for Luka’s sake. Getting her thong to the face was like her delivering a slap. I couldn’t believe she’d gone that far.
And yet, there was an unexpected bonus she didn’t see— I got to keep her panties.
That fact was soured by the notion that somewhere, some other man had her bra.
Gods, Emma was driving me nuts. I couldn’t decide if she was dating Finlay to piss me off, or if she really liked him.
It was the latter that scared the hell out of me.
Your mate’s a whore, the leshane hissed. She’s not fit to serve you. Do you see that now?
I sneered and pushed him away, delivering a telepathic punch to the gut. The leshane cringed and drew back. Whoever he was, nobody talked about Emma like that. No matter what she’d done.
I was protective, like all shifters were. But I wasn’t controlling, and if Emma wanted to move on and find someone else, I wouldn’t stop her. I wanted her to be happy. Even if I was devastated.
Maybe it was for the best. Someone else would be there to take care of her after I was gone.
With a bleary look at the clock, I realized I had to get up. I’d gotten an invite to attend some pompous royal party at the palace. It was my intention to invade that party and ask high-borns about the Alicorn Court.
I got dressed in formal attire, though it felt even more imperious than it usually did, and walked through campus to find my carriage. I passed the cafeteria without eating anything, knowing it wouldn’t do any good. Like a cancer, the demon was killing me from the inside out. No matter how much food I ate, my appetite was never satisfied. No matter how much I slept, I gained no rest.
Entering the royal palace felt like twisting a knife between my ribs. I’d lived here my entire life, and I’d been banished with no more than an afterthought once Elijah moved in. They’d changed the flags in the castle to bear Elijah’s symbol— a black background with a red coat of arms in the middle— and though the decorations remained mostly intact, there was a melancholy amongst the servants that hadn’t been there when I’d left.
He hardly could be treating them well. Elijah considered “the help” beneath him.
The party was held in one of the grand parlor rooms off the main entryway. Elijah and Gabby were there, greeting guests at the doorway. Elijah had on the king’s hussar’s uniform and the crown that I had known as my father’s atop his head. Gabby was wearing a similar queen’s crown, and a silver dress that reminded me of iron.
They really didn’t need to wear the crowns everywhere. They were supposed to be for special occasions only, though I was certain Gabby and Elijah never took theirs off.
Gabby plastered on a fake smile that looked more like a gloating smirk. Elijah inclined his head when I came near. “It’s nice to see you accepted my invite, cousin.”
“I live to serve Malovia.” My tone was blunt. I wasn’t sure why Elijah had invited me here, until I’d figured out he was using the opportunity to get information about the stones. No doubt he had a servant pegged to follow me around at this event. I had to be very careful about who I spoke to.
“I’m sorry about the humiliation you faced this morning. Emma’s betrayal is all over the news,” Gabby preened. She couldn’t wait to dig her claws in. “It’s such a sad thing when mates can’t be loyal, don’t you agree?”
I wouldn’t stand here and tolerate her talking shit about Emma. I walked away without giving an answer. I heard Elijah give a huff— it was exceptionally rude to turn your back on a royal without being dismissed— and yet I couldn’t care less about the implications.
As expected, there were a lot of eyes on me. Gossip about Emma’s infraction was clearly circling the room. I picked a glass of champagne from one of the servant trays and sipped at it, pretending to be unbothered.
I scanned the room of various Circle members. Lord Zlodia was speaking with Lord Boris on the other side of the room, appearing boisterous, though Lady Korva’s eyes narrowed as she looked at me. Her presence made me feel very unwelcome. I was hoping Lord Lucien would be here, but he was curiously absent… along with Lady Magdalina.
They’d snubbed Gabby and Elijah by not showing up. That was dangerous.