I snapped out of the blood haze, turning my head to meet the seafoam blue eyes of a WhiteGuardstanding not an arm length away, blade in hand.
No one moved in the silence, not even my father who stared at me with horrified eyes. Renaud'sguard was not nearly so copacetic, but halted at his command and merged back into the shadows.
I bit back a cry as the Prince yanked the knife out.
At leastI'ddie defending my honor, and the dignity of Faronne.
His expression sharpened, his air of lethal sensuality unfurling as if the scent of our mingled blood excited him.
I braced myself—then thefeelingeased.I'dbeen one second from death. Disaster.
Something worse.
Again.
Butthe contrary bastard—who didn't respond at all like he should—his gaze never leaving my face, simply picked up a brilliant white dinner napkin and bound my bleeding palm. He ignored his wound. For an Old One of his age and power, it would heal in a matter of minutes. Mine would take longer.
I didn't dare speak despite his outward nonchalance. He settled back in hischair, regarding me.
“Lady Aerinne, you may be excused.”
I pushed back mychairand stood, taking a step back to sink into a flawless curtsy. I rose and turned, walking out of the courtyard, one foot painstakingly in front of the other.
The gaze on my back spurred my steps.
* * *
I walkedacross the city into Faronne's district.
Heels ensured the misery of the miles-long trip, though I shucked them after the first several blocks. Years of running barefoot as a child toughened my soles.
The three-hour slow jog/fastwalkgave me time to reflect on my life choices but also to marvel that due to the ceasefire, Icouldwalkhome through three different districts starting with Montague, and no one would attack me.
In theory.
That didn't go so bad,I reflected.
Not if your intent was to avoid the Prince's interest,Darkan replied, as falsely pleasant as a spring afternoon right before a storm.Ifso, you failed. Spectacularly. In fact, I have neverknowna female so predictably able to achieve the complete opposite of her personal goals while so confidently insisting on her success.
I rejected his advances, threatened to kill him, then stabbed him through the hand at dinner.
Foreplay.
I have no words.
Not only is what you did considered foreplay among a certain caste of Fae in the old realm, but it is specifically considered to be a sign of encouragement.
I spluttered.He knows damn well I didn't mean it like that!
Did you not? Did you really not? I suppose you are what you are, Aerinne. The difficulty is that you don't truly knowwhatyou are. It’s. . .tedious.
A clop of horse hooves followed me only minutes after I arrived home. I glanced up at the position of the moon in the star riddled sky.
Carriages halted in the courtyard, a door slamming open asNumairjumped out. I met his hazel eyes as he trotted towards me, his jaw tight.
“Aerinne! The Prince refused permission to escort you. He claimed you needed to walk off your temper.”
Petty bastard. In another world, I might have liked him.
