Page 12 of The Heart of Nym (The Twisted Roots Duology #1)

Surrounding him were numerous male companions, each of them exchanging congratulations and perverted remarks about Oran making a woman of his bride.

Nymiria rolled her eyes, fighting the urge to gag as she finally came to a stop in front of the prince.

His friends stared at her in disbelief, in disgust. But out of all the looks being cast in her direction, it was the ice-cold stare of Aziel Haze that made heat flare through her veins.

He stood off to the side, not engaging or interacting with Oran's friends and cousins, but lingered like a dark cloud—listening, watching.

She countered him with a venomous stare of her own, sizing him up and down.

When Aziel seemed entirely unfazed by her reaction, she finally turned her attention to the prince.

She lowered herself into a polite bow, giving her best timid smile as she looked up at Oran.

He considered her with noticeable caution, brows drawn.

"Congratulations, Prince Oran. On your engagement.

It is not every day that a man can make a woman's dreams come true.

" The voice in which she spoke was not her own.

It was obviously forced, an octave higher than the way she usually spoke and with a specific cadence that sounded much like poetry.

Still, Oran stared at her. "I am Nymiria Celentas.

I don't believe that we have been formally introduced to one another.

I also believe that I owe you both an apology and my thanks. "

"No introductions were necessary." Oran stated tightly.

Heat spread across her cheeks in a flush that would have onlookers believe that she was shy.

"Apologies, your highness. I only assumed that we should get to know one another.

Your father has requested for me to ensure that you feel…

welcome ." She put a sultry emphasis on the final word that earned a few chuckles and whistles from Oran's friends.

She could tell by the quick flicker of his eyes that he enjoyed the response.

His shoulders broadened, his chest seemed to grow larger with the subtle movement. "And how do you think that you will make me feel welcome, Nymiria?" He asked.

"We could start with a dance." She shrugged, arching her brow. "If you'd like."

He eyed her for a moment, his gaze trailing from her face to her outstretched hand.

He took it almost immediately, leading her out into the throng of party-goers and twirling her around until she was dizzily clutching at his shoulders to steady herself.

Oran's breath was hot against her ear, a stark contrast from the cold touch of his hand on her back—a hand that traveled lower on her each time they passed the place where Aziel stood.

Despite her needing to seem inconspicuous about locating him, she couldn't seem to keep her eyes off of him.

He was a dark presence in a sea of gold and finery, his clenched jaw and gloved fists contradicting the joy that surrounded them.

"I was too harsh with you the other night.

" Oran spoke, pulling her from the hazy trance Aziel had trapped her in.

She looked up at his face, pushing a smile onto her lips and relaxing her brow.

"That is not an impression of myself that I would like to give anyone who is undeserving of it.

" He spun her out into the crowd, only to catch the tips of her fingers and reel her back to his chest. She was breathless, eyes wide and lips parted when she collided with his stocky form.

Nymiria was not interested in the prince, but developing a closeness between the two of them would aid her in many different ways. Being blushing and bashful helped her in getting that dance, but there needed to be a bit more push.

She let her hands trail along his stocky arms, eyes slowly trailing up his large build until they landed on his face. He was devilishly handsome, certainly, and it made her act much easier to perform. But the way he stared at her—that look of awe and marvel made a chill run up her spine.

They paused in front of his cousins, his hand still pressed firmly against her lower back as he drew her closer, so close that his lips nearly brushed her ear, tickling her cheek with a fallen strand of his thick black curls.

"I think you should come to the party I am holding after this.

As an apology for the night we met outside of the library.

I was not quite myself. And, I must admit, was quite concerned about the relationship you have with my father. "

"My relationship with your father?"

"He's very fond of you, Nymiria. In fact, he wrote to me about you more than he did anything else. You see, there are things you don't understand about him and I was only trying to—"

Nymiria smiled, shaking her head as she patted his shoulder. "All is forgiven. Your father is of no concern to me. If what you all say about my ability to ensnare people is true, then I believe that I have him handled."

At that, Oran let out a deep chuckle. They stared at one another for a moment longer, his smile slowly starting to dwindle away. "Please be careful, Nymiria. What I said about this place… this darkness… just watch yourself. Things have changed here since I have been away."

She lifted her eyes to the weighted stares coming from the dais, the flush on her skin draining away as her eyes flickered back and forth from Dorid's sickening smile to Camalia's scowl.

They broke away from one another as the song spun to a stop.

Oran left her with parted lips, questions left hanging on the tip of her tongue as he turned to the next eager dance partner.

A new song began and he was whisking the woman away, leaving Nymiria stranded in a sea of judgmental faces that were twisted up in disgust.

Nymiria drew in a deep breath and turned on her heel, only to collide with the ominous form of Aziel Haze.

His gloved hand gripped her elbow, steadying her before she could stumble to the ground. Heat spread through her body, tingling and prickling at her skin. He stared at her in a way that she could not quite place. Concern, maybe. Or perhaps it was anger.

There was anger, definitely, but also something else. Something… sad.

"Apologies." She mumbled.

His darkened gaze moved over her, his jaw clenched so tight that the flex of muscles in his cheeks were entirely visible.

Her brow crumpled in confusion when his other hand came up to the bruise on her neck, one that she'd been trying to hide for the last three days.

His finger pushed into the yellowing mark, filling her with an anger that had her jerking out of his grasp.

With an angry roll of his shoulders, he released her.

Nymiria watched in complete confusion and bewilderment as he disappeared into the crowd, her own hand coming up to touch the bruise.