Page 57 of Wild Flame

“Goodnight, Your Majesty.” I cut off whatever he was going to say and spun away from him. Then I all but ran down the stone steps and across the grass to the path.

“Leida!” Malik yelled again, but I ignored him as I fled back towards the palace.

I heard his footsteps crunching on the path behind me.

“Leida, stop!” he called, his voice drawing closer.

But I didn’t turn. Instead, I quickened my pace until I saw other party goers and relaxed somewhat as they came into view, knowing—or rather hoping—their presence would keep Malik from being able to corner me and discuss what just happened.

An unkind part of me wondered painfully if it had meant anything to him, or if I had just been an amusing way for him to pass the time tonight. A Zehvitian wouldn’t see anything special in what we had just done. Not like I did. And wasn’t he all but betrothed to Priya, anyway? What had I been thinking? Allowing him to—I hadn’t been thinking. That was the problem. Anytime I was around the man, he made me feel—

A strong hand grasped my upper arm, and I was hauled around to face Malik’s frustrated expression. The nearest guest was still several paces away from us, so I didn’t think they could hear him as Malik demanded, “What just happened? Why are you running away from me?”

I tried to yank my arm free, but he pulled me over to the side of the path so my back was against a tall hedge before letting me go. Now we were out of anyone’s immediate line of sight.

I made sure my mask was firmly in place before I answered him. “I’m not running. And I assure you, I am perfectly fine,” I lied.

His eyes flashed. “Don’t do that,” he said in a low tone.

“Don’t do what?”

“Retreat behind that wall of yours.” He leaned closer, his beautiful face nearly as close as it had been in the gazebo. “I cansee it forming in your eyes. That remote nothingness you wear like armor. Hiding you from me.”

I swallowed hard, feeling like his words had just sliced me open and left me bleeding anew. It unnerved and terrified me that he saw so much of me—that all my efforts to keep this man at arm’s length and keep him from having a piece of me were for nothing. I wanted to tell him that I hated it, too. That I didn’t know how to keep it from building back up.

“Siren,” Malik pleaded, cupping my face, “talk to me.”

I closed my eyes for a moment, then straightened my shoulders and glared back at him, pushing down the torrent of emotions I was feeling until I had them in a vicious hold and under my control once more.

“I’m not your siren, Mali—Your Majesty,” I declared, quickly correcting myself. “I’m not your anything.”

He lowered his hand and straightened as well. “If that’s true, then who was that woman in my arms just now? Who was that beautifully unhindered creature that fell apart as she cried my name and took her pleasure?”

I refused to let myself react to his words. “We both know that meant nothing to you,” I said coldly, lashing out at him and hating myself for it.

“Meant nothing?” he repeated, a muscle ticking in his jaw. “Do you really think so little of me? I know you are Halmarish, and a maiden besides. Do you honestly believe I would use you so callously?”

I flinched at that. “No,” I admitted honestly, “but I do think—”

A throat cleared.

We both turned our heads, and I wanted to curse all the Nine and their followers in that moment, because the absolute last two people I wanted to see right now stood there.

Leif wore a look of concern mixed with suspicion, while Priya, who stood beside him, hid her suspicion behind a smiling mask, but her eyes said she wanted to murder me.

“Are we interrupting something?” she asked blithely.

I stepped away from Malik and the plant at my back. “No, nothing.”

“Are you all right, Your Highness?” Leif murmured. He studied me, no doubt taking in my flushed cheeks and slightly disheveled appearance, before glaring daggers at Malik.

“I’m fine,” I replied stiffly, purposely not looking at Priya as I stepped around her. “Excuse me, I think I have had enough celebrating for one night. I’m going to turn in.”

Leif placed his hand on my back. “Allow me to escort you.”

I nodded and pointedly didn’t look back.

Chapter Twenty-One

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