Page 23

Chapter Fifteen

S aharn greeted us outside my room as we began making our way to dinner.

Clay had already gone ahead, she explained, but she was happy to escort us to the banquet hall.

In Tenebris, large feasts were traditional for celebrating important guests and joyous occasions—like an upcoming engagement, for example.

Tonight, the monarchs and Veric invited both friends and family to dine with us.

The sounds of their celebration carried down the winding hallways, which were open to the outside air. The humid heat was oppressive, and I instantly understood why the Tenebrisians wore such minimal clothing. One step outside was enough to make even the most modest want to strip away their layers.

“I will announce you,” Saharn said with a warm smile, stopping just short of the dining hall.

There was no door, only a single oversized archway through which I could already see men and women of all ages laughing and sharing food. My eyes scanned over the crowd, lingering on every eligible young man, wondering if one of them might be Veric.

Saharn must have noticed my unease. Perhaps it was the way I gripped my hands together to keep them from shaking. She paused briefly, offering me a moment to collect myself. “You look beautiful,” she assured me before leading us forward through the archway.

The room quieted as hundreds of eyes turned toward us.

“Allow me to present Lady Theadora Moore of Athenia, the last remaining daughter of Hyrax!”

My stomach churned violently, and I had to wipe my damp hands against my skirt to keep from trembling.

Then, all at once, the room rose to its feet, a cacophony of applause echoing as the Tenebrisians welcomed me into their home. I slipped my practiced mask into place, tucking my nerves away behind a polite smile, and made my way to the long dining table at the room’s head.

Clay sat to the right of the monarchs, dressed in a russet-colored Tenebrisian-style jacket with gleaming red buttons. He was engaged in conversation with Damon, the Imperial Prince seated beside him. To Clay’s left was an empty seat, likely meant for me. Beside it sat—

“Lady Moore,” Veric said, standing and clearing his throat. His smile was warm as he extended his hand. “It is a pleasure to meet you. I am Veric Starsen.”

I stared at his outstretched hand for a moment too long, frozen in time as my mind tried to process what was happening.

He was here. He was real.

I was staring at the man I was going to have to stand by for the rest of my life, whether I liked it or not.

Unblinking, I drew my gaze from his outstretched hand up to his structured face.

Veric was tall—nearly a foot taller than me, even with my heeled slippers.

His sun-kissed skin glowed golden, and his striking blue eyes sparkled against his tanned complexion.

He had neatly shorn his dark hair at the sides, tousled slightly on top in a deliberately messy style.

As he smiled wider, extending his hand closer to me, I couldn’t help marveling at his impossibly sharp jawline.

He was beautiful.

And I felt absolutely nothing for him .

I couldn’t. Not when every part of me was so attuned to the dragon prince behind him, whose golden eyes burned into every inch of my exposed skin.

I risked a glance at Clay.

My prince’s heated eyes, glowing brilliantly, traced over me—from the crown of my head to the exposed skin of my thighs peeking through the slits of my skirt.

His gaze lingered, lips curving into a slight smile and my pulse quickened as I realized he’d noticed the dagger strapped to my leg. I shifted slightly, trying to hide it.

Gods, it was too warm. My cheeks flushed, and I prayed the crowd would chalk it up to the nerves of a new bride rather than my complete inability to ignore Clayton Vail.

Nessira gently cleared her throat behind me and all too suddenly time fell into place again, as did the sudden awareness of all the eyes that lingered on the awkwardness of his hand waiting suspended in the air between us.

I sputtered, “It’s a pleasure to meet you at last, Veric,” and threw my arm forward to grasp his hand.

My smile was tight as he bent forward and brushed his lips against my knuckles, eyes holding mine. “You look beautiful.”

Plenty of people had called me beautiful before. It was one of the easiest, most superficial compliment you could give someone. Usually, it didn’t phase me too much. And yet, when Veric said it, a weight of uneasiness settled over me.

When Clay said it, my blood practically sang with awareness, and need, and-

No.

There would be no thoughts of Clay tonight.

Veric grinned and rounded the edge of the table to come stand at my side, gently placing a hand at my waist to guide me to my seat.

His touch was gentle and reassuring. Not firm enough to be overly personal, but not delicate enough to seem awkward for two people who were to be married.

