Page 102 of Court of Winter

“You intend to have her at your side while...” Michas let his words hang, his eyebrows rising.

I gave both the prince and his brother a confused look as I continued to relentlessly chastise myself for what I’d done.

“What’s happening?” I finally asked.

Michas grinned. “The king is going to announce Prince Norivun’s potential betrotheds. Didn’t you hear? Tonight is the beginning of the Rising Queen Trial.”

CHAPTER26

The Rising Queen Trial? What?

I brought a hand to my forehead. No, I hadn’t known. Or...maybe I had. I briefly remembered Finnley and Birnee talking last month about an upcoming trial in the capital. Perhaps this had been what they’d been speaking of.

“Time to go, Nori,” Nuwin said under his breath, his words soft and full of apology.

The prince gave me one last look, a look full of heat and savage longing, before he snarled and ripped himself away from me.

Numbly, I followed, and Nuwin stayed at my side as the prince prowled back into the throne room.

But Prince Norivun kept glancing over his shoulder, kept eyeing me, then his brother, then Michas, as a permanent mask of fury painted itself on his features.

At least I had the foresight to return the crown prince’s jacket right before he came into everyone’s view, but my mind was still swimming, and my body was still throbbing by what had just happened.

And what in the realmshadhappened? As much as I didn’t want to admit it, I’d just kissed the prince. Worse, I’d wanted to do much more than that and probably would have if we hadn’t been interrupted.

And now he was going to meet his betrothed?

A nauseating feeling swept through me, and I barely had the wherewithal to put one foot in front of the other without tripping. Thankfully Nuwin seemed to understand my state of mind because he kept a firm grip on me and prevented me from falling.

Inside the castle, the dancing and music had stopped, and the center of the room had been cleared.

All of the attending fae formed a U-shape around the throne, the great crowd expanding all of the way to the back of the room. Lined up at the front of the group were three females.

My breath caught as I surveyed their opulent gowns, jeweled necks, and flawless makeup. Behind them stood nobles, who I guessed were their parents.

“Ah, he’s finally decided to join us,” the king called.

A tittering of laughter rose from the crowd as King Novakin beckoned Prince Norivun forward. Another sickening feeling swept through me when I beheld the three females again. He was to marry one of them?

My stomach clenched, and sweat lined my palms. Gods, what was wrong with me? What did I care who the prince married?

Another pulse of the prince’s aura shot out of him as his scowl deepened.

“I’m sorry, brother,” Nuwin whispered. “I know it’s not what you wanted.”

“It doesn’t matter what I want.” The prince nudged closer to his brother. “But by gods, Nuwin, if you pull another stunt like you did earlier and take her somewhere I can’t protect her, I’ll have your head.”

For the first time since meeting the prince’s brother, Nuwin didn’t smile cheekily or reply with a facetious quip. He nodded gravely. “I won’t. On my honor.”

Nuwin moved closer to my side as the crown prince glanced briefly at me. His gaze was weighted as fire and ice seemed to clash within his soul.

Without another word, he proceeded to the throne as the three sets of parents proudly displayed their daughters. The young females all stepped forward, smiling and curtsying prettily.

A male fairy stood in front of them and bowed deeply. “Your Majesty, I have scoured the continent these past five winters, and I have returned with the most blessed females of our realm. I present them to you now.”

Dozens of the capital’s females, the ones who’d been dressed so finely and had looked so hopeful, all gave sniveling and envious looks toward the three. Nuwin had been right. None of them were in the running.

“Thank you, Sir Featherton,” the king replied. “Proceed.”

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