and killed it, but not before it left me a token.” Gaven rolled up his sleeve to show off the ragged scar from the beast’s claws. “But I killed the creature, skinned it, and wear its fur to remind myself that I am stronger than any man or beast.”
I glanced back at the dark black fur of Gaven’s decorative cloak, surprised he had not left it in his room and gone with something more formal for the evening. But I chalked it up as maybe a prized possession he couldn’t go without. Men were odd that way. I could tell from the size that it was probably a fey creature, and my heart was saddened by its death.
Earlsgaarde was quite taken with Gaven’s story and asked many questions about the hunt, and the way in which Gaven had taken his trophy.
Not in the least interested in the details of its gory death, I found myself studying the head table, drawn to Xander’s plight and pain.
When there was a lull in the conversation, and Earlsgaarde had gotten up from the table, I leaned to my left. “Why is there tension between Florin and Baist?” I whispered so only Gaven could hear.
“Do you not know the story?” he asked, wiping his mouth on a napkin and looking at me curiously.
“No, I don’t. I don’t get out much,” I said softly.
Gaven placed his hand on the back of my chair and leaned in to whisper in my ear like a lover would. “The queen of Florin and her child disappeared in the middle of the night. There were rumors, of course—they were kidnapped by pucas, eaten by trolls, or turned to dust by a witch. But the one that wouldn’t go away was that they were murdered at King Gerald’s command. The king of Florin has blamed Baist ever since, even though he can’t prove it. There’s no evidence of their death or kidnapping, so they’ve been at a delicate peace ever since.” He looked over at Earlsgaarde warily. “They’ve been sniffing around, trying to find a reason to break the treaty and declare war.”
“War would be awful.”
Gaven nodded. “Yes, Florin’s army is far greater than ours. The prince’s marriage to Yasmin Nueva would have strengthened our borders and kept Florin at bay, but now?” He shrugged. “Our small country could not withstand another war. We’ve barely recovered from the last one.”
I shook my head, knowing the advances Florin and the other kingdoms had over Baist. All of the magical weapons and artillery that were easily accessible but lacking in this kingdom. “Why are they here now?”
“Today is the eighteen-year anniversary of their disappearance.”
“How horrible,” I said, feeling a moment’s pity for the cruel prince.
Glancing up, I swallowed nervously when I met Xander’s angry glare. He was staring right at me, his brows furrowed in confusion. The angry tic in his jaw made me nervous. Uh-oh! Does he recognize me in my finery? Or is he staring at his enemies on my left?
My mouth went dry, and I became uncomfortable under his intense scrutiny. I turned my head and tried to focus on Gaven, but I became increasingly aware of Xander. I could feel his gaze like a hot knife slicing along my skin, leaving me shivering. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw he hadn’t moved or shifted. I kept my back straight, refusing to look directly at him.
In a stalemate, the prince picked up his goblet, stood up, and dropped it. It clattered loudly on the stone floor, and every single head, including the emissaries’, turned to look at the prince—except for me. I took a sip of my own glass and kept my eyes forward. I was a coward. Nothing short of a fire would compel me to meet those heat-filled eyes.
Gaven seemed to notice Xander’s stare, as he asked me, “Do you know the prince?”
“We’ve met,” I answered.
“He hasn’t stopped staring at you for the last quarter mark. Have you done something to anger him?”
“I’m sure my very existence is enough to anger him, but as I said, he hardly knows me.”
“It seems you’ve caught his attention.”
“That does not bode well for me,” I grumbled.
The rest of dinner went relatively the same. After the meal, we were escorted into the ballroom, and I couldn’t help but feel a thrill at getting a second chance to partake in the festivities, as long as no one guessed my real identity. I was just one of the ladies, as far