Page 41 of Realm of Wind and Vines
“Yes.”
Draven shakes his head and flashes her a knowing smile. “Good talking to you, Diana.”
“I look forward to escorting you out in the morning.”
But there is a slight smile on her lips as she pushes her chair back and stands up. With a nod to the rest of us, she strides across the floor and out the door.
The moment she’s gone, Draven picks up his mug of ale and immediately moves to another table. A table that lets him sit with his back to the wall. Isera moves as well, but I suspect that it’s more because she wants to put some distance between her and Orion than anything else.
Left alone at our current table, the Unseelie King and I exchange a glance.
“Love?” I question, arching an eyebrow at him.
“I knew she would hate it,” he replies with a devilish grin.
“Uh-huh.”
I cast a glance at Draven. My heart jerks and then squeezes painfully when I find him glaring at me with that hate-filled fire in his eyes. Snapping my gaze away, I instead stare out at the dancing dragon shifters.
It’s an incredibly impressive dance. Both dramatic and sensual at the same time.
My gaze drifts back to Draven, and then to Orion, as a plan starts forming in my mind.
Meeting the Unseelie King’s eyes, I declare, “Dance with me.”
He draws back in stunned surprise and then frowns at me. “Why?”
“To remind Draven of his true feelings.”
Understanding dawns on Orion’s lethally beautiful face, but the look he gives me is full of sly calculation. “Why should I help you?”
“Apart from the fact that you are responsible for this mess by cursing that damn portal so that it would kill the person who loves me?”
His eyes glint sharply. “Youchoseto do that on your own. I didn’t force you.”
“He would’ve died otherwise.”
“Still. Not reason enough for me to owe you anything.”
“Fine.” Leaning back in my chair, I stretch out my legs and cross my ankles nonchalantly. “If you dance with me to make Draven jealous, I won’t mention to Isera that you mumbled her name in your sleep when you were injured last night.”
His eyes widen in what looks like shock or alarm. Quickly wiping that expression off his features, he raises his chin in a haughty expression. “I didn’t murmur her name.”
“I was awake almost the entire night since I was taking away Draven’s pain with my magic, so I heardeverythingthat happened in that cave.”
That hint of alarm flits across his features for a moment again, but all he says is, “You’re bluffing.”
I just look back at him, keeping my gaze steady.
Clenching his jaw, he grinds his teeth while no doubt calculating if he can take the risk that I’m not bluffing. In the end, he lets out something between an irritated snarl and a huff of approval.
“Cruel,” he says. His black and silver eyes glint as he flicks his gaze over me. “I still don’t particularly like you, but I have to admit, I respect this new ruthless you a little more.”
A vicious smile curls my lips.
“Fine.” He flicks his wrist. “We have a deal.”
“Excellent.”
