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“Brother, I will steal the Lady Neve now, if you don’t mind?”

He bowed. “Have a wonderful night, ladies.”

Saga beamed and guided me away from her brother.

Chapter 33

“What’s going on between you two?” Saga hissed the only words that could pull my attention off Prince Vale and focus it entirely on her.

My whole body, even my wings, tensed. “What do you mean?”

Saga laughed, her blue eyes that looked so much like her father’s twinkling with mischief. “Don’t pretend with me, Neve. We’re friends, and I saw that look that passed between you and Vale when you fell into him.”

A lump rose in my throat. As much as the idea might entice me, that the prince might actually like me, it would never happen. To his knowledge, I was a commoner. If he learned the truth, he’d be even less interested. A blood slave was not good enough for a prince.

Plus, I was engaged to his enemy. That would surely be a deterrent.

“Neve,” Saga whispered. “You can be honest with me.”

I cast a glance around. She’d led me to the edge of the room, away from the gossiping groups. As they had all night, fae stole looks in my direction, but they did not approach. Saga kept them away.

An exhale parted my lips, and I turned to my friend, eyes catching on the large necklace again.

“That’s lovely,” I said, hoping to change the topic.

She snorted. “It’s pretty but showy. Mother insisted that I wear it, however. For the ships.”

My eyes narrowed. Before I’d taken the cascading design to be geometric, but Saga spoke correctly; they’d been designed to be ships with overly large sails. The queen likely thought that would be appealing to Saga’s betrothed, Lord Vidar Virtoris.

“Neve.” Saga whispered. “Talk to me. We can’t count that others will stay away forever. What is happening between you and my brother?”

Of course she wouldn’t be deterred. It had been a fool’s hope.

“Nothing,” I lied.

“Stop. That look between you screamed otherwise.”

I spun to look her in the eye, annoyance flaring. “What would you have me say, Saga? That he’s the most handsome fae I’ve ever seen? That something charges the air when we’re too near? Well, that might be true, but I cannot say it. I’m a commoner engaged to Warden Roar.” I held up my hand. On it gleamed the ruby ring Roar had given me when we stayed in Guldtown.

“Your own father blessed our union!” Though I kept my tone low, it grew tighter with each word.

I considered the princess my friend, but we were new to one another, and she asked too much. Even if Prince Vale and I were attracted to one another, nothing could happen there. I would perform my duties at this festival and return to Guldtown as specified by my contract. From there, Roar would secure my passage south, where I would build a future of my own.

That would be my life. It would not include any lord or prince. No dancing at balls and wanting to kiss someone.

My stomach clenched in revolt, but I fought down the reaction. My body would have to deal with the truth. I did not belong here and needed to leave as soon as possible.

“I—you’re right.” Saga clapped a hand on my shoulder. “I shouldn’t have asked you to say anything. It’s too dangerous.”

“It is.” For a commoner to cross a lord and a king would be insane.

“I’m so sorry. It’s just, I like you, and if you were interested in my brother, that is a match I would push for.” Saga smiled, and her words made my heart swell. The idea sounded ludicrous but sweet. “Forgive me?”

“Of course.” I already had. “I understand others wondering, but your brother wished to apologize to me. And smooth over that . . . situation at breakfast.”

“You deserve that.” She twisted to look up at the thrones. Her parents still sat there, and Prince Rhistel stood on one of the lower steps of the dais, speaking with an older male fae lord with red hair dressed in gray—Warden of the North, Lord Armenil, I suspected from the coloring that reminded me of Marit.

“If only Rhistel would do the same.” Saga rolled her eyes. “I doubt he will even come near you though, after all that.”