Page 6

I nodded, not trusting myself to speak. A familiar ache bloomed in my chest, but it wasn’t the sharp pain of jealousy I’d once felt. Instead, it was something softer, tinged with hope.

The hope that I’ll be able to make everything alright.

Suddenly, Noah reached out, catching Rosalind’s hand and pulling her closer. My eyes widened as their faces were mere inches apart now, and I found myself holding my breath.

All I needed now was a glass of wine. This was better than watching those troupes.

“Kiss, kiss, kiss,” I chanted under my breath, bouncing slightly on my toes.

Laurel let out a quiet snort. “You must be the only woman in the whole world to wish her former husband would kiss another.”

I waved a dismissive hand, my eyes still fixed on the scene before us. “Oh, hush. Look at those two lovebirds being in love. It’s about damn time.”

“What are we looking at?”

The low voice in my ear nearly made me jump out of my skin. I began to reply, “We’re watching Noah and Rosa-” before my brain caught up with my mouth. That wasn’t Laurel’s voice.

I whirled around, coming face-to-face with none other than Prince Anderic. A sound escaped me - something between a squeak and a dying cat - and I slapped a hand over my traitorous mouth. Too late, I realized my mistake.

Noah and Rosalind sprang apart at the noise, their heads swiveling in our direction. Panic seized me, and for a moment I flailed around like the ghost I had been acting all night, but then I did the only thing I could think of - I ducked behind Anderic’s broad frame, using him as a human shield.

Anderic, to his credit, didn’t move a muscle, standing there as if he had no fear of getting caught. He simply stood there, one eyebrow raised, as I peeked out from behind his back.

“Meow?” I offered weakly, praying Noah and Rosalind would buy it.

To my immense relief, they seemed to relax, apparently convinced it was just a cat. They shared a nervous laugh before heading off in the opposite direction, hand in hand. Well, it didn’t all go to waste.

I sagged against Anderic’s back, my fingers clutching at his shirt as I let out a long breath. “That was close,” I muttered.

A muffled sound drew my attention, and I looked down to see Laurel sprawled on the ground, shaking with silent laughter. I crossed my arms, glaring at her. “If you’re quite done rolling around down there?”

Laurel pulled herself up, wiping tears from her eyes. “You have to admit, that was far too much fun,” she managed between giggles.

Ignoring her, I turned back to Anderic, only to find him watching me with undisguised amusement. His lips quirked up in that infuriating half-smile of his, and I suddenly remembered I was still clutching his shirt.

I snatched my hand away as if burned, taking a step back. This was the first time I’d seen him since the assassination attempt, and I found myself at a loss for words. The memory of his lips on mine and the taste of wine on his breath flashed unbidden through my mind.

“Lady Ilyana,” he said, his voice low and smooth as silk. “Might I inquire as to why you’re skulking about the gardens in the dead of night, dressed as… a bride?”

I opened my mouth, closed it, then opened it again. How in the seven hells was I supposed to explain this?

I stared at Anderic, my mind racing for an explanation that wouldn’t make me sound like a complete lunatic. Finding none, I settled for the next best thing – indignant deflection. A genius idea.

“That’s none of your business,” I snapped, gathering my pearl white skirts. “Now, if you’ll excuse me…”

I turned to flee, but Anderic’s hand shot out, catching my wrist. His grip was firm but not painful, effectively halting my escape.

I tugged, trying to dislodge myself from his grasp, but to no avail.

His grip was like a band of Aetherian steel.

After a few futile attempts, I huffed in exasperation.

“Would you kindly stop manhandling me?” I glared at him, my cheeks flushed with a mixture of embarrassment and irritation. My heart started beating… for no reason at all.

Anderic raised an eyebrow, his lips quirking into that infuriating evil smirk that was only reserved for me and probably some criminals, since I had never seen him smile like the cunning bastard in public. “You’re not leaving so easily this time, Ilyana.” Despite his words, he released my wrist.

I rubbed the spot where his fingers had been, more out of habit than actual discomfort. “Fine,” I growled, deciding honesty was my best bet at this point. “If you must know, I was playing ghost. There, I said it. Now can I go? This is hardly appropriate, after all.”

“My image is pristine clean,” Anderic replied, his eyes twinkling with amusement. “You should worry about your own.”

I scoffed, giving him a mock curtsy. “Well then, I should leave. Wouldn’t want to ruin your ‘pristine image’ now, would we?”

Without waiting for a response, I gathered my skirts once more and turned on my heel. “Laurel, follow me,” I barked, not bothering to look back and see if she obeyed.

My heart pounded in my chest as I strode across the moonlit garden, a mix of relief and lingering embarrassment coursing through me. At least he hadn’t brought up that night when I’d kissed him. Small mercies, I suppose.

I was nearly halfway across the garden when Anderic’s voice rang out behind me. “Don’t think you can avoid talking about that night, Ilyana! We have ‘much’ to discuss!”

His words hit me like a physical blow. I stumbled, nearly face-planting into a rosebush before Laurel steadied me. Whirling around, I shouted the first curse word that came to mind, then hiked up my skirts and ran. Modesty can go to hell.

Anderic’s laughter followed me, rich and warm in the night air. The sound sent an involuntary shiver down my spine, and I cursed myself for the way my traitorous body responded to him.

As I fled through the palace corridors, my mind raced. What did he mean by ‘much’ to discuss? And why did the thought of that discussion make my stomach flutter with something that felt suspiciously like anticipation?