Page 33 of The Path of Blood and Betrayals

Relief, sudden and sweet, washes over me.Thank the Gods.

The heirdoesn’t bother to look atTaylay, keeping his eyes trained on my face, emotions closing off. “This doesn’t concern you,Witch.”

Tay scoffs at the heir, holding his out to me. “Dance with me, Max.”

Jumping to my feet, I knock into the table, wineglasses topplingover. Backed in the corner, away from prying eyes, I can only imagine the sight the heir and I make.

It’s not a pleasant one and my cheeks burn.

Letting Tay lead me into the crowd, I keep from turning to stare back at the heir. Taylay spins me, my skirts flipping, placing his hand on my hip and holding the other high.

Unlike all our lessons back in the Coven, when I glance up, he isn’t grinning. His bright eyes narrow, mouth twisted into a frown.

“What happened?”

Chapter 12

Max

“What?”

“Whathappened?”Taystresses, moving me backwards. The crowd follows, steps coordinated and in time to the music floating through the air. “Did he do something?”

Did he?Other than crowd me, know my secret and try to dig for more while annoying me in the process, no he didn’t actuallydoanything.

But if I tell Tay that, I’ll open another conversation about how he knows about my magic. “No. He just talked to me.”

“He looked a bit close.”Taywatches me from the corner of his eye, waiting for my reaction. “If I didn’t know you, and how little you care for others, I’d wonder if youlikedit.”

Growling, I pinch his side. It’s not that I don’t like others.Othersdon’t like me.

Growing up in a Coven where people give you a wide berth, it’s easier to stay alone. Because of that, it’s not often someone tries to be around me as much as the heir.

“I didn’t like it—him, if that’s what you were asking.” I didn’t.Not really.“I think he’s just curious.”

“Curious about what?”

“Me.”

Tay’s eyebrows shoot up. “About you? Why?”

Shrugging, I allow him to lead me through a complicated dance move, feet tripping over my skirt.

“I’m not sure,” I lie. “He doesn’t seem to believe I’m an advisor.”

“Well, after your display in the meeting this morning,” Tay retorts, sighing. “Maybe he’s interested because you stood up to him?”

Nodding, I slip, heel of my feet catching my friend’s toe. He huffs out a pained breath, spinning me.

“He’s not afraid of me,” I whisper, looking away, shame coloring my cheeks. It’s very rare for me to discuss this openly, even though Tay knows how I feel.

Everyone is always afraid of me. For the right reason. But the heir? He’s not.

It shouldn’t draw me toward him. My body shouldn’t ache to be near him. But something in the way he looks at me—not that I’m a monster, not something to harm, nor to run from, sits heavily on my shoulders.

It makes distrusting him difficult. I know he can hurt me by exposing me, but… it’s all very complicated.

I hate complicated feelings. It’s easier to hide.