The Golden Prince (Royal Conquest Saga #5) - Nikki Jefford Page 0,6

my heart and looked at her in earnest. “I promise I won’t tell a soul, upon my honor.”

“Upon your promise,” Pervinca corrected. She grinned. “If I were to grant you such favors, it would have nothing to do with your supposed honor.”

I shrugged. “Is that a yes?”

“I didn’t say that.”

Sky, she was aggravating, but she wasn’t storming away, either.

It was fitting to do this here in the castle courtyard. I still remembered the day Crispin had wandered in while his parents spoke to my fathers in the throne room about boring matters of the realm. I’d been twelve at the time. My brothers were still children, off in the nursery. I had a basketball from the human world that I was bouncing around the courtyard, practicing my dribbling and spinning the ball on the tip of my finger.

When Crispin sauntered in, tall and confident, my heart had leaped at the possibility of a new friend, especially one so beautiful. He had a long, elegant face and proud way of carrying himself. Even as a boy, he’d worn his hair in a long ponytail tied back with a silk ribbon.

“Hi, I’m Lark,” I’d said. “Who are you?”

“Crispin Maglen, Earl of Ashcraw.”

I swear I was a goner the moment I heard his voice. There was something magnificent and breathtaking about his arrogance.

“Do you want to play ball with me, Crispin?” I’d asked eagerly.

He’d sneered at me. “Do you really think I’d be caught dead playing with the likes of you?”

“The likes of me?” I’d repeated, feeling as though I’d just been pushed.

“A halfling. The son of a liar. The offshoot of an elf. Shall I go on, halfling?” He’d smiled cruelly, looking more delighted with each ugly insult he flung at me.

There were so many words I would have liked to have said if I could go back in time. Instead, I’d looked at him with a trembling chin, tears spilling from my eyes. There was no blinking them away. I swear they splashed out, adding to my humiliation. I expected Crispin to either apologize or laugh. (Laugh, most likely.) But he sneered again, drawing back as though I’d developed a case of the pox that he didn’t want to catch.

“Boo-hoo. I made the halfling cry.” His upper lip curled. “Pathetic.”

His voice hadn’t sounded attractive. As he spun on his heel and strode away, I’d vowed then and there that one day I would make Crispin pay for his cruelty.

A promise was a promise. What better place to seduce his intended than in the courtyard where he’d stomped on my heart?

Dropping my gaze to Pervinca’s lips, I took a step forward.

“Have you ever kissed a male with fire magic?” I asked. I called my powers to me, controlling flames that danced over my chest.

Pervinca took a wide step backward. “You’ll burn me,” she hissed.

Her sour expression nearly extinguished my fire. I didn’t want to show her this part of me. It felt too personal. But I was determined to at least get a kiss. Had Crispin kissed those pert lips of hers? No. I couldn’t think about that.

I concentrated on sending the flames licking up my neck. I opened my mouth and drew it all back in, then smiled. “I promise not to burn you.”

Pervinca huffed. “You make a lot of promises.”

“I promise it will be a kiss unlike anything you’ve ever experienced.”

Another huff.

“Do you really want to miss out on the best kiss of your life?” I chided.

“Sky, you’re relentless.”

“Afraid you’ll like it?” I challenged.

She opened her mouth to speak, probably wanