Within half a second, as her eyes met Prince Vito’s, her relief morphed into unease. He stepped closer, far too close. Pretending to be interested in him was the very worst idea she had ever had. As he leered down at her, Aerity was willing to bet it was the worst idea anyone had ever had in the history ofEurona. He stepped closer, and she accidentally stepped back. She fought for composure.
“You were pretty as a girl, but now . . .” He touched her hair, let it run through his fingers. Aerity made an involuntary sound that brought a grin to the prince’s face. “I make you nervous.”
Aerity felt her face heating, but not with the good kind of blush. She was scared senseless. Any wrong move from her and this man could reach out and kill her before she blinked. “I’m not accustomed to being alone with men,” she said carefully. “Especially not powerful . . . handsome ones.”Do not gag.
He moved forward until she was backed against the wall.
“You find me handsome?”
“More than handsome,” she whispered. “Like no one in Lochlanach.” She dropped her eyes to her hands. There was no possible way he’d buy this. But when she hesitantly raised her gaze to his, that heavy leer was still there, taking her in like a delicacy.
“You would be my queen? Willingly?” he asked in a voice like hot oil.
“If you would have me.” Her voice quavered and she swallowed.
“You are an innocent. Only an innocent would be so nervous with a man she found handsome.”
Oh, the abhorrence she felt. Aerity’s eyes fluttered closed and she nodded. “It is the ultimate union, and I will hold to ituntil the day vows are made and blessed by the sea.”
Prince Vito chuckled. “Superstitions.”
Aerity forced a small smile. “Perhaps. But I hope you will allow me to hold to my beliefs.”
“What of your betrothed from the coldlands? Will you miss him?”
Aerity’s face tightened in an honest scowl. “Ineverwanted to marry that scoundrel.”
Where was Lief? Had they all gotten to safety?Please, let them be safe.She didn’t know if any of this would be worth it if so many of the people she loved were killed.
Based on the prince’s pleased expression, it had been the right thing to say, but then he inclined his head toward her, almost as if smelling her. She was so afraid he would kiss her. So afraid she would freeze up or convulse at his touch.
She saw his hands come out from under his robes, watched them reach for her hands, and she was powerless to do anything except let him take them. Her entire body trembled out of control. As he took her hands, she let out a quiet laugh.
“I’m sorry that I’m nervous. I was going to reach out to you myself, to invite you here, to tell you of my plans for my rule as queen and the changes I’ll be instating . . . but here you are.”
“Here I am.” He brought her hands to his chest and looked at her fingers. He ran his purple-nailed thumbs over the top of her pinkish ones. And finally he looked at her. And when he did, a line of pain ratcheted from her fingers, up her arms, shoulders, neck, and into her mind like the most severeheadache she’d ever experienced. A scream caught in her throat like a thistle.
“I hope you understand that I’ve got to keep a close eye on you,” he said, her head splitting. “And that your lies are not necessary. In truth, I prefer your fright. Such emotion is . . . real. . . . It fascinates me. So, tell me, does my new crown suit me?”
Aerity shook uncontrollably as she looked into the monster’s eyes and spat, “No.”
He laughed heartily and lowered her hands. The pain in her head immediately waned, and she sucked in air, no longer attempting to hide her feelings.
“Oh, my beauty. In honesty or lies, I will never trust you.” He spoke in a soft tone that gave her chills. “You will remain in your chambers until we have secured the kingdom. I will send messages to you, when necessary. And if at any time you choose not to be loyal . . .”
Aerity stared hard.
He gave a slow smile. “You should also know that when I decide to make you my queen, it will happen immediately. I am not a man to be kept waiting.” He trailed the back of a finger up her throat to her chin, then laughed low when Aerity shivered. “When I was ready for the Kalorian throne, I took it.”
Curiosity fueled her. “B-because your father was too ill to rule?”
“Because the man called King Kalieno was never fit to rule. Nor was he my father.”
Aerity’s mouth popped open, and the prince seemed amused by her dismay.
“My mother, Kalieno’s queen, was the sister of Rozaria’s father—Rocato’s blood heirs who no one in Eurona knew of. . . .” His voice was smug. “She was planted into a royal family with the purpose of marrying Kalieno. My father was another powerful Lashed One from a family who had been banished, but he was smuggled back into the kingdom. It was an elaborate plan, and it worked until a year after I was born, when my mother was caught with my father. Kalieno had them both executed.”
Prince Vito was an imposter. Not of royal blood at all.
