Chapter 15
Blue
That hadn’t happened in the last timeline. I fought to hide my frown.
I kept my eyes firmly peeled on Father, studying his every move. I knew him well enough to note the telltale tension in his shoulders and spine. He was not afraid, he was annoyed. Was it the note, or being with the emperor that had caused that reaction?
“Save me,” a husky voice drawled into the shell of my ear, snapping my attention away from watching my father.
I knew that gravelly voice anywhere, and turned, eyes widening. Realizing that once again Prince Mikael had snuck up on me. How could I never hear him? And why hadn’t anyone told him yet that was wearing far too much Cyprus oil? It was overwhelming, not necessarily unpleasant, but strong.
I glared at him, annoyed, and his lips twitched into that infuriating grin of his that made my blood boil. Not that I expected an apology for earlier, nobles rarely did. But my disappointment stemmed from the fact that I’d expected better of him. And yet, who was I to expect anything at all?
Up close his shoulders seemed even more broad and powerful than usual. Prince Mikael wasn’t the biggest male I’d ever seen, he did not at all compare in height and breadth to Jhon, and yet his presence was overwhelming all the same.
“You dare look at me so openly disdainful in such a public place, tsk tsk tsk, you’re slipping, little bird.” Lights danced in his emerald irises.
He was right, we were surrounded by nobles, and most were still entranced by the sight of the emperor, but I could feel that some were listening in a little too closely to Prince Mikael and myself. If I didn’t watch it there would be gossip later.
I fixed the blank look back on my face, only the prince had witnessed my emotion, but that was one person too many.
“I have to go. I’m afraid I don’t have time for your gam—” I started to walk away, but the prince gently touched my elbow, holding me in place without much effort. If I walked away now, I’d make a scene. He knew it and used that knowledge to his advantage.
“With the way you’re drilling your eyes into your father’s back,” he said as his warm breath—smelling of sherry wine—fanned the side of my cheek, “I’d say you’re desperate to learn just what was in that note?”
I pursed my lip, snapping my fan against my bicep to hide my mouth as I said, “You saw the exchange?” I did not look at him, but I knew he still wore that insufferable smirk of his. My spine stiffened.
Suddenly I felt him even closer, nearly pressing his front to my back. I sucked in a sharp breath.
“Save me,” he said. “One dance and I’ll tell you what was in that note?”
My eyes widened. I twirled on him. My breasts brushed against his chest; he stood so close. I could feel curious eyes on us. I knew we were drawing too much attention. But I was snared in his hot gaze.
“How would you know unless you’d sen—ah, I see,” my own smile grew, “you sent the note. Bloody hell, of course, it was you.”
He snorted, finally taking a step back, giving me some much-needed breathing room. “Such vulgar language from such a cherubic mouth.”
I looked straight ahead. “Either tell me, or I shall take my leave, Prince Mikael.”
He leaned over me, his warmth enveloped my own and it was inexplicably hard to breathe again. This was no good. He was being far too aggressive. I could feel the hot gazes of more and more nobles looking at us, we would start a scandal soon if he didn’t stop this.
“Don’t tell me you have anything better to do. Or is it that I bore you?” He leaned even closer, his face so near to my own that it almost made my eyes cross. His full mouth hovered mere inches from mine. “I do think that might wound my pride if I did, little bird.”
What was he doing? Didn’t he have some pride left? I’d already rejected him once; did he really expect me to fall for these pathetic pick-up lines?
I gazed hotly at him, never letting on that he in any way discombobulated me.
“People will see you, Prince.”
He growled. “You misunder—"
“Ah, Prince Mikael, here you are,” a woman’s high-pitched tone cut through the tension of the moment.
He groaned. So low and faint that only I could have heard it. But instantly, he pulled away from me and I sucked in a rush of sweet, fresh air. Feeling like a fish out of water, what was wrong with me? I clutched at my furiously beating chest.
