His gaze dropped briefly towards my cheeks, and dragged it painfully to my lips. My lips parted automatically, and his gaze snapped back to the dress still in my hands before he added quieter this time, “You do not have to wear anything you dislike.”
The words settled strangely between us. Because once again, choice. He kept giving it back to me every chance he got. I hated how much that mattered now. Before I could answer, Nina stepped out from behind the divider wearing one of the dark silver-threaded dresses.
The entire room went silent. Why would it not ? The dress clung sharply against black velvet while silver chains glittered softlyalong her shoulders beneath the palace firelight. The younger brother physically forgot how breathing worked.
Nina eyed him warily. Then crossed her arms. “Why are you looking at me like that?”
The younger brother stared at her for one dangerous second too long before answering: “…I need everyone else to leave the room.
Chapter 25
Eva POV
Silence crashed through the palace chambers instantly after the younger brother said it. Nina stared at him startled by his words. Then blinked again “Wow.”
The younger brother's expression had gone completely still. Actually, no. Worse. Something dangerous flickered beneath the calm, like his self-restraint was slipping one crack at a time.
Fuck it .My best friend is definitely demonically screwed.
One palace attendant grabbed another attendant’s arm and physically dragged them backward toward the doors whispering, “We should absolutely leave.”
“That is the smartest thing anyone here has said tonight,” Anderson muttered tiredly.
Meanwhile Nina still hadn’t moved. Neither had the younger brother. The tension near the changing screen felt so thick even the silver firelight looked warmer around them.
Nina crossed her arms tighter across herself. “You’re doing the face again.”
“What face?”
“The one where you look one bad decision away from scandalizing your entire bloodline.”
The younger brother stepped closer. His steps were threatening, predatory and scary.
“That sounds dramatic.”
“You grabbed my waist in front of servants.”
“You were standing near a balcony.”
“That is not an explanation.”
“It was distracting.”
The honesty in his voice landed hard enough that Nina actually stopped talking for a second.
Meanwhile I was still standing beside my demon holding the black dress while watching this entire disaster unfold like reality itself had become fanfiction.
“Should we stop them,” I whispered quietly.
My demon remained completely unfazed. “No.”
“That answer was suspiciously fast.”
“They have been circling each other aggressively for hours.”
It's true actually, my Nina had been eyeing his younger brother like a hyena on a hunt.
Nina finally recovered enough to point directly at the younger brother. “You need to calm down.”
