Page 33 of Seduced By Darkness

Vi.

Not Violet.

There are two daughters. Andraste, the Crown Princess, and…. “Iskvien.”

It captures her attention. Dark eyes meet mine as I slowly push to my feet, and she looks a little confused, as if to wonder how I know her name. “Goodbye, my prince.”

There’s no guile in her expression.

No hint she even suspects.

She doesn’t know.

And then she’s gone, leaving me with the reeling sensation that fate just kicked me in the teeth.

There’s only a single starburst mask, lying forlornly in the grass.

* * *

“You ruinedeverything,”Thalia accuses, the second I’m back within my tents. “Princess Lucere was there to meet you, and you barely even looked at her, before you ran off with another woman.” She rakes her hands through her hair. “I can fix this,” she says, half to herself. “I can—”

“No.” There’s no point in playing alliances now. “There will not be a marriage between Evernight and Ravenal.”

Thalia pales. “What?”

I can barely breathe as I turn away from her, rubbing at my knuckles. Eris remains a silent shadow at my back. Sheknows. The queensmoot may be the only time when murder and treachery is forbidden, but I still don’t go anywhere without at least her or Baylor at my back, and it seems Eris drew the short straw last night.

She’d have given me enough distance to have some semblance of privacy, but when I finally exited my heather-scented bower, she’d arched an eyebrow at me.

“Out.” I tilt my head toward the door. I need to bathe and dress. I need a fucking moment alone to still the thoughts circling my head like sharks.

She’s Asturian.

It’s a fist within my chest. A knot of discordant emotion.

She’s fucking Asturian. My promise, my hopes, my dreams…. They’re all turning into a nightmare.

Because Adaia will never allow me to touch one of her precious daughters.

The daemon within me laughs.Did you think it would be that easy?

“Out?” Thalia repeats, as if she’s never heard the word before. She sets her hands on her hips. “Did you just tell me to get out of your tents?”

I wasn’t thinking. “Please,” I add. “I need to bathe.”

Oh, it’s too late for that. Her eyes narrow. “What’s wrong? Why do you look like you were just punched in the sternum. Eris?”

She looks to Eris, who is pouring a glass of wine.

For breakfast.

“What is going on here?” Thalia demands.

“Thanks,” I mutter, as Eris turns with the wine.

She merely arches her brow at me. “Who said it was for you?”

And then she drains it.