Page 38 of A Crown of Tears and Treason
I looked at Zandyr from the corner of my eye. There was no way they could be his paren–
“Mother, father,” he began, calm, commanding voice filling the entirety of this giant throne room. “I’d like you to formally meet Evie, my betrothed.”
Maybe he was adopted. The king and queen seemed more like his siblings.
“Honored to meet you, Evie.” Zavoya sent a dazzling smile my way. The luster of her attention was intoxicating. One look, and she made you feel as respendlant as her.
I gulped, trying to break free from her charm. “Likewise, Your Highness.”
“Forgive us for being late, we got a little heated in training.” Eldryan smiled pointendly at Zandyr, who remained still as a rock. “My son had it out for me today.”
There was a thin sheen of sweat on both of their faces. Envy scratched at my soul. Not only did Zandyr’s father let him train, but hehelpedhim do it.
“I wonder what got you so riled up today, Zandyr.” Zayova chuckled before her gaze moved back to me. “So you are the woman who threatened to kill my son.”
My cheeks instantly reddened. “I–tried.”
Awful liar.
The king and queen burst out laughing, looking at each other with nothing but love.
“The best women always do.” Eldryan kissed the back of Zavoya’s hand; her cheeks reddened.
I suddenly felt like we should all leave them alone to get on with whatever those heated looks between them promised.
More and more curious. How could two loving parents like this produce an unflinching, cold-blooded murderer like the one standing next to me and giving off nothing but a pissed-off energy?
“She didn’t threaten, exactly,” Zandyr said.
“No, I jumped straight to it,” I said.
Zandyr shook his head. “You have a bad habit of wanting to stab your grooms.”
“At least I succeeded the first time.”
“Barely. Fabrian got a knick.”
“Hey! He bled.”
“He could still move and come after you,” Zandyr said. “You need to learn how to fight. Properly.”
I stuck my chin out. “I can handle my own.”
“Not against someone like me.”
“Why, are you planning on attacking me anytime soon?”
His furious gaze slashed my way. “I’d never touch you. Inanyway.”
I fought the instinct to flinch back. That didn’t sound like a promise of safety–it sounded like a vow to stay as far away from me, his betrothed, as possible. I swallowed past the sudden lump in my throat. I guess the advisors didn’t have to worry aboutthe potential four or five children my hips could apparently withstand.
What, exactly, did a future bride say to her future husband, in front of her future in-laws, when he said he’d never touch herin any way?
That stung. Not because I was dying to be anywhere near him, but after a lifetime of not being seen as anything other than a docile daughter, a dark part of me rebelled to bemore. So much more and wild. I wasn’t a little thing to be tossed to the side or ignored.
Zandyr had said we’d keep our distance. Fine by me. He was only a black cloud of doom, a gorgeous face that hid nothing but casual cruelty. But we didn’t have toannounceit.
“Oh, dear,” Zayova’s tender voice broke the stillness. “So that’s why our son wanted to thrash you today.”
