Page 31 of Insurrection
That kind of ignorance could get you killed around here.
“So friendly,” Ama mused while watching our small interaction. She smiled slyly at Drayven, “Who knew you had manners?”
I found myself smiling purely because she was, and then I felt like an idiot because I hadn’t managed to say anything to draw her attention back to me. Something I very much wanted.
“Any chance you want to sit near me at dinner as an ally?” I offered, causing Drayven to narrow his eyes at me. He didn’t say anything, though. Smart man. I didn’t like to use my position of power or our house’s relationship with House of Death, but if it meant spending time with her, I would do exactly that. Not that I expected anything romantic to come of it—the woman was gorgeous and clearly way out of my league—but being her friend? Keeping an eye on her while she ran around the Summit? I would do that, for sure.
It would be a privilege.
Damnit, I knew Hellhounds could be protective, but that instinct had never really been triggered in me before. It was overwhelming, to say the least.
Ama nodded her head, looking enthusiastic—and a bit spastic, if we were being completely honest.
“Yes! After all, we need to build alliances and stuff like that, right?” she asked with so much enthusiasm I wondered if maybe she did like political shit after all.
“You should not have had so much caffeine,” Drayven muttered, glancing back at me and offering a nod as Ama practically floated ahead towards the doors that led inside. My eyes were absolutely glued to the pixie-like woman, who seemed to tease the Reaper with her very existence.
Would it be rude to ask what their relationship was? Somehow, I felt like it would be. Did I care? Yeah. Oddly, I did care what she thought of me. My chest tightened as I considered why the idea of her being more than just friends with him bothered me so much.
This was exactly why I probably wasn’t going to be a good king. Look how easily distracted I was! To be fair, Ama was an absolutely gorgeous distraction, but still.
“Who was that?” a familiar voice asked from beside me.
I shouldn’t have been surprised he was around. I didn’t have many friends from the other houses, and the House of Shadows was so far the opposite of Hellfire, it wasn’t even funny, but Adrien was a good guy.
He hid in the shadows a lot, kept to himself, and was fairly cold towards others, but he was someone who could be trusted. He’d been at most of the few events I’d attended in the capital before, and we usually ended up hanging out.
Of all the heirs, he was the most bearable. Although, that had changed now that I’d met Ama. She was far more than “bearable”.
“House of Death’s heir, Ama,” I looked at my friend, who was watching her with a curiosity that was frankly a bit unsettling. Despite our friendship, I still didn’t know a lot about Adrien, other than how dangerous he was. That was obvious from just being around him. He was insanely powerful without even trying to show it.
That protective surge of energy grew in my chest, and I suddenly wished he had never seen her. I wished that she wasn’t even here to begin with. I wanted her to be my secret. I’d hoard her away like my most prized treasure.
I nearly shook my head at that. I was positive the woman was never wanting for attention, and mine was probably nothing to her. Inconsequential.
Letting out a disappointed sigh, I removed the notion from my head and strode towards the doors. Adrien didn’t follow, and I briefly wondered why, but I never understood most of the things the man did. It was possible he didn’t even plan to go to the introductions.
As I entered the large estate, I noted that the gathering lunch crowd consisted of a large number of people surrounding each houses’ leadership, though not all of the heirs were present. My eyes were immediately drawn to Ama. Drayven hadn’t been lying—shedidseem as if she had consumed a lot of caffeine, bouncing on her toes slightly as the two of them stood to the side of the crowd talking. No one seemed inclined to approach them. So, without meeting my parents’ gaze, I headed in Ama and Drayven’s direction. I could feel eyes following me and, as I neared them, Ama’s gaze snapped to mine.
“Wondered when you were going to join us,” she hummed, amused. “I was just telling Drayven that I was really, really hoping they had more than salad for lunch. I went to an event recently in our territory, and the main course was a salad. Can you believe that?!” The woman shuddered as if the thought was unthinkable, and I was almost damn positive I fell in love with her at that exact moment.
Honestly, I didn’t disagree with her. Having a salad as your main course was just wrong, but having a woman be so open about her love of food was a bit of a turn on.
Before I could say anything, the doors to the dining hall opened, and I steeled myself, knowing that these introductions were going to be a bunch of bullshit. I followed Ama towards the seats set aside for House of Death at a large table and grabbed one of the House of Hellfire seats that happened to be right next to hers.
Distantly, I felt my parents sit down beside me and attempt to gain my attention, but they were the last thing on my mind. I was starting to think that this whole thing just might be bearable after all.All because of Ama.
Chapter Fourteen
Ama
Everyone had their weaknesses. I didn’t have many, but the ones I did have were pretty noticeable. Like being a hybrid in a society that valued purity of bloodlines.
However, I had not expected this new weakness to form. A weakness for multiple princes. I was practically bouncing in my chair trying to not feel hyper-aware of how close the Hellhound prince was sitting to me. Drayven was right—I shouldn’t have had four of those damn energy drinks before coming to lunch. I had slept like shit and thought the drinks would energize me into a happy mindset…instead, they had just made me hyper and extra-anxious. Just like Drayven had claimed they would. Damn him. I hated when he was right.
I also hated that I could feel people staring at me.
Why had I assumed I would be able to eat lunch in peace before meeting the others?
