Dair reached out and softly touched Evie's fingers. "He's not onboard with it."
"Hmm. Interesting."
"I'll speak with him again."
"You know, when I had my hunt and had to choose my bride, I didn't end up with who everyone thought I would."
I listened to his words and watched as Evie turned her hand and ever so slightly opened it. Dair traced her palm. Stroking slowly. Back and forth.
"Someone else had their eye on your mother. Someone who I thought was a friend and ally."
Evie's eyes fluttered shut, her chest heaving as she appeared to release a deep sigh.
"Another valuable lesson, son. Don't give anyone the chance to betray you. Oftentimes, when a man takes a stance, it's his first initial reaction that tells you everything you need to know. If he's not loyal to you, then he, at the very least, needs to respect you and your decisions. We all own land and have our own kingdoms, but that doesn't mean we're all equal rulers."
"I know that, Father," I gritted out. I sensed him stepping closer to me, but my eyes were deadlocked on my best friend and the woman he'd chosen.
"They do make a lovely pair, don't they?" he mused, speaking low in my ear.
I froze when Evie opened her eyes and they landed right on mine. She didn't look away or show a single emotion.
"At some point, all men must know that Volos is the most powerful of the royals. We're dragons. We take what we want, keep it close, and covet it like gold."
Dair realized he'd lost the attention of Evie, following her line of sight to me. I shifted my eyes to his. I searched for anything that might tell me that he would get his head out of his ass and align himself with what needed to be done. Without so much as a nod, my oldest friend turned his back on me, effectively blocking my view of Evie and letting me know once again, where he stood. I wanted to smash his nose.
"Choose carefully, Torin. Every move you make from here on out will not only define your legacy as a ruler but the respect you demand as a future king."
I could feel my face burning with rage. How dare he deny me his help? We'd grown up together. We'd always been there for each other, and now he was what? Going to just abandon that loyalty? Run back to Andaros and marry Evie? Leave me to sort out this mess by myself?
"Simply stunning," Father stated, looking at Evie. Turning to me, he held out his hand. I looked at it and then back at his face. "Good luck tonight, son. I can't wait to meet my future daughter-in-law, officially."
I slipped my hand into his and shook it. Another first. Shaking my father's hand, like a man worthy of the formality. The grip of his hand faded away, and he nodded to Corvus. The two of them walked off, no doubt to watch more of the dynamics at play. I made to walk over to the women, to talk with them and see where their minds were after the hunt, but instead, I veered off, going for some alcohol. It was time for me to write down my choices.
I knew everything I needed to know.
Another conversation wasn't going to change anything.
Chapter twenty
“You’renotmysaviorin this situation,” I whispered to Dair, who had just shifted us so that I could no longer feel the weight of Torin’s stare. “Don’t think I’m some weak girl who needs rescuing.”
Dair’s green eyes had been sparkling beneath the lights from the moment I saw him tonight, but my statement seemed to add a bit more. “If there’s anything I know of you, Miss Evie Quinn, you can certainly take care of yourself.”
My cheeks burned at the way he stared at me, the deepness of his voice, and the way that, once again, he was touching me. His fingertips danced along the intricate lace on the inside of my wrist. I swallowed roughly. “Well, good. Then we’re on the same page.”
“You look beautiful in the Oberon house colors.”
“I’m waiting for the moment I ruin this gown. I warned Finan that I probably would. I’ve never worn anything so expensive,” I rambled. I was still angry about The Hunt, but I couldn’t discuss that with him. Not right now, anyway. There were too many listening ears.
I caught the end of something Belinda was saying, and I frowned. Something about ‘the poor girl.’ I glanced down to where she was speaking with a few of the men.
“It really was a shame. He was a great guard, and while I understand that sacrifices had to be made—” she sighed dramatically. “Evie wasveryclose to her guard.”
My jaw dropped as she pivoted slightly and looked right at me, smirking.
“Oh, that is terrible,” Desmond replied. He was the youngest of the Faolans who participated in The Hunt. “Though I do hope it was nothing inappropriate.”
“Everyone knows that fraternizing with guards is scandalous,” Mosi chimed in, looking disgusted as he held his head high.
