Page 43 of Betraying Korth

“No, this is the most serious of all matters,” I agreed, and we burst out laughing again.

“We could get into trouble.”

“Lots,” I agreed. “If Godfrey were here?—”

“We could push him into the lake over there.”

I muffled my laughter and took several deep breaths. “What lake? I don’t see one.”

“It’s more of a pond, really, and it’s in the gardens here. Want me to show you? There’s a bridge.”

“Thenof coursewe need to go.”

CHAPTER 19

The sprawling garden was littered with benches where couples sat, heads inclined toward each other and unaware of their surroundings. Amused, I cast an eye over at Korth, who resolutely plowed down the graveled path, boots scrunching over loose pebbles.

“Sorry,” he whispered, all humor gone as he delved into the heart of the gardens. “I didn’t realize it would be so crowded. I don’t want you to think my intentions are anything less than honorable. I just thought…the bridge is here and I wanted to show you…”

“You need us to be alone to show me something new?” I squeezed his hand. “How romantic.”

“I didn’t mean it like that!” Korth babbled.

“So youaren’ttrying to be romantic? You aren’t interested in wooing me?”

“I…I…didn’t mean that, either. I just?—”

“I’m teasing,” I told him softly. “It’s okay to flirt back, you know. Wearegoing to be married soon. Some flirting is expected.”

“It should be called flustering,” he sighed. “I never know how to respond.”

I laughed quietly. “It’s cute to see you flustered.”

He rolled his eyes. “Is that why you do it so much?”

“It’s much more entertaining than being engaged to someone who always acts perfect. I would feel inadequate in comparison if I knew you had no flaws.”

“You? I can’t believe that. The bridge is there.” Korth pointed up ahead, where the moon’s silvery light shone down on an elegant bridge that rose over a duck pond. At the crest of the bridge, a small gazebo stood, with pillars supporting it so people could admire the view of the pond from above.

We made our way to the top. Another couple was there, but with a hasty glance at us, they hurried off to find a more secluded corner of the gardens. Music from the festival floated to us on the breeze and the ghostly, shimmering full moon was reflected on the rippling water below. The silver light shone through the cross-like designs that ran around the gazebo’s upper perimeter and cast shadows on the bridge at our feet.

I leaned my head on Korth’s shoulder. “It’s beautiful.”

“Odette…” Korth shook his head in amazement at me, his eyes growing sad. “You’re amazing.”

The return to my false name struck my ears like a frying pan to the head. “It’s Dahlia tonight, remember? Don’t blow my cover now,Heath. And how does my being amazing explain your sudden melancholy?”

He took several moments before he answered. “You’re intelligent, beautiful, confident…If it weren’t for an arranged marriage, you wouldn’t be here. Even just now at the festival, you were the one who realized what was about to happen, and it wasn’t even me who protected you. It sometimes feels like…it feels like you don’t need me.”

I held onto his lapels and tugged him forward, so he was forced into a leaning position. “Then make mewantyou.”

He tucked a loose curl behind my ear, his fingers lingering in my hair for much longer than necessary. His eyes held the same intense look that I had imagined in my dream, and I couldn’t resist the flush creeping up my neck and into my cheeks. Scenes from my night-time musings exploded back into my mind in full color and with every sensation amplified to triple what I had felt before.

Instead of pulling away, Korth skated his other hand across my back. I made a valiant effort to remember that this was the goal—to have him fall madly in love with me. But staring back into his deep brown eyes, I lost my resolve to think of him as any sort of project.

I fingered the buckles that ran up his chest, lingering on the top-most one, which was undone, before raising to pull the mask off his face. My heart began fluttering, my chest and stomach alive with a butterfly sensation that only intensified the longer I held Korth at arm’s length.

“I’m glad it’s you I’m engaged to.” Korth’s voice had dropped so low and deep that I felt the vibrations tingling in my chest. I wanted him to kiss me so badly that my lips ached. Korth seemed to be thinking along the same lines. His eyes hungrily searched my face and fixed on my mouth. I felt rent in two. On one hand, I desperately wanted to forget my duties and give in to the intense emotions swirling around my heart, pulling me closer to Korth with every breath I took. But also…I knew that eventually, the truth would come out. It would crush Korth to know he was in love with someone who had lied to him and manipulated him all along.

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