Page 5 of Mountain of Mirrors and Starlight
He slid back into conversation with King Owen, and Aislinn turned once more to Lord Osian. “But I will,” she said.
Osian smiled, holding out his hand, giving no indication that he’d overheard her interaction with her father at all. He pulled her towards the dancers, and they fell into the step, following the movements of the others.
“You are very elegant, Princess Aislinn.”
“So is my brother,” she said. “Why don’t you ask him to dance next?”
Osian snorted. “Do you not care for compliments?”
“I do about some things.”
“Oh? Such as?”
Aislinn was in no mood to be ridiculed again as a woman who could wield a blade. “I do not wish to say.”
“Ha! I’ve heard about the fae’s inability to lie. I must say, it’s refreshing.”
Aislinn could think of nothing to say to that. Osian twirled her under his arm.
“Tell me, Your Highness, do you find me handsome?”
Yes,thought Aislinn, although that did not mean she had to like him. “Would it offend you if I said no?”
He laughed again, his eyes gleaming. “You are… delightful.”
The song drew to a lull, but Osian did not let go of her waist. Aislinn could flip him over in a second and have the blade she’d stashed beneath her skirts at his throat in three, but she heeded her father’s warning.
She gestured to an alcove nearby. Osian seemed only too happy to accompany her.
The minute they were out of view, she pressed him against the wall. He seemed to enjoy that, too.
He enjoyed it less when she let loose her glamour, her power snaking into his eyes, but by the time he realised that anything was amiss, he was under her thrall.
Her father had rules about glamouring mortals—laws even. He’d allowed her to learn because he felt that firstly it was a skill she should have for emergencies, and secondly because he knew nothing piqued curiosity so much as the forbidden. Aislinn, for the most part, avoided using it, and rarely had an opportunity where she considered it ‘fair’.
She believed this counted.
“Tell me, Lord Osian,” she started, “do you have any interest in courting me?”
“I do not,” he replied, voice monotone, eyes glazed.
“Then why this foolish attempt to charm me?”
“I’ve heard that fae women are skilled lovers, and am keen to test the theory myself.”
Aislinn raised an eyebrow. “I understand the curiosity, but I do not stand false flattery. Be upfront about your intentions in future. Good day, Lord Osian.”
She released him from the glamour and ducked outside of the alcove, nearly bumping straight into Beau. “Ah,” he said briskly. “I was just coming to check if…”
“If I needed rescuing?”
“Um…” Beau seemed to be searching for the answer that would least annoy her.
“I don’t need anyone to fight my battles for me.”
“Why not? You fight plenty of mine.”
“Only when you need me to.”
