Page 40 of The Court of Secrets
The gray evening fell into night by the time I finished greeting everyone. Blackness pinched above as if the starless sky had swallowed the light from the world.
“Your Majesty.” Amara curtseyed. Her hair spilled around her face. “King Blaise wishes to speak with you.”
My stomach dipped. It was about time. His abrupt leave into the castle may have pleased Cedric, but it had saddened me. “Where is he?”
She flushed pink. “He’s, um, well, he’s in your chambers.”
My eyes bulged. “My chambers?” I asked. She must’ve been mistaken.
“He told the guards you asked for him to wait for you there.”
I inhaled sharply. I wanted to tell her I absolutely had not, but I assumed she already knew. “Thanks, Amara.”
I hurried past her, barely acknowledging those vying for conversation from me. After pushing through the gathering groups of people, I rushed into emptying hallways and ran to my room.
I was breathless when I opened the door. “You!” I exclaimed, my voice pitched higher. “My chambers? Really?”
He gave me an obvious stare. “I wasn’t going to talk to you while you were standing with your sparkly pet.”
Rage bubbled in my core. “His name is Cedric.”
He shrugged. He leaned against the wall next to my bed. The window next to him granted moonlight, illuminating his matte-black strands that curled around his pointed ears and silver crown. “I see you got the dress I sent.”
“Why did you send it?”
His lips curved into a wicked grin. “I saw it and thought of how beautiful you would look in it. It’s a selfish reason really. You know I like beautiful things.”
My heart thumped. “You shouldn’t have.”
He licked his lips, still smirking. “I thought you’d be pleased to see me. I guess not.”
I breathed in deep breaths, fumbling my fingers as I did. I was, but I couldn’t tell him that. “You’ve changed,” I stated.
“We all change.”
“I see you have been spending all your spare time withCedric.”
How did he know all of this? Then again, he had managed to place a spy in Berovia of all places, so I shouldn’t have been surprised there had been one or two at my court. “Is it a crime to spend time with my…”
“Your what?”
“We’re together.”
“Are you marrying him?”
I jolted. “No.”
“Good.”
I rolled my eyes. “Don’t get jealous.”
He scoffed a laugh. “I’m not.”
“I thought you had accepted my being with him.”
He hesitated. “Things changed.”
My eyes narrowed. “Like what this time? Your mood swings are giving me a headache.” My stomach ached. “Don’t you dare think you have the right to come into my chambers in my castle, in my kingdom, and get upset at me for enjoying the little time I do have to spare, and I’m talking minutes here and there, to talk to the one person who makes me laugh.”
