company. And I want you to listen, for once.”
“Fine.” I took my seat and crossed my legs, leaning against the arm of the chair so I could keep my eyes on the sea king. “I’m all yours for the evening. And I apologize for my offensive comment about your fabulous fish stew. My compliments to the chef. I am so grateful for the opportunity to savor what is apparently both your most-fragrant and favorite food.”
He gave me a slow smile that was wicked and predatorial and no less handsome for all that.
“Maybe you could fill in the gaps for me,” I suggested, smiling at him over my wine. “Perhaps you could even tell me why you are so obsessed.”
He clearly hated it when I needled him about his obsession with me, which made bringing up that obsession my new hobby.
He leaned forward suddenly, setting the glass down. His eyes were an intense shade, the same color as the ocean, and even though there was a table between us, it didn’t feel like enough room.
“It’s not my favorite food,” he said, “but you’ll get to know our cuisine better when you join me in the undersea. You know very few land-walking Fae ever visit?”
“I can’t imagine why. They must really be missing out on the dining opportunities.”
“Generally speaking, we don’t want your kind.” He ran his finger idly around the glass, and I wished he’d sit back; he wasn’t invading my personal space, exactly, but something about him left me feeling warm and restless and awkward.
“But I’m welcome in the undersea? I’d still love to know why I’m so special.” Did Faer hold something over him that made him so determined? Would he be able to claim some part of my magic or power?
“The first time I met you, you almost drowned.” He finally leaned back, taking his drink with him, and took a long sip before he looked at me over the rim and added, “I’ve always thought you really should.”
“Oh?” My heart was pounding, but my voice came out cool. “So you plan to murder me?”
“No.” He took another long drink and said, “Even without your memories, I would think you know better than that. You used to have good intuition.”
“If I had good intuition, I think I might’ve realized someone was going to—” I broke off, because I was still in the habit of speaking as if someone else had stolen my memories. But there was no one else to blame. I finished, “Steal my kingdom.”
He had a keen look in his eyes, and before he could press me on how I’d stumbled, I added, “You think I should trust you.”
“Yes.”
“You’ve been trying to force me into marrying you. That doesn’t make you a very likable character in my book.”
“You and I were united against Herrick, once before.”
He said it so casually, but his words hung in the air like icicles.
“Prove it.” My voice came out harder than I’d meant. Why the hell should I trust him? He knew I had no memories; I was an easy target.
“Oh yes, wait one second while I find my secret decoder ring that we used to pass each other messages…” He brushed one long-fingered hand over his jacket as if he was searching his pockets, then shrugged. “For all your faults and all mine, neither of us are fools, Alisa. We didn’t exactly leave a trail.”
“I don’t believe you, Raile,” I said, “and I don’t trust you.”
“Good thing I don’t need your trust.” He hoisted his glass as if he were toasting to me. “I don’t even need you to like me. And if you tell Faer about this conversation, I’ll tell him it was step one in a plan to win your trust, then humiliate you. And I will.”
He flashed me a cool smile.
No one I’d ever met before in my life made me feel the kind of simmering rage that burned in my chest when I stared at Raile. Duncan was grouchy, but straightforward, and his heart was loyal and true no matter how much he glowered at the people he loved. He was unbearable, but at least I hoped one day I might be in his good graces again.
Raile made it clear that he thought he was the smartest person in the room, and the rest of us were here for his amusement.
“You are not only vile, but you are incredibly annoying,” I told him.
“You only think you dislike me because we are so very much alike,” he