Page 30 of A Taste For Lies (The Apex Kingdom #1)
Chapter 30
ALORA
“ O f course,” Lord Winters replies smoothly, dropping my hand.
“B-but,” I protest.
The lord sends me a pitying look. “We’ll continue our conversation another time, Lady Thorne.” He bows (noticeably only to me) then strides off the dance floor.
I’m in Taran’s arms and moving again before my mind can catch up. But when I do—
“What. The. Hells,” I hiss.
He’s watching me with an equally dark expression, his eyes flashing brighter than I’ve ever seen them. “I was saving you.”
“From what?” I demand in a harsh whisper. I twist in his grasp, craning to look around his massive frame to see where Lord Winters has gone. But the prince only tugs me closer, effectively blocking my view with his towering form.
“From Simon. He was doing what he always does, inserting himself where he doesn’t belong.” His hand around my waist grips tighter.
The heat of his palm burns through layers of fabric, and I fight the urge to shove him off. “The only one inserting themselves where they don’t belong is you,” I seethe, every word under my breath. “I was distracting him while Carter went for the records! Or have you already forgotten?”
The song comes to a close, and the couples around us separate, their polite applause drowning out the music’s final notes. Taran doesn’t let go. Instead, he steps even closer so that when the next song begins—another, slower waltz—he’s able to sweep me right into it. His hold is possessive as he expertly leads us across the floor. Our every word is hushed, but this entire conversation is still a gamble.
“Your Highness,” I start, which earns me a low growl. But what else does he expect me to call him in the middle of the dance floor? “I’m not even supposed to be dancing with you. I told the queen I find you repellent.”
His head dips close enough that his breath fans my face. “I couldn’t stand it, alright? Is that what you want to hear?”
My brow puckers. “Couldn’t stand what?” He swings me out into a turn, and appreciative murmurs erupt as my dress floats around me with the movement, sending refractions of light bouncing across the obsidian floor.
“You,” he snaps as he reels me back into the cage of his body. “In someone else’s arms.”
My mouth parts, but no words come out.
The fire in his gaze banks for a solitary heartbeat and something about his softened expression reminds me where we are and sends me into abject panic.
Reality crashes back in. I drop the prince’s hand and duck beneath his arm, easily breaking the hold. I back up quickly, like the night I tried to escape out of Count Zhao’s window, until I feel stone beneath my feet. Then I whip around and start pushing through the courtiers. I’m not sure what the expression is on my face, all I know is that I need to get out, out, out before I make even more of a scene we can’t afford.
“My Lady.” A smooth voice I recognize but can’t immediately place is at my side. I seize the offered arm gratefully and let him guide me through the throng. We’re finally out of the crowd, climbing a large stone staircase, when I sneak a peek to my right and stop cold.
“ You . ”
The key master winks. “Don’t stop now, My Lady, we’re almost there.”
“Where?” I demand, refusing to move another inch until he answers.
“Somewhere we can’t be overheard,” he murmurs, gesturing up the stairs. “Now, if you please?”
I send him a menacing glare worthy of Maeve, then gather my skirts to climb the stone steps. At the top are double doors leading out onto an enormous wraparound terrace, wide enough to be another ballroom. A few courtiers linger, taking in the night air, but the wind whips their words away from us.
The key master guides me to the terrace edge, far from the other Elite. As I step closer to the edge, the wind snatches at my thin dress. The key master passes me a sympathetic look.
“My apologies. I chose this spot because I knew the wind would make it more difficult for us to be overheard. I forgot you’d be wearing…” He gestures to my elaborate gown. “This.”
“I’m fine,” I reply, but then my teeth clatter and betray me.
“Here.” He shrugs off his black formal coat and holds it out to me. I want to decline it, but I don’t. Unlike a real lynx, I don’t have fur, just yellow-gold silk.
I slide it on and cross my arms over my chest, eyeing the key master with suspicion. “What do you want?”
His eyebrows arch. “Straight to the point.”
I pull in a steadying breath. “I’m in the middle of an operation that you promised not to interfere with and I’m not clear what you’re doing here.”
“That’s fair.” I stiffen as he reaches forward into his coat pocket and slides out a cheroot cigarillo and a matchbook. “I’m not here to interfere,” he assures me as he lights it. “More to…keep an eye on things. This is my territory, after all.”
“I thought it was the Viper’s territory,” I counter sweetly. “And you already sent someone to keep an eye on things.”
“Ah yes, the Shanterran.” He shrugs. “I was under a time constraint. Meiling is not the most ideal asset. Untrained. Easily swayed. ”
“Did you send me a tiny songbird on purpose to try and scare me off?”
He smiles around the cheroot. “Maybe I thought you’d appreciate the challenge.” He exhales the smoke out over the terrace half wall, and my nose wrinkles at the acrid scent. “Or perhaps, I was looking for an excuse to send the little songbird back to her people. Who can say?”
My lips turn down at that last bit. It never would have occurred to me that this man—or male—wanted to help Meiling. “Just trying to do your part for a fellow Apex, then?” I say in a casual tone.
His focus narrows on me. “Careful, Lynx. You speak of things that don’t concern you.”
“I disagree. I’ve learned about a few key signatures put in place by a certain local consultant that could be critical to my finishing this operation and going quietly on my way.”
“And who’s been telling you tales of key signatures, hmmmm? The king’s niece, perhaps?” He takes another puff.
“Sounds like your asset is more valuable than you give her credit for."
“She has her uses.” He cuts me a sideways glance. “Perhaps if you would share what it is you are looking for, I may be willing to assist. For the right price, of course.”
“Of course,” I murmur back.
“And for your silence,” he continues in an even tone. “Naturally, once you are finished with the operation, there’ll be no need for you to stay in Ravenscrest, and no need for you to speak of anything that occurred here. Or for anyone else to, for that matter.” He levels me a hard look.
“Naturally,” I agree.
“I’ll give you a bit of time to talk it over with your…associate.” I tilt my head, considering. If I didn’t know any better, I’d say this criminal is concerned about Maeve. “But don’t take too long, Lynx. Your house of cards is eminently close to collapse. Speaking of—” He takes one last pull of the cheroot, then crushes the nub beneath his boot. “Looks like you may have gotten a bit more than you bargained for with the beast.” His strange ye llow-brown eyes rake unashamedly over my figure. “Next time, ask the little tailor to tone it down a bit, yeah?”
“What do you mean?”
A terrifying snarl ripples through the night air. Both our heads snap to the terrace entrance. Courtiers scatter like pigeons, falling over themselves to rush back into the building, dodging the source of the threat.
The Veridian prince’s glowing eyes are fixed on us as he stands across the terrace, his broad shoulders tense. He doesn’t move. Watching. Waiting. He’s giving the witnesses a chance to leave. Astrid stands just behind him, helpfully holding the door open for the distressed courtiers to file through.
“He had his guardian warning off anyone who tried to dance with you. Or so much as approach you.” The key master eyes the prince speculatively. “I do hope you make up your mind quickly because I doubt you’ll be maintaining that cover for much longer, even with the Elite lady’s help. Good luck, Lynx.” His lips curl into something that isn’t quite a smile. “Jinai willing, you manage to keep your head. The tailor seems rather fond of it.”
Without sparing me another glance, the key master walks with unhurried strides past the prince to the ballroom entrance, pointedly ignoring the seething glare cast in his direction. As soon as the key master disappears through the door, Astrid moves to block it with her body.
The terrace has been emptied of revelers. And now the door is blocked.
A menacing stoneclaw stalks towards me.