FOUR

I recover quickly and strive to appear unaffected by his remark.

“I see my reputation precedes me,” I reply.

He eyes me and it’s frustrating how I can’t tell what he might be thinking.

“Pleased to finally meet you, your highness,” I say with a smile, but I reserve my bow. He doesn’t respond. Instead, he turns away and ignores me without giving it a second thought.

“Where can I find a good drink around here?”

His mother rolls her eyes.

“Care to tell me the real reason why you are dripping in blood?”

“It’s all taken care of, Mother. Just let me enjoy the party.”

He gives her a smile that doesn’t reach his eyes and walks away.

For some reason, the dumbfounded look on my face is unwavering.

I can’t get over this rude, blood-stained man. And his remark about my dress.

“Apologies Lady Hayes. He’s always a pain in the arse but we all learn to live with it,” the Queen says. She gives me a small pat on my shoulder and a sympathetic smile before waltzing away.

King Azriel holds out his hand.

“Come with me. I’ll introduce you to the people you need to know.”

…

My suite seems a hundred times quieter than it is supposed to be after a loud night of fancy dresses and fake smiles.

I can hear my heavy breathing as I slip out of my dress and tiptoe into the bathroom.

So far, I’d say my mission was going well. Especially because I have been invited to join the royal family for breakfast tomorrow morning.

How I’ve managed to gain this much recognition just by wearing red to a black and white party marvels and excites me at the same time. In fact, I am starting to fit more easily into my role.

…

“So, tell us more about life in Corvina?”

I look up at the queen to see her beaming at me and waiting patiently for an answer.

The wind is blowing lightly through my hair and the freshness of the garden is beautifully complimented by the huge breakfast table.

“Well, we love animals. We love nature. There are gardens like this in every home. Yours is much more impressive, of course.”

She giggles. “You own pets?”

Lysandra is having a discreet conversation with the foreign prince she was dancing with last night who is seated beside her.

The king is too interested in the food on his plate to join the conversation and Prince Damian is seated right in front of me, giving me a hard look.

“Lots of them,” I reply.

“That’s wonderful,” she gushes. “We’ve never had pets. Nobody in this family cares about animals. Especially Damian. He hates them!” Hilda complains.

He hates animals? All of them?

I laugh. “Well, you know boys. All they want to do is play with their toys,” I reply, staring him down, mirroring his intensity.

I shift my focus to my plate and find the food as delicious as it looks.

And for a moment, I am distracted by my own thoughts on how to get into the castle alone.

“What’s the matter Damian? You’ve barely touched your food,” Hilda says, obviously worried.

His expression is blank as usual, giving nothing away.

“May I leave now? I have to attend a recruitment ceremony in two hours,” he replies.

“Oh, Lady Hayes, did I mention that Damian takes good care of our army? He’s a very responsible young man,” Hilda states.

I rest my cutlery on the plate and smile at her.

“I’m sure he is,” I reply. He’s staring me down again and it is taking every muscle in my body not to squirm under his gaze.

“Maybe she should accompany you to the ceremony,” the king suggests after giving Hilda an odd look. She nods eagerly with a smile.

“You should ask her,” she says.

We both stare at them in shock, even though it is a barely evident expression on him.

“Is that really necessary?” he asks.

Yeah. Is it?

The king doesn’t need to say anything after this. He gives Damian a hard look and he forces a fake smile onto his perfect lips before popping the question.

“So? Would you like to accompany me to the ceremony?”

His eyes are trying desperately to give me a signal. One that is begging me to say no, and daring me to say yes.

I return his fake smile.

I’d like to crawl under your skin, sir.

“Of course, your highness. I would love to.”

His lips twitch. “Splendid,” he says through gritted teeth and I struggle to hide my amusement.

…

We’re riding at the back of his car and he hasn’t said anything to me.

“Ignoring me won’t make me go away,” I say after a long moment of silence.

“No but it’ll make you less of a burden to me,” he replies.

“Do you always act like someone’s shoved a rod up your ass?”

He chuckles.

“You know what they’re doing, don’t you?”

I feign ignorance.

“What are you talking about?”

“My parents. They’re trying to set me up,” he states dryly.

It was too obvious, and I’m not stupid.

“They are?”

“Yes. And with an irritatingly obtuse person.”

I refrain from rolling my eyes.

“I’m talking about you,” he adds, further mocking my intelligence.

“It’s stupid of you to assume that I want anything to do with you,” I state.

He finally turns to look at me.

“It’s not an assumption, Darling. Everyone that knows me either wants me or wants to be me. You, you’re just thirsty.”

“Thirsty.” I laugh.

“You’re right. You got me. I sit by my window every night staring up at the moon and declaring my unquenchable longing for the most delectable prince in all the kingdoms,” I say, my voice dripping in sarcasm.

“Are you mocking me, Lady Hayes?”

“You know I am, don’t you? Or are you… what’s the word? Obtuse?”

I look ahead, but I can feel his eyes burning holes into my head.

“We’ve arrived,” he says, allowing me to sense some amusement in his voice. The driver opens the door and helps me out and I wear my victory smirk as I walk into the building with Damian following closely behind me.

well, this should be fun...