Page 72 of Destined for the Fae King

“One of my best friends. He’s my personal guard for a reason.”

“And you assigned him to watch after me for the competition?”

He nods. “I did. My brother questioned the assignment that first night, but I used a similar lie as I had with you, that it was strange for you to come here wanting to be queen without visiting before. I told him I was concerned about you. A truth, but I meant it differently than he took it. Tharin was to protect you but also to keep me in check and make sure I didn’t compromise you or my visions.”

“I don’t think he’s a fan of mine,” I grumble.

A small laugh falls from his lips. “He just worries about me.” He sighs. “And I need to take you back to the ball. I’m not sure how long Tharin will be able to explain away our absence.” He props his elbows on his knees and leans forward to hang his head in his hands.

I can’t say how much time has passed. Probably too much. It is hard to imagine that someone hasn’t noticed my absence from such an important event or Lysandir’s.

He looks up, his heated gaze threatening to consume me once more. “But all I want to do is carry you to my bed and mark you. Make you mine, if you’d have me.”

I would, damn it. In a heartbeat. But somehow, saying that out loud feels like it would make everything worse. I don’t need to dangle another carrot we can never reach.

So, I ignore that last comment. “You’re right, we should get back.”

Lysandir groans and slowly gets to his feet. “I’ll get you a flower first.”

“A flow—” I haven’t finished before he vanishes, only to reappear a minute later with a handful of the beautiful red blooms he gave me in the hedge maze, one of them still with roots and dirt dangling from the stem.

“Oh.” I press my thighs together and shift my stance. “That flower.”

He holds one out to me. “Just in case.”

“These might be my new favorite thing.” I take it and offer a sly grin in return as I stare at him from under my lashes.

Lysandir chuckles darkly. “Little temptress.”

Once my head is swimming from the nearly overwhelming floral scent, I add my stem to the pile he tossed onto a nearby table. The mess of flowers should be a saving grace, but the sight of them opens up a void inside my chest.

“We’ll make this work,” I say.

Lysandir looks over sharply at my somber tone.

“One way or another, we’ll be together. I’m yours. I promise.”

He swallows and holds out a hand for me, which I accept. “It’s unwise to make promises you can’t keep, especially in Faery.”

“Then I’ll have to make sure I keep it.”

His hand tightens on mine, but silence is his only reply before we shift away.

Chapter 28

“Didn’t see you muchlast night.” Grace plops down on the seat next to me and gives a little yelp when a few drops of coffee splash over the rim of her mug and onto her hand.

I stifle another yawn and sip at my own mug—my second—before responding. “It was hard to find anyone with so many people around.” I shrug. “Besides, I wanted to catch up with my cousin and spent a good bit of time with her.”

She offers a half smile. “I wish I could say the same. I mostly tried to avoid my family and their endless line of questions. Seriously, I wonder if they even read my letters. Not like I sent that many.”

“You all should have focused less on your families and more on the king.” Katherine sits a little straighter and raises her chin as if she’s already been crowned queen. “But then, I’m glad you didn’t becauseIhad my focus where it should be and got to dance with him three times.”

Zoe snorts as she slides around a nearby chair and drops into the seat. “Only because you threw yourself at him and he was too gentlemanly to say no.”

Katherine scowls at her, a flush rising to her cheeks.

“Besides, it’s not like you got the most dances.” Zoe takes a bite of a banana-like fruit, chewing slowly, triumphantly.

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