Page 94 of Wild Bond

I had just turned back to the discussion at the table when I realized it had gone silent. I heard a throat clear behind me. I turned in my seat and felt my mouth drop open slightly. Prince Malik was standing there with a slight smirk of amusement on his face.

“Trainee Darrow, might I have this dance?” he requested, his posture formal, his hand extended. He wore a dark Zehvitian-style tunic trimmed in swirling designs of red and gold that shimmered in the firelight.

For a second my brain stalled, and I had no idea what to say. How was this my life that a prince—a prince—was asking me to dance? Seemingly without my consent, my mouth opened, and I blurted out in genuine confusion, “Why?”

I thought the prince would be insulted, but he surprised me when instead of outrage a slow smile spread across his mouth, his white teeth flashing against his bronze skin. Then he leaned further down, hand still extended, and mock whispered, “Because I want to dance with you.”

I felt my cheeks redden and heard murmurs behind me, but I nodded and stood. What else could I do? He was a prince, for Realms sake, the future king of Zehvi. I couldn’t refuse him. And if I was honest with myself, part of me was intrigued and flattered by the idea.

I took his hand, his fingers warm and rough under mine. As he led me towards the dancing, I couldn’t help but glance over to where Rake was sitting. He was staring at us. His eyes were dark and his expression blank, but I could feel the roiling emotions he was giving off, even across the room.

A slightly petty part of me decided that I didn’t care just then. There was nothing wrong with dancing. And I still couldn’t get the image of him flirting with Princess Helene out of my head.

We reached the dance floor just as the musicians struck up a new, slower tune. Of course, this was also when I remembered that I didn’t know how to do this type of dancing. I was going to make a fool of myself.

“I don’t know how to do this,” I admitted to him in a low voice, gesturing to the dancing, feeling suddenly overcome by nerves.

He took in my expression and quickly reassured, “Just follow my lead. As long as the man is a capable dancer, the woman can follow.” He grinned as he pulled me out onto the floor. He winked. “And I happen to be very capable.”

I smiled despite my nerves, and he was right. It only took a few minor missteps before I started to get the hang of it.

“This has never been my favorite type of dancing either,” the prince confessed, looking down at me from his much taller height.

“Oh?”

“These types of dances, though beautiful in their own right, are nothing to the passionate dances of my homeland. Not nearly as enjoyable.”

“Why ask me to dance, then?” I inquired, repeating my question from earlier.

He spun me away from him, and when he pulled me back, I was a little breathless.

“Because you intrigue me,” he answered candidly. “Initially, I had thought to ask you on a walk—a tour of the mountain, perhaps, where we might have privacy to talk. But it’s apparent you are already spoken for.”

I followed his eyes to where Rake now stood, and could see that he was watching us closely, having moved to the edge of the dancing crowd. “You are mistaken,” I replied primly, and if my voice came out sounding a little defensive, there was nothing for it. Technically, what I said was true. Rake and I had made no promises to one another. Not fully. And once again my mind kept returning to the thought of him laughing with the princess and the fact that he had all but ignored me since I got here.

The prince’s dark brow arched. “Interesting. So, the spymaster hasn’t yet wooed you with his charms? Surely there is something about my brother you find appealing?”

“Well, he—wait, w-what?” I stammered, as my mind caught up with what he had just said. I nearly stopped dancing in my shock, and it was only his skill that kept us moving. Thinking I must have misheard him, I repeated, “Your brother?”

Prince Malik shrugged. “Bastard brother, if you want to get particular about it. Though I’ve never really cared either way. He’s no threat to me in that regard.”

He said it all so casually while my mind was still reeling from what felt like an earth-shattering revelation. Rake was Prince Malik’s half-brother? But if the prince’s expression was anything to go by, apparently it wasn’t all that important to him. And the more I thought about it, I supposed it wasn’t. Rake wouldn’t be considered a threat to his throne, as he had said. Even if something happened to Malik, he had two other siblings—Prince Amir and a younger sister. Even if Rake tried to make a bid for the throne, no one in Zehvi would support him. Rake was feared and hated in Zehvi and known as one of the fiercest commanders in the war against them.

To me though . . . I couldn’t help but feel hurt and angry that Rake hadn’t told me. More than that, he had lied to me in the bathhouse, saying he didn’t know who his father was. The Realms blasted King of Zehvi! If he didn’t know—and I had a hard time believing that he didn’t, knowing him—then he had to at least suspect. I remember thinking it was odd when he told me about his past that he wouldn’t have investigated his origins more thoroughly. But why lie? I supposed he could have just not wanted to tell me . . . or felt like it was too personal to share . . . but then that didn’t say much for our relationship. I hated it, but it also made me feel like I didn’t really know him at all. He was such a private person, but after all we had shared, and after what I had told him on the rooftop, it . . . hurt . . . to think he didn’t trust me.

“Have I upset you?” Prince Malik asked, and I was surprised to see real concern on his face.

As we spoke our dance faded into the next and I barely even noticed the steps. He had been right about having a strong partner making all the difference.

“Why are you telling me this?” I asked, staring up at him.

He was quiet before responding. “I’m not sure. Perhaps I am jealous of the way you look at him, despite your denials,” he shot me a pointed look. “Or, perhaps I just thought it was something you should know—something I would want to know if I were in your position. I do apologize if it distresses you.”

I gave him a sharp look. “Why do I get the feeling that your motive is nowhere near so selfless? That you simply want to cause trouble for Rake because you don’t like him very much?”

The prince flung his head back and laughed. It was a rich, intriguing sound, and his eyes were practically dancing with mirth when they returned to mine. “Oh, that is a happy side effect to be sure,” he chuckled. As he smiled down at me, genuine and without a hint of any artifice, my heart beat a little faster at how truly breathtaking he was. “I can see why he is so enamored with you,” he murmured, his voice like velvet, surprising me once again with the compliment.

Then his eyes shot behind me, and a smirk came over his lips. He leaned down to whisper in my ear, “I think someone has had enough.”

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