does not take kindly to your kind. Magic is and always will be unwelcome here, and the prince and this kingdom are under my protection,” he threatened with a smile.
I actually liked this side of him better.
“Good. And just so you know, if you fail him, I will kill you, and no one will ever find the body.” I laughed and the tension in the air left. We were no longer friends because of our different views but were now equals with similar goals.
My laughter drew attention from Yasmin, whose brows were furrowed so deep in confusion that she gave herself a unibrow. She whispered to one of her girls, who looked at me and shrugged.
I sighed. It didn’t seem like Yasmin knew what to do with me. I wasn’t dressed as royalty, so she had probably assumed I was a lady-in-waiting earlier. But now that I was here, she wasn’t sure how to place me in person, because she didn’t know who I was.
I knew when Xander stepped into the room, because Yasmin’s eyes flicked over my shoulder and her face pulled back into a toothy smile. Her flower girls—for that was what I deemed to call them, each one dressed in a complimentary pastel color—curtseyed as well. My deep red dress was a stark contrast to their almost frail and sickly shades.
Xander nodded in greeting. Then Yassa stepped forth and clapped his hands, and everyone moved to the table to sit. Xander moved to the seat at the head of the table, and I was most appalled when Yasmin stepped forward and moved to his left. That may have been where she sat when he visited her on previous occasions, or even at other meals, but it left me with a sour feeling in the pit of my stomach, and I froze.
Xander glanced over to me and waited. It didn’t seem like he was going to address the issue of where I should sit. He had already dictated that our marriage was not like others—I couldn’t ride in the same carriage as him but behind him, didn’t sleep in the same bedroom but had my own suite. How was I supposed to assume that seating arrangements for dinner would be any different?
He didn’t sit, just stood at the head of the table and waited, which caused the whole room to awkwardly stand as well, since no one sat until the highest-ranking monarch sat.
Xander sighed and seemed a bit perturbed at my inability to decide or move. He glanced quickly at the chair to his left and gave me a slight nod, encouraging me to take it from Yasmin. He was making a statement publicly and using me to do it.
I clicked my tongue in my mouth in irritation as I fought back my temper that was about to run forth. His eyebrow rose in challenge, and I knew he was testing me.
This time it was I who cleared my throat and stood next to Yasmin.
“Excuse me,” I said coldly.
“Yes?” She spun around. Her hair smelled of lavender.
“You’re at my seat.”
“No, I’m no—” Her words died on her lips when she looked me up and down. “Who are you?”
“I’m his wife,” I said snidely.
“But I thought you wore a veil and never came out of your rooms… ever. I thought—”
“Wrong,” I finished. Using my magic, I pulled the chair back, causing her to stumble. Stepping in front, I waited and watched Xander’s face as he pinched his lips together. Finally, he sat, and I sighed as I took my seat next to him.
When he picked up his fork to eat, I couldn’t help but see the silver utensil shaking in his hands. He was laughing.
“Glad you find this so amusing,” I said, a bit perturbed.
Yasmin moved the guests around until she was next to her father, and when she plopped herself down on the chair, she gave me a heated glance. In fact, most of the room couldn’t pull their eyes away from me. Some of Yasmin’s flowers didn’t even try to hide their disdain or voices, and their comments reached my ears.
Slowly, I turned to direct my gaze at each of the girls, staring at them as I flicked a finger under the table, directing a breeze their way. My magic added just the right touch of theatrics. A sudden chill accompanied my direct gaze, and I smiled as one by one, the heads turned away and they shivered.
This was a trick I had learned early on from