Perhaps he thinks to humiliateFaronneby taking her as hisleman.
Sly girl. Clever strategy.
I don’t blame her, he’s absolutely fuckable. I’d take my chances too.
My fingers clenched,unclenched.
I pulled on a trickle of my power, and their attention slid away. Another gaze tracked me, impervious to my little Skill.
My father stood in a cluster of officials, presumably inpre-negotiationconversation. I released the sight glamour—I couldn't maintain that Skill long anyway—and he excused himself,Numairand Juliette at his side.
We retreated down the forest path and halted under a tree. I hoped it wasn’t listening. Juliette's restless gaze traveled through the crowd, a sneer on her lips.Numair’sexpression remained stony as he hovered in silence.
Baba’s worried gaze touched on the Prince, standing a distance away, silent as his courtiers chattered around him. I glanced at him.Renaud stared at me, his attention gaining me enemies. My nails sharpened.
“What is his issue?” Juliette muttered. “Blink, damn you. Blink. You two looked creepy together, by the way. Watching you dance for twenty minutes was like watching murder dolls. I hadnoidea you could behave so well.”
I stiffened. We hadn’t danced for twenty minutes. “Everyone watched us?”
She glanced at me, blonde brow lifting a little. “What else was there to watch?”
It had been a glamour then. I suppressed an urge to run to the nearest dark corner and hide. He could take me away and no one would even notice. No wonder he’d been so certain Baba wouldn’t send my guards for me—to them I’d been present this entire time.
Numairshifted closer, blockingRenaud's view of me.
“He hasn't ordered my execution yet,” I joked, internally seething. “So far, so good.”
Juliette lowered her voice to the barest whisper. “Do you think he knows about Embry?”
“I don’t know,” I said.
“I don't think it's an execution he has in mind,”Numairsaid. He eyed PrinceRenaudwith the kind of grim, challenging expression that could start a fight out in the streets. I smoothed my expression, hoping no one saw my guilt. I hadn't shown any of my family the letter. And I should have—I should have warned them.
My father's face tightened imperceptibly, tension around his eyes and mouth. “You've drawn his notice, sweetheart.Lay lowthe rest of the negotiations.”
Dinner was called, and we left the forest courtyard and walked down another flower-strewn path.
The palace peeked through the trees, white and black stone washed to gray in the setting sun. Twinkling white lights wove through tree branches, addingambience. Cloth-covered tables with white branch and crystal centerpieces awaited us, one table on a low dais long enough to seat twenty people. The Prince's table. The other House Lords would sit with him tonight.
I nodded at my father, who released my arm and left me, Numair at his side. Juliette and I wandered around the other small tables scattered around the clearing, looking for a place card with my name.
Ishrugged when I didn't find one. “So that’s my punishment. No dinner. Could have been worse.”
Juliette snickered. “Clearly he doesn’t know you. Like you wanted to sit through a formal banquet anyway.”
“If we start drinking without Numair, he’ll sulk for a week.”
“Listen, what he doesn’t know won’t hurt him. Sobriety hurts me.”
About to turn and leave, I tried to catch Baba’s attention sohe'd know what was going on, but when I met his gaze, I paused.
He was rigid, an empty, smooth smile on his face. He lifted a hand and gestured to me.
Come on, what did I do this time?
I approached reluctantly, ignoring the flutter of fairy wings in my core as I came closer toRenaud, his taste lingering on my lips, the phantom caress of his hands tormenting my skin.
I stopped in front of my father and channeled one of my mother's cool indifferent looks to prevent me from whirling around and screaming at everyonewho stared.
