“My lady,” he said, his voice deep and melodic, betraying his more northern origins. Everyone from their kingdom had the same musical quality to the way they spoke. Torin reached for me and I looked from his face to his hand. What did he want from me? His hand was palm up so it wasn’t a handshake.
“Your hand,” Isla whispered under her breath, causing me to glance at her from the corner of my eye.
“Oh, right,” I said, pretending I knew what the hell was going on. I gave him my hand and I never would have thought it possible, but the man smiled, and it would’ve been a miracle if none of the girls in the room fainted.
His large hand dwarfed mine, and I gasped at the warmth of his skin. I was positive he was feverish. The last thing I needed was some strange illness while surrounded by strange people on an even stranger island. So I clasped his hand and rotated it, shaking it vigorously.
“So sorry for tripping you, Your Royal Highness. It was a mistake, and I am mortified.” I continued pumping his arm like a total fool, but I was babbling now, and the way he blinked at me made me want to keep talking. “I’m not used to such, um—” I released his hand and gestured to my dress.
He held up both hands and chuckled again, which kind of pissed me off. What was so funny about that? I watched as he glanced at my table and then back to me.
“I do believe I’ll take this empty chair if that’s agreeable with the rest of the ladies here?” Torin asked, looking at the other girls, which were all nodding. He turned to the rest of the room and spoke loudly. “Nothing to see here. I just tripped. I suppose I’m a little eager to meet you all.”
Applause and girlish laughter surrounded me. Itrippedthe man, and now he was going to sit at our table? What is the Goddess' name? The empty chair was next to—I did a double glance—Belinda?She must have planted herself there during the tripping incident, and she looked like she was going to burst from excitement.
“Can we get the music going? This is supposed to be a party, after all!” Torin shouted, and the orchestra promptly began playing an upbeat song while the rest of the room returned to their own business. That was just fine with me—the less attention, the better. Plus, I spied kitchen staff approaching from the back of the room, weaving to different tables with giant serving platters, and my stomach growled. It seemed Torin was done with whatever conversation we’d just had, and I was hungry, so I spun in my chair, with more grace this time, and faced the table.
Isla’s eyes were comically wide as she stared at me, but then her focus shifted to where Torin was standing.
“Would you mind terribly if I brought the chair over and sat between the two of you?” he asked, and I looked back at him to find him staring at Isla.
“Not at all, Your Highness,” Isla squeaked. “It may be easier if we just moved one seat. I mean, if you agree?”
Torin grinned. “That would be perfect, my lady. I didn’t want to ask all of you to move on my account. I would have made do.”
Everyone spoke at once except for me. “It’s no problem at all!”
I sat there as Isla and three other girls moved a chair, allowing that… smooth-talking, pretty, sculptured-faced, royal snob to sit beside me.
I’d make sure he’d regret it, just as I was sure he’d do the same to me for tripping him in front of the entire room. Torin lowered himself into the seat to my left, and I could feel his gaze on me. “So…” he rumbled. I focused on my plate and waited for him to continue or for whoever he was speaking to to actually reply.
Silence rang for several uncomfortable seconds until Riv cleared her throat and kneed me under the table. I glanced at her and caught thewhat the hell is wrong with youface. Inwardly groaning, I turned to Torin. His chin was propped under his fist as he stared at me with a smirk.
“I didn’t get your name earlier,” he stated as servers placed a plethora of platters on the table.
I cleared my throat. “Ah, well, you didn’t ask for it.”
Everyone was watching the two of us while my stomach growled again now that the strong aromas of roasted meat and vegetables were so close. Fuck it. I reached for the serving spoons and started loading up my plate. Belinda’s eyes were close to falling out onto her plate as I helped myself.
“Well, I am asking now.” Torin reached for another spoon and started serving himself. At least the royal prince knew how to do that much. For his own sake, not for mine. No amount of manners, charm, or handsome faces would sway me from my reason for coming here. I had to ensure I wouldn’t be chosen.
I shoved a huge chunk of chicken into my mouth and proceeded to talk. “Mah namth Evie.”
Riv burst out with laughter which caused Isla to giggle along with her, and Belinda looked like she might puke. Good. I hoped she would.
Torin looked puzzled. The way his golden brows pinched together with his head tilted to the side, it reminded me of a dog when they were asked if they wanted something special. He stabbed a potato with his fork and stuffed the whole thing into his mouth. “Nith to meeth wou, Evie.”
I swallowed my food slowly and had to work not to laugh, so I didn’t reply. I just continued eating, noting several looks of shock between some of the girls at our table. Goddess forbid a royal act like a heathen during dinner and talk with their mouth full!
“So, Your Highness,” Belinda cooed, gently patting her mouth with her red linen napkin. “Are you excited for The Hunt?”
“I am. I’ve been looking forward to this since I was old enough to learn about it. When you grow up seeing your relatives and friends partaking in the event, it’s hard to wait your turn.” He took a sip of his wine. “And are you ladies happy to be here? Are your living quarters suitable?”
“Oh yes, they’re lovely,” Isla said.
“I think we all feel incredibly fortunate to have been selected,” Ayla, one of the other girls who already seemed to hang off of Belinda’s skirt, chimed in.
An unceremonious snort escaped me, and I quickly covered my mouth with my napkin to cough, trying to cover my slip up.