“Ah, Lady Cordelia,” he turned, taking her lace-gloved hand in his. She was a typical noble of the lower realm. Tall. Slim. Icy white hair that she had done up in an elaborate style. And glittering lavender eyes set within ebony sclera. The daughter of Earl Lemus of the North. She was basically everything I was not.
Her smile was large and welcoming, until she glanced at me, and instantly that warmth shifted to barely caged frost.
“Don’t you know it’s taboo to play with a half-blood so openly, My Prince?” Lady Cordelia said with sweet venom in her voice as she wrapped her hand proprietarily around his elbow. “Her kind is only fit to be played within the shadows. Though you are welcome to find me, later, if you’re available,” she said with an insatiable gleam in her eyes.
Did I look like a whore to these nobles? I was starting to think so. My smile was tight and forced. She wasn’t calling me a mutt like the other princess had, and she was even acknowledging me (in her own perverted way) but still, I was tired of these silly games tonight. I’d had enough.
My teeth ached from clenching down so hard. Not trusting myself to speak, I started to turn. But a hard, warm hand grabbed my own and twirled me around.
Lady Cordelia’s mouth thinned as the prince gently but firmly disengaged her hold on him.
“Tempted as I’m sure she is, my lady,” he said so warmly that I could almost believe those two were secret lovers, “the mistress and I were discussing matters of grave importance.”
Mistress was not a title, but it was an acknowledgment of me. Heat rose in my cheeks. Just what kind of game was this stupid prince playing?
She held up her hands, sighing loudly. “I see. Then find me later, when you are free, Prince Mikael, I too have important matters to speak with you about.” She glanced at me, smirked, and then without another word, walked away.
She’d not been the worst noble I’d ever encountered, by far. I shouldn’t even be annoyed, and yet, I was. I really, really was. I pinched the bridge of my nose.
The prince held his hand out to me. Publicly. Daringly. His eyes danced with satisfaction. To deny him now would make me and not him a public disgrace. Taking a deep breath, I took his hand. Prince Mikael did not wear the stiff white gloves most nobles of the realm did, his hands were free.
His palms were warm, not hard, and callused like most trained soldiers I worked with, they were a scholar’s hands. My insides quivered.
He led me to the very edge of the dance floor, I only just realized he was not using his walking cane. I knew he needed it, I knew of his deformed leg. But he walked with a proud carriage.
“Whatever you do, little bird,” he whispered in a rough, low tone. “Do not let my hand go.”
I glanced at him from the corner of my eye and I fully expected him to still be wearing his self-satisfied smirk. But he wasn’t. His hard eyes were trained ahead and a slight twitch in his cheek made me realize why he’d said that.
If I let him go, he would not be able to maintain his balance.
The prince was placing his pride in my hands. Quite literally. Why would he do that?
Why was he acting this way? Hadn’t he called me a whore less than an hour ago? And yet, here he was now showing me a strange amount of respect. It was unsettling how little I understood him.
Blinking, I kept my eyes peeled ahead of us. Ignoring the stares and heated whispers all around.
I had no idea how to dance. Someone like me had never needed to know such things, but Prince Mikael moved us gracefully through the movements. This dance wasn’t a strenuous one, and the pace was slower than most of the others, it was a good dance for him and for me.
At a certain point, the crowds returned to what they were doing, only casting us a curious glance now and then.
I did not need to look at Father to know that he watched us too.
“You’ve compromised us,” I said softly. “Father sees us dancing. He knows I know you now. Why would you do such a thing, Prince Mikael? I thought you wiser than this?” My words came out a chilling reprimand. Had I placed my faith in the wrong prince after all?
My heart ached to think what the events of tonight would lead to if I’d judged wrong.
He shook his head, wearing that smirk I was coming to associate with him. “Have I? Or did I seek an audience with your father later this evening?”
I looked up at him. “Why?”
“You cannot assume all the risk, Blue. I will not sit idly by and do nothing. If we are partners then I will protect you as best I can.”
I laughed softly. “I have never needed protection. And you have placed a bullseye on my back.”
He shook his head, and for a moment I felt his thumb caress my lower spine. I shivered.
“You leave your father to me. I know how to handle him.”
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