Everyone in the room watched our movements, and only after I sat—conveniently between Veric and Clay—did Emperor Kamon rise to announce the start of the feast.

Everything blurred around me. The world carried on while I remained frozen.

Within moments, everyone returned to their conversations, the buzz of laughter and music filling the space.

Musicians played lively, unfamiliar tunes on an array of instruments, while servers passed around trays of roasted meats, spiced vegetables, and dipping sauces.

Without asking, someone heaped food onto my plate.

I felt as if something had removed me from my body. I felt fully aware of my surroundings, but strangely detached.

Clay, on my left, had turned his back to me, his focus entirely on Damon. Perhaps that was for the better. I wasn’t sure I would be able to carry on a conversation with Veric without making it abundantly obvious that Clay was the only person in this room I really wanted to talk to.

“So,” Veric began tentatively, “my mother tells me you enjoy the gardens at the Athenian palace?”

I blinked at him. “They were a great comfort when I first arrived in Athenia,” I replied, unsure how to follow up. Should I ask about his interests? That seemed like the polite thing to do. One should try to find out details about their betrothed. I should know about his hobbies, beliefs, family-

“Your mother is the Dragon’s sister?” I blurted, desperate for a new topic. “Clay’s aunt?”

I snapped my mouth shut, mortified. Why was I bringing up Clay?

I had left Athenia enraged and determined to distance myself from him and now I was practically humming with the awareness that his thigh was only inches from mine. I was entirely unable to stop thinking about him. Had I left all of my senses behind on the shores of my kingdom ?

My prince shifted beside me, that leg brushing against mine for a brief moment before jerking away, and I knew instantly that he was listening to every word of our conversation. Even while totally focused on speaking with Damon, his attention still lingered on me.

“Yes,” Veric said, his tone growing awkward. “Though I haven’t seen my uncle or cousin in years. I was actually a bit surprised to see him here. Are you two… close?”

“Not at all,” I said quickly, forcing a sweet smile and pulling my leg further away from him. “We work together on the Council, but beyond that, we hardly know each other.”

“I see.” Veric’s expression softened as he opened his mouth and closed it again, debating what to say. “This is a bit strange, isn’t it?”

I frowned, tensing slightly. “What is?”

Veric spooned a bit of mashed potato into his mouth before dabbing his lips clean with a napkin. “You and I. We are to be married and we are only just meeting.”

“That is the way of High Houses,” I said, choosing my words carefully.

He watched me closely, blue eyes focused entirely on me. “Of course. I mean no disrespect.”

“What do you mean?”

A bit of a flush colored his tawny skin as he ran a hand over his jawline. “I’m sorry. I’m not saying this right at all. I only meant to say that I hope you and I can have the chance to really get to know each other. I’d rather not feel like my wife is a stranger.”

Picking up his utensils, he began cutting into the meat on his plate, but I left mine untouched. My stomach was far too uneasy to eat a single bite.

“And what would you like from your wife?”

Veric glanced up at me and sighed, a wrinkle forming in the space between his dark brows as he turned in his seat to face me more fully.

He rested his arm on the back of my chair comfortably.

“Well, I want a partner, Lady Moore. I understand that you have to prioritize heirs, and I’m honored to have the privilege of furthering your line, but for me, marriage is for more than just children.

I want a friend in my wife, someone who I can laugh with and trust completely. ”

I felt frozen again, unable to move a single part of my body or even take a deep breath in. My chest was tight, palms so clammy I had to brush them against the fabric of my dress. “I don’t give out my trust easily.”

Veric stared at me before nodding softly. “I’m not asking for it right now. I’m just saying that I hope that’s a place we can get to. Someday.”

I met his gaze, searching for some sign of malice or duplicitousness, but found none. He looked genuine enough. Could I really trust myself enough to be a judge of that, though?

How many times in the past year had people I assumed were genuine betrayed me?

Veric cleared his throat, turning back to his dinner. “Anyway, did the Empress mention tomorrow’s plans?”

“We’re touring the city?”

It didn’t matter how many shallow breaths I forced into my lungs, I couldn’t seem to stop that heavy feeling on top of my chest.

“Indeed.” Veric sipped his wine, his tone warming. “The streets outside the Sun Palace are alive with beauty and culture. I’m looking forward to seeing them through your eyes.”