A Court This Cruel & Lovely (Kingdom of Lies, #1) (97)

“Enjoying yourself?”

I whirled. “Marth.” I had seen him.

He sidled up next to me, a cup of wine in his own hand as he watched the dancing. His hair had been darkened as well, and he looked tired.

“What are you doing here?” I’d missed him ridiculously. In fact, I was struggling not to beam at him.

He grinned at me, but his eyes turned to ice when Sabium walked past. It was strange seeing malevolence on Marth’s face. He was the lewd one. The one who never took anything seriously. Except bedding women.

“Serving my prince. What else?”

“Mm-hmm. Well, I—” My heart stopped.

Marth followed my gaze. “Who is that?”

I stared at the handsome man with the wide shoulders and the grin that invited you to grin right back. My mouth had gone so dry, I could barely get the words out.

“Prisca?”

“His name is Thol. I’d thought maybe I’d see his father here, but not…”

My heart cracked as I watched Thol dance. Watched him laugh. Watched him lift another woman’s hand—just as he’d once done to me.

“What’s wrong?” Marth asked.

“Nothing.”

He followed my gaze to where Thol was now dancing, the light from the chandeliers flitting across his handsome face.

“Ah,” he said. “So that’s the way of things. He’s from your village.”

“Yes.”

Homesickness struck me like a backhanded slap as I watched Thol. Visiting the city would be the highlight of his life. When he told people back home that he’d danced in the same room as the king?

My stomach swam.

Lorian sauntered past, looking exactly like the spoiled prince he was playing. His gaze met mine, and he changed course, slipping through the crowd to stand next to Marth.

“What are you doing?” I hissed. “We shouldn’t be seen together.”

He gave a languid shrug. “I’m a prince. You’re a pretty courtier. I’m expected to have…dalliances.”

I chewed on that while he murmured something to Marth. Then Lorian was standing next to me.

“What’s wrong?”

If one more man asked me that tonight…

I opened my mouth, but Marth jumped in. As usual.

“Prisca’s watching the handsome boy from her village.”

My cheeks burned. Marth was likely only a few years older than Thol, but he spoke of him as if he were a child.

Lorian followed my gaze. “Let me guess. You’re desperately wishing you could walk into his arms and pretend you’re just a normal woman.”

I hated that he’d figured me out so quickly.

“Fuck you.”

“Perhaps, if I ever get through those who are already waiting.” He turned toward Pelopia and winked at her. She actually fluttered her eyelashes.

I smirked. “Looks like she has something stuck in her eyes. Must be why she’s blind enough to entertain the thought of you in her bed.”

“Jealousy is a most unattractive trait.”

Smiling, I turned my gaze to where Peiter was waiting for me. Lorian stiffened, and I gave him a haughty look I knew would make him want to strangle me.

“It is, isn’t it?”

Lorian bared his teeth in a mockery of a smile. Whatever came out of his hateful mouth next would be vicious.

He leaned close, his breath warm on my ear. I shivered, glancing at Pelopia, who was frowning at me from across the room.

“You talk about saving the hybrids in the dungeon beneath us, but you’re still that scared little girl who is waiting to wake up from a nightmare. You better find a way to stop running away from your fate, because the kinds of people who refuse to accept the realities of their lives are not the same people who free the helpless and enslaved.”

Numbness swept through my body. I stared at Lorian for a long moment. Something flickered in his eyes, but I was already turning away, stalking toward the door.

I was done with this night.

I sucked in a deep breath of fresh air when I reached the hall. My shoes echoed on the stone, the space empty, with everyone either watching or partaking in the dancing.

A huge hand came down on my shoulder. Lorian spun me, pressing me up against the wall.

I glanced down the corridor. This would draw attention from anyone who happened to walk past. “What are you doing?”

He frowned down at me. Something that might have been concern flickered in his eyes. “Why are you so upset?”

I threw my hands in the air. “You just called me a scared little girl.”

“And you’ve called me worse.” He leaned even closer, studying my face.

I shoved his chest. “Are you crazy? Someone will see.” The last thing either of us needed was the court gossiping about us. Gossip would make people look closer.

Lorian sighed. My head spun as he opened the closest door and shoved me inside.

I snarled. “This is going to surprise you, so prepare yourself—Not everything is your business.”

“Everything that concerns you is my business. This is not a game.” His words were flat, but his eyes blazed into mine.

My laugh was so bitter I barely recognized it. “No one knows that more than me!”

He studied my face for a long, uncomfortable moment.