Page 43 of The Nightmare Bride
She gave a surprised squeak at my tone, but hurried away, thank Zephyrine.
Kyven pouted. “Well. That was rather rude.”
“You questioning her was rude,” I said, hostile. “What business is it of yours where her family lives?”
He shrugged, which made my bones crawl. He’d probably wanted to know whether she would be...missed. Or something. Creep.
“Shouldn’t I get to know people?” he said.
“No. You should leave them alone.Especiallyinnocent young housemaids.”
He raked his gaze over me, amusement kindling in his eyes. “Why, lioness. If I didn’t know better, I’d think you were jealous.”
Whatever sliver of tolerance he’d earned from me over the past three weeks withered to ash. “Jealousy? Don’t be daft. That has nothing to do with it.”
“Mmm-hmm. If you say so.”
When he smirked, I clutched my dagger so hard my palm ached. If I didn’t put distance between us right the hell now, I couldn’t be held accountable for what happened next.
So I stalked away. By the time I reached the door, I’d wrestled my wrath into submission. Mostly.
Five more weeks, that was all. Then I could wash my hands of him. Literally.
“Come on,” I said. “Amryssa’s probably done with her bath by now. I need to go check on her.”
No answer. When I looked back, Kyven bent toward Vick, whispering. A look passed between them, heavy with meaning.
My gut clenched. What in Zephyrine’s name?
The prince straightened. He came sauntering toward me, that stupid half smile tilting his mouth, as if I hadn’t just caught him scheming with his attendant. “If Amryssa needs us, then by all means, lead the way.”
I slitted my eyes. What was he up to? Moreover, what was Vick up to, with all this sneaking around?
“You’re beautiful when you do that, by the way.” Kyven’s voice dropped to a velvety croon. “That look of yours...it makes me want to misbehave, if only so you’ll scold me, afterward.”
“Scold you?” I forced the words through clenched teeth. “I’ll do much worse than scold you. So don’t test me. You have no idea who you’re dealing with.”
He set a hand against the doorway, caging me in. “Ah, but that’s the thing, lioness. I rather think I do. I think I’ve had you figured out since that day on the roof.”
I tried to retreat, but the jamb prevented it. Kyven leaned so close his breath wafted across my skin, stirring a memory of that same heated exhale—those same lips—blazing a trail down my neck.
I shivered. “Get away from me.”
He chuckled. “If you insist.” He strolled away.
I stood there, my feet nailed to the floor, my chest heavy with outrage. Well, outrage and...something else. Some nagging awareness of my own heartbeat, one I had no explanation for. Iswiped at my hair, smoothing the stray strands his breath had dislodged.
Thankfully, the phantom sensations faded when I glanced at Vick. He still sat in the armchair, watching me.
A smile curved across his mouth, but something about it brought to mind a scythe. It was a smile that said I had no secrets and never would, that this man had weighed me with a glance and found me wanting.
With a shudder, I hurried after Kyven, unable to decide which man unnerved me more.
11.
Giving Kyven a head start proved to be a mistake. I rushed down the hall, searching for some sign of him.
And found nothing. Just shadows and moth-eaten draperies. How had he gotten away from me so quickly?
