If only I actually believed that.
“Thank you,” I said but couldn’t muster a smile. He was being kind, but as I felt more stares driving into me, I wondered how many others felt the same way as the king. Intrusive thoughts sank in their teeth and would not let go.
If only I could offer them something, anything. If I could do more than just look like a pretty ornament, then maybe they would learn to trust me. Maybe then I’d be worthy of their loyalty and respect.
“Are you okay? You look pale. Do you need to sit?” Erasmus asked.
“No. I’m sorry.” I straightened. “My mind is elsewhere.”
“Ah,” he said. “Well, let me distract you.”
With that, he placed his hands around my waist and lifted me, whirling me around. I laughed. He was trying, and it was sweet. But I didn’t think anyone could distract me from these dark thoughts.
Well, maybe one person could. The one person who wasn’t here.
Erasmus set me back on my feet, and I stumbled trying to keep up with him, with these steps I didn’t know. He grabbed my hand and spun me outward, then brought me to him as our arms stretched overhead together. My gaze wandered over his shoulder from face to face.
I jolted. Through the crowd, I caught a glimpse of auburn hair. A familiar shade I’d recognize anywhere.
I sucked in a breath. It couldn’t be.
Erasmus turned me, and I lost sight of those familiar curls. I searched frantically through the crowd of whirling bodies, no longer seeing him.
Great. Now I was imagining the prince.
“Mind if I cut in?” a deep voice said, unraveling every piece of me.
Erasmus frowned at the man that stood before us, while I could barely breathe.
Loch stood there, a sapphire mask covering the upper half of his face, those dark blue eyes searing into me, that teasing grin that I’d missed so much spread across his lips.
“Actually—” Erasmus started, but I stepped away from him.
“Of course,” I interrupted, unable to break Loch’s gaze.
Erasmus shot me a look, and I gave him an apologetic smile in return. “I should really mingle a bit, don’t you think?”
“Of course, Princess.” He bowed and shot a wary look at Loch, then stalked away through the crowd.
I turned, heart hammering as the prince of the water court swept me up into his arms.
Chapter Thirty
LOCHLAN
Aprincess. She was a fucking princess. I had so many questions. How? How in the spirits below had her gran kidnapped her away from the sky court? How had she been missing for twenty-two years? How had the king and queen not found her sooner?
Yet when I saw her in that stunning silver gown that hugged those curvy hips and accentuated the swell of her breasts, all questions fled.
I’d never been a jealous man. But seeing that guard with his hands on Poppy. Seeing him lift her in the air, sweep her around the floor, smile at her, make her laugh—it made me want to punch something. Preferably him.
My blood boiled as Poppy gazed up at him, hands clutching his shoulders. Then a group of giggling women stepped in my pathway, blocking Poppy from view.
“You look familiar,” one of them said, no wings upon her back.
I recognized her black shiny hair, the mole on her right cheek. Damn it all to the spirits below. I’d had afling with her years ago.
“I get that a lot,” I said. “Must be the hair.” I pointed to the mop of curls on my head.
