He stared a moment longer, his gaze intense. “Just remember, Arya, not all games end well for the bold.”
I offered a casual shrug. “Thanks for the advice, but I’ll take my chances. Risk is part of the game, and I’m a gambling woman, after all.”
He leaned in, his eyes glittering with malice. “You think I didn’t see you talking with my brother?”
His words startled me. Which brother was he talking about? “Excuse me?”
“I saw you huddled in a corner talking with Thorne. You two looked quite…close. Don’t fool yourself into thinking you canbecome crown princess one day. My father would never marry him off to ahuman,” he scoffed, disgusted by the notion.
I rolled my eyes at the absurdity of his assumption. “You think there’s something going on between me and your brother? You couldn’t be more wrong. Prince Thorne is nice, but we’re just acquaintances.” I certainly wouldn’t call us friends. Especially not after he caught me eavesdropping tonight.
Julian furrowed his brows. “I know what I saw!” he seethed. “You can’t fool me, Arya. I’ve known you far too long. I know you better than anyone.”
I rolled my eyes. “Okay, sure. Whatever you say, buddy.” When I started to walk past him, he gripped my upper arm in an unyielding hold.
“Did I say you could leave?” he growled.
His grip tightened slightly, sending a clear message of control, but my response was instant and cool. “You don't get to tell me where I can and cannot go, Your Highness.” I glared at him, my voice steady despite the anger welling up inside.
He leaned closer, his breath foul with the scent of the wine he'd guzzled all night. “You're stepping into waters far deeper than you realize.”
I smirked. “Is that so? Do tell.”
“Thorne won’t be crown prince for long,” he threatened. “So if I was you, I wouldn’t put all your eggs in one basket, Arya. We were once good together. We can be that way again,” he added with a sly grin.
At the luncheon when Julian accosted me in the bathroom, he told me Elaria would be his one day. I didn’t think much of his boast until now, but I wondered what he was planning. Was Julian the one behind the fighting rings and the plot to overthrow the throne? He seemed too stupid to be the mastermind, but then again, sometimes playing stupid was agood cover when you wanted to get things done without people getting in your way.
I needed to tell Damien my theory. Damn, there was so much I had to tell him, and I didn’t know when I would see him again.
Did I miss Damien? No way. Impossible. He was practically my captor! He was the beast to my beauty, and I refused to believe I had Stockholm syndrome. Or did I? For fuck’s sake… Did I actuallylikethat dark-haired bastard? I mean, we were allies, and there was some trust brewing between us, but I couldn’t let it get past that. I just couldn’t. If I did… I’d be trudging through treacherous water without a life preserver.
No.No. I needed to detox him from my system. I needed a Damien laxative.
I shook the swirling thoughts from my head and ripped my arm out of Julian’s grasp. “Don’t touch me without my permission, asshole,” I grunted. “Not unless you want me to kick your ass like I did at the luncheon, which I’d be happy to do, even with an audience.”
He growled and took a menacing step toward me, when a hand clamped on his shoulder and stopped him in his tracks.
“Julian.” Royal Prince Bai stepped into view over his shoulder. “Why do I seem to always find you in the same predicament? Didn’t you learn your lesson the first time?”
“Uncle,” he said scornfully, “stay out of this.”
Royal Prince Bai sighed. “I’m afraid I can’t, Julian. You see, Lady Arya is under my protection, and I cannot allow any harm to come to her.”
Julian whirled around to face his uncle so quickly, I thought he’d snap his neck by accident. “What? How? Why?”
“Circumstances,” he vaguely explained. “So I need you to leave this young lady alone, nephew. Please.”
Julian growled in frustration, his hands fisting at his sides before he stormed back into the crowd, leaving me alone with his enigmatic uncle.
“Your Highness.” I bowed deeply. “Thank you.”
“Of course, my lady.” He waved for me to rise. “I hope he didn’t give you too much trouble.”
I shook my head and smiled. “Nothing I couldn’t handle.”
He nodded. “I can tell you’re a very resourceful young woman. That’s a good thing. Especially in Elaria, and particularly here in Dragon Valley.”
I stepped closer and whispered, “Were you here when—”
