and fell.
But before she lost the battle with gravity, the Raven caught the stray edge of a thought that trickled through the control bond.
We can’t have her hurting herself. Farhall will blame us.
It was one of those rare moments where he had a choice. A true command had not been made, but he could interpret it as one. We can’t have her hurting herself. And he found that he wanted to get closer. Close enough to determine what she might be hiding. Close enough to find out whether he could see beneath her armor.
So he moved. He still possessed the lightning-swift grace of his people, and it was little challenge to catch her before she hit the floor.
Little challenge once she rested in his arms to determine that her faint was as genuine as Vaniell’s protestations of devotion.
And yet, she remained limp, her eyes closed as she feigned unconsciousness.
He held her suspended above the floor—her slight weight barely a burden in his arms—until, after a few moments, her emerald green eyes fluttered open.
After an instant of confusion, they landed on his mask, and she momentarily stopped breathing. Like a prey animal sensing a predator, her slender body tensed, preparing to fight or run, while her pulse accelerated wildly beneath her skin—a deer, caught in the sights of a hunting wyvern. The scent of her terror hit him, and he felt himself recoil in frustration.
Was it the armor? Or was it him? He would never know. All he knew was that no one could face him without fear, and his nose would be forever filled with the stench of that emotion.
Words pierced his focus.
“Thank you,” the king’s voice said coolly, “for so zealously protecting the well-being of our guest, but I believe the danger is past. Her Highness is to be a part of this court in the future, so perhaps it would be best if we allow her to become accustomed to enduring your presence without fainting.”
Again, not quite a command, but the Raven was not eager to continue touching her. He didn’t want to feel or smell her fear, or grapple with the unsettling realization that he’d been right about the lie in her appearance.
So he dropped her.
Straightened his arms and let her fall to the marble floor as quickly as he’d caught her. He heard her teeth slam together as her head snapped back and smacked the floor with bruising force.
Heard her involuntary moan of pain, which was greeted by a quick sound of distress from the queen and an unmistakable sigh from King Melger.
But within the mask, the Raven smiled, because according to the king’s words, he’d done nothing wrong.
Defiance. Small and petty, but nonetheless, it was the only thing left to him.
And in the name of that defiance, he determined that the princess called Evaraine would be worth watching. She was harboring a mystery—a strange defiance of her own that lurked at the back of those bright green eyes. Whatever was behind it, that defiance promised to be a headache for Melger, and possibly for Vaniell, which could only be of benefit to the Raven.
So he would wait, and he would watch, and he would learn what he could of her secrets.
At least until the king ordered him to kill her.
It was really only a matter of time.
Chapter 4
Leisa let herself lay on the floor for a few moments, gathering her thoughts along with her courage as she waited for the pain to fade.
“Oh my dear, please do get up,” the queen murmured, without making a single effort to be of help. “It isn’t at all dignified to be lying about on the floor.”
Leisa was almost surprised when Prince Vaniell deigned to extend a single be-ringed hand to assist her in rising from the floor.
“I do apologize,” he said smoothly. “I’m afraid Father’s pet isn’t exactly house trained, though he’s useful enough when it comes to killing or smashing things. After ten years, you’d think he would have learned some decorum to go along with his other, ah… talents.”
Father’s pet? House trained?
“The fault”—Leisa managed to get out between clenched teeth—“was mine. I’m afraid I’m terribly clumsy, and not very fond of surprises.”
“I shall have to remember that,” her future fiancé returned, smirking, before he turned to his father. “We wouldn’t wish Her Highness to come to any harm while she is with us. Perhaps whenever her honor guard is unable to accompany her, she ought to be assigned a temporary detail. Someone who is completely above