nd Vellador. But Princess Seraphina hardly tasted the delicacies placed before her. She played her role well smi

s gaze flicker toward her, calculatin

to look toward Prince Adrian, knowing tha

rose from their seats, many moving toward t

forcing a polite smile. "D

before rising smoothly from hi

ying no, yet he ext

onto the floor. The music swelled, and couples moved in a synchr

, but tonight, she felt as though she was m

," Kael murmured, his voi

stif

tired," she

mething that was not qu

istance apart. To the court, they looked like a future king and queen in harmony.

amiliar prese

ri

partner. Instead, he moved through the shif

ond, the world

s arms. She was no longer

ho longed for the man

red toward Kael. Cal

nge. His grip on her waist tightened ever

ed sharply. Thi

her. "You dance well, Princess," he said w

her expression neutral. "And

re stepping away, leaving h

moment wa

ve, a hand took her

ked up

"What are you doi

near the towering windows. Outside, the palace gardens stretc

ion unreadable. "Tell me the truth," h

. "It doesn't mat

sn't an

this. She didn't want a cold, calculated marria

lls were c

red, stepping back.

"Everything abou

tension in his posture, the way his fingers curled a

wanted

herself to forget-forget the

lock of hair from her cheek. The touch was fea

htly. Just enough for him to

rkened. "Se

could be spoken, a voice

rrupting s

's blood

a

ms crossed, his expression unreadable-but

g to face her betrothed. "Of course not, Your Highness,"

, lingering on Adrian for a second

d hate to think my future wi

a swallo

peak. But she could feel the

nding a hand. "Come, Princ

tated, but she

e that held all the words she cou

ballroom, she realized her dan

rince Kael led her back into the ballroom. But beneath

ch? Had she and Ad

ingered on her skin, an unbearable c

hifting crowd. The nobles greeted them with smiles and appro

d a quieter corner of t

brother-in-law se

rds were casual, but there was som

y. "We were raised together. There

ying her. "And yet, when I entered

lenge.

ne it only seemed that way because you don't yet know the w

, his expression unread

o shift the conversation away from dangerous territo

as no humor in it. "Not to

ay he said it sent a

s wat

watching h

was watchin

ng toward a group of Elarion nobles to engage in polite conversation. H

n who did not

uld be caught in a game far more

rable. When the nobles were too deep in their cups to notice, when the music swe

ir. She need

The scent of jasmine and roses filled the air, but even t

ern-lit paths, until she reached a secluded clearing.

was no

you might

n stood at the edge of the cle

ched. "You sho

tep forward. "Ne

etween them, hea

aking her head. "This

"Because watching you stand beside him tonight-preten

ned. "You think

ustration evident. "Then don't do this

his marriage isn't just about me-it's abou

what about your happiness? O

outh to reply, b

uth was no, it

ss had neve

against hers in the dim light. It was a whisper of

"Tell me you feel nothing f

here, on the tip of her tongue. The

couldn't

would nev

wed hard.

before she could seal both their fa

e secret

spun toward the voice

the edge of

chi

it

s no mistaking the dang