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For just a moment it looked as though Arrik might reach for her hand and squeeze it. Wren tensed and pulled her hand into her lap. His arm twitched but stilled when he noticed her observing him.

“I won’t hurt your aunt, Wren. Do not worry about that.”

That wasn’t good enough. “And I’m supposed to trust you just like that?”

“No, but in time my actions will convince you. Vienne is safe unless she gives me cause. But if that were to occur, I will speak to you first. She’s your kin after all.”

That’s all she could ask.

He tippedhis head in the direction of the castle. “What are your thoughts on the rebellion and Idril’s operations?”

She had many thoughts, but she’d only share a few.

“Lord Idril and Vienne seem to be in league with mostly all of the high court of Verlanti. It doesn’t look like Soren has many allies even within his own ranks, if the number of people who visit Idril’s castle is anything to go by.”

Arrik nodded. “That’s what I thought. Thank you for confirming my suspicions.”

Her eyes narrowed. She hadn’t told him anything he didn’t know. “Was that a test?”

“Everything is a test.”

That didn’t make her feel any better.

“There’s something I need you to do.”

She arched a brow. “You think to command me?”

He mirrored her expression. “Never.”

The word hovered between them. Whether truth or a lie, she didn’t know. But it felt personal.

“I’m not going to like thisthing,am I?” she said dryly, standing up to try to dispel some of the tension.

A slow grin crept across Arrik’s face as he followed suit. She stepped back but paused when he brushed his fingertips across her wrist to stop her. Wren stared hard at his hand until he pulled away, his expression schooled.

“We are husband and wife in name only,” she said lowly. “We are not friends. Keep your hands to yourself.”

“Understood.” He took two steps back, once again the beastly prince. “A masked ball is being held in Othos. It’s a three-hour ride from Idril’s castle. Everyone will be there—my father, Astrid, my brothers, mostly all of the high court of Verlanti. Idril, of course, will not be there, as he is being punished for complaining about Soren’s hold over the country. I want you to attend. As my wife. As yourself.”

Her jaw dropped. What the devil was he proposing? “You cannot be serious. That is…that’s utter madness! How could you suggest such a thing? Your father would surely have me thrown in prison or killed.”

“Exactly. We need to shake things up—to get things started. My father fully expects me to fail in my retrieval of the Dragon Princess, even though it’s imperative to the Verlantian crown that I have a secure hold over the isles on his behalf. Seeing you there, with me, will be the last thing he expects. The last thinganyoneexpects. And when people are flustered—”

“They make mistakes,” Wren finished for him. “But what of my aunt and Lord Idril? If I leave the castle to attend this ball with you, they’ll believe I’ve turned traitor.”

“It’ll be easy. You’ll have to sneak out.” A wolfish grin. “You seem to be rather good at it, after all.”

“But even if I successfully attend the partyandreturn without suspicion,” Wren said, unconvinced she could do even that much, “then they’ll hear about the fact I attended the ball soon after. How will you explain that?”

“It will take a couple of days at least for them to hear about it. Attendees of the ball can’t be seen visiting Idril so soon after the fact. They’ll look like sympathizers. No one will want to earn the king’s disfavor. By the time anyone hears about it, it will sound like mindless gossip. After all, you never left the castle, right? How could you have attended the ball? We can even send out a lie that it was a decoy. The only people who need to know it trulyisyou are my family.”

“Sounds like you’ve thought of everything,” Wren said slowly. “But what do I get out of this? Why should I help you secure the throne?”

“Because I will be better than Soren. I can give you the isles back.”

She swallowed. “They were never yours to take in the first place.”

“On that we can agree. If you help me take the Verlantian throne, I will give the Dragon Isles back to you.”