alliance with Haskelle I would say you could use my cunning.”
“That was a sabotaged alliance, not a failed one, and I wouldn’t call that cunning.It sounds more like you realized I was a viable opportunity.”
“Are you willing to risk the rest of your alliances on that?”
My throat bobbed, all too aware of our proximity, of her eyes flicking between mine.There was no denying her trickery and brashness intrigued me, but I wouldn’t grovel to her after she’d thrown me away like a used toy she no longer wanted to play with.
I dipped my head, lips close enough to brush hers, close enough to feel and hear her intake of breath.I paused, drawing out the moment before meeting her gaze and whispering, “A lowly noble from a useless kingdom can offer nothing that would tempt a prince of Paravellia.”
Indignation flared in her eyes, but I kept my triumph hidden.I stepped back to leave her flustered, but she followed me, tilting her head.
“You might want to consider what I have to offer first,” she said.
I angled away from her.“You mean like how you considered my offer for all of two seconds?”
“I can help you,” she pushed, closing the distance between us again.
“What could someone like you possibly help me with?”I scoffed.
She stared up at me, serious.“I can help you solve your brother’s murder.”
I had spent years honing my mask of indifference, to give no reaction, but her unexpected words left my jaw slackened as I stood there speechless.
I forced out an unconvincing laugh, trying to dispel her revelation.“My brothers are alive and well.”
She lifted her chin.“We can both stop playing games now.I know your brother Rivero was assassinated at his home in broad daylight, that your family has tried to keep the murder in house, silenced the villagers, and—”
“Quiet,” I hushed, forcing her back a step as I glanced over my shoulder like the air would betray us and carry her words to the crowd below.“How?”I snapped.“Are you working for my father?”
A short wave of confusion splashed across her face before she replaced it.“I can promise you I’m not working for your father, but if you can help me, then I can help you.”
“What doyouneed help with?”I growled.
She shrugged.“Influence.You can provide connections I would never make on my own.”
If I refused her offer and she spread rumors Rivero had been murdered, it could destroy every drop of Paravellia’s bargaining power.I wanted to beat my siblings for the crown, but that wasn’t why it mattered.If Paravellia suffered, its people suffered as well.Loss of trade deals and bargaining power would have a devastating impact on the economy and our people’s ability to make a living without struggling to put food on the table from one day to the next.
“If you want to make an alliance,” I said.“You’ll have to prove your worth.”
“How?”
I smiled inside but kept my expression deadpan and lethal.“Fix my alliance you screwed up with Lord Eyreling.Get me everything I originally asked for.I’m sure you already know what it entailed.”
