Page 120 of The Chains You Defy

“I do the same with the Restless Desert. Both, as I learned from the map in your suite, are in the same region of our respective worlds.”

A chuckle pearled from Dion’s lips as he got up and hauled me to my feet as well. “Meant to be, you and me.”

Ugh.

Dion dropped the darkness separating us from the rest of the world, and, more than a little reluctant, we left the balcony behind.

“There you are, Scriosta. Where did you disappear to? I’ve searched everywhere for you. What did you think, leaving me stranded on the dance floor like that? You owe me another dance.”

My eyes narrowed as Danartha appeared and treated Dion as if he weren’t the most dangerous male in the room. There were more than a few choice words on the tip of my tongue, but I swallowed every single one down, waiting for the prince to snap at the female himself, maybe even separating her head from her neck, especially when she grabbed for his hand. I wouldn’t even give him a hard time for being his murderous self just this once.

But what did the royal bastard do?

Frozen to the spot, I gaped after the female who ushered Dion along. After all the pretty words he’d showered me with, and especially after the vowto prove to me how wrong I was to hold on to my convictions, I hadn’t been sure what to expect. But being left standing like an idiot hadn’t been on my list of potential outcomes. Two minutes, and every promise was already forgotten.

The biting sting of tears shot into my eyes, but I blinked every bit of moisture away, then lifted my chin and stalked back to my pariah table with my head held high. Only I didn’t get so far.

“Sweetie, you have to dance with me. No excuses.”

I whipped my head around and was confronted with Thain’s smiling face. Once I was at least semi-confident that my voice wouldn’t tremble, I shook my head. “You've had better ideas before, Thain.”

“No, actually, this is a great one. Not only do I want to dance with you, but you also give the impression that you have a point to prove to a certain someone.”

“Wink as much as you like, but I prefer you alive. And with His Royal Highness in a mood, who could tell how a confrontation between you two would end? Also, I’m neither petty enough to use his weaknesses against him nor so cold-hearted as to weaponize you to exploit said flaws. And I’m definitely not risking your life.”

“What about you forget Dionadair for a few minutes and simply share a dance with me?”

“You want to poke the bear, don’t you?”

“My methods of dealing with my prince might be more unconventional than, for example, Antas’, but they work, wouldn’t you agree? He’s not an empty shell anymore, even though he acts as dumb as one sometimes.” Thain winked, but right afterward, his face turned more serious, more grown-up in a way. Even his voice held an unfamiliar edge, something so unlike himthat my curiosity reared its ugly head. “Come. This is a ball. Let’s treat the revelry as such.”

A frown marred my forehead as I attempted to grasp the implications behind Thain’s words, and I didn’t resist him anymore when he dragged me to the floor.

“Whatever you do, darling, don’t even glance in the general direction of His Royal Bastardness. Trust me.”

“Thain—are you trying to…push him on purpose? Gods, you are. And not because you’re mean or thoughtless, but—”

“Because I care, yes. How could I not?”

“But your reputation…aren’t you just a shallow flirt who isn’t bothered by the fallout he creates?”

“Wouldn’t you say I’m playing my role very well?”

“Play a role.”

“Well, partly. Sweetling, don’t you ever believe I’m not authentic.”

My mind was officially closed for business after this revelation. “You have to confess this to him before he kills you for real.”

“Not yet. He might still need me as an outlet. And between us, it’s rather amusing to watch him fly off the handle, in my opinion.”

“Amusing. Huh. You’re really one of a kind, Thain.”

“I take that as a compliment, sweet thing.”

Art by @smite.jake

There was only pure chaos in my mind, and the silence between Nayana and me had turned oppressive when we finally stepped back into the ballroom. I was burning for her, and despite being aware that I had to be patient, there was nothing I desired more than to pull her into my arms and never let her leave my embrace ever again.