Page 28

Cadence

As the sun set over the palace courtyard, a warm orange hue draped the trimmed hedges that lined the stone wall. The fading light made the bushes appear as though they were on fire — flames flickering across the greenery as the inferno slowly devoured them.

The open space was peaceful, the air fresh and invigorating, as a gentle breeze caressed my cheek.

Until it wasn’t.

“Well, well, what have we here?”

My shoulders tensed, and I turned in my seat, angling my body toward the newcomers.

Standing in front of me, her hair pulled into an elegant twist and her gown trailing behind her in a shimmer of pale blue, was Celeste. Two women stood at her back, their shared look of disdain letting me know we wouldn’t be sharing court gossip over tea anytime soon.

A knot tightened in my chest as I watched them. I wanted no part in the impending territorial display.

“Lady Barrington,” I said politely. “What can I do for you?”

“You can stay the hell away from my fiancée for a start.”

I sighed, hating that I was right.

“You’ll need to discuss that with the prince.”

Fucking Ryker.

I doubted it would matter if I told them I was here against my will, and that I’d gladly leave if the prince would kindly remove the contraption from my throat.

“You don’t even have the decency to be ashamed of yourself,” Celeste scoffed.

I felt my temper flare at her words, but I forced myself to remain calm. Getting into a shouting match with Lady Barrington would do me no favors.

Her eyes narrowed at my lack of response, and she took a step closer, her manicured hands clenching into fists at her sides.

“You think you’re so special, don’t you? That you can waltz in here and steal what’s mine?”

“What I think,” I drawled, “is that this conversation is pointless. I am a guest of the Crown Prince. Any objections you may have should be raised with him directly.”

Guest was a stretch, but the venomous viper before me didn’t need to know the details of my captivity.

Celeste’s eyes dropped to the collar that adorned my throat, and a cruel smile twisted her lips.

My stomach sank with dread as I braced for her next words.

“A guest? Is that what they’re calling royal pets these days?”

Her companions tittered behind her, and I felt heat rush to my cheeks. I longed to slap the smug look off her face, but I knew better than to raise my hand to her. Her betrothal to the Crown Prince made it clear she held a position of influence within the Unseelie Court.

Instead, I stood, smoothing my skirts as I faced her.

One of Celeste’s companions, a redhead with features pinched in perpetual disapproval, piped up. “I heard she’s not even Unseelie. How the prince could lower himself to indulge in Seelie scum is beyond me.”

My spine stiffened with her words. I didn’t know how she knew about my heritage, but that knowledge put me in imminent danger.

The animosity between the Seelie and Unseelie kingdoms was legendary, and it wasn’t unusual for innocent bystanders to be caught up in the crosshairs of that enmity.

“That got your attention, didn’t it?” Celeste sneered.

Her lips curled into a predatory smile as her eyes glinted with excitement. I felt my power swirl to life inside me. The familiar hum comforted me as it pleaded with me to let it loose. To let it show these vain bitches who they were messing with.

But I needed a viable escape plan before unleashing my magic, and right now, I had none.

“Here’s how this is going to go,” Celeste purred. “You’ll make the prince lose interest in you. Run away, disappear, or fall into another man’s bed, I don’t care. But you will clear my path to the throne, or I’ll expose your little secret to the Unseelie Court and let them tear you to shreds.”

I fought the urge to roll my eyes. If I could get the prince to lose interest in me, I’d have done it already. The man was controlling and possessive. I doubted there was anything I could do to make him leave me alone. He had already ensured I couldn’t run, and if I fell into another man’s arms, he’d sooner kill them and fuck me on their corpse just to remind me who I belonged to.

The man was unhinged like that.

Despite the impossibility of the task Celeste was asking of me, I was unable to deny the very serious nature of her threat against me.

But I also couldn’t cower before this woman. Those who thrived on intimidation and control never relented unless someone forced them. Even if, by some miracle, I convinced Ryker to let me go, she wouldn’t be satisfied until I was crushed beneath her boots, with no chance of ever rising to threaten her ambition.

Decision made, I squared my shoulders and lifted my chin.

“Lady Barrington,” I began cordially. “It speaks volumes about your own insecurities if you feel the need to resort to threats just to hold the attention of a man.”

Celeste gasped and took a step back as though I had slapped her.

Pressing my advantage, I reclaimed the space between us before continuing. “Have you ever considered that perhaps the prince’s desire to be rid of you has nothing to do with me, and everything to do with the vile person you’ve proven yourself to be?”

Celeste’s face flushed with anger, and her eyes narrowed to slits.

“How dare you speak to me that way! You’re just a common whore, unworthy to even breathe the same air as nobility.”

Her voice quivered with rage, and I quirked a brow in amusement.

“And yet, here I am, breathing just fine.”

Celeste raised her palm as if to strike me, and my magic pulsed in my veins. Before she could land her blow, however, a large masculine hand caught her wrist in mid-air.

Celeste turned, her face paling when she realized who had seized her arm.

“Careful, My Lady,” Riordan purred. “Trust me when I tell you that my brother does not take kindly to anyone mistreating his things.”

Riordan glanced my way and sent a cheeky wink in my direction. This time, I didn’t stop the eye roll from escaping.

“Your Highness, you misunderstand the situation. This insolent little witch,” she snarled as she pointed at me.

“On the contrary, Lady Barrington,” Riordan said, cutting her off. “I understand it perfectly. I see you for the desperate woman you are. One trying to cling to power that should never be yours.”

Celeste wrenched her arm from Riordan’s grasp, her chest heaving with outrage.

For a moment, she looked ready to lunge at the prince. Consequences be damned. But then her attention returned to me, and a cold smile spread across her lips.

“Enjoy your position while you can. I don’t make idle threats. Soon enough, everyone in this court will know the worthless blood that runs through your veins.”

An icy shiver raced down my spine, but I refused to let it show. I pushed aside my fear and tilted my head to the side as I smiled maniacally at Celeste.

“I welcome it, Lady Barrington.” I leaned in closer as I whispered against her ear, “You see, that’s not the only secret I’ve been hiding.”

When I pulled back, I saw the terror flashing across her eyes. For the first time since she accosted me, uncertainty tightened her features.

I lunged forward, gnashing my teeth together mere inches from her face.

Celeste squealed as she retreated, her companions turning as pale as she had before they scurried off, muttering among themselves.

A dark chuckle drew my attention, and I whirled on Riordan.

“I had everything under control! You didn’t need to come in and play the hero.”

“I see that,” he grinned. “What did you say to unsettle her so much?”

“None of your business.” I crossed my arms over my chest for emphasis.

“Fair, fair,” Riordan chuckled as he extended an elbow to me. “Shall we?”

I huffed, but accepted his proffered arm as I let him lead me away from the courtyard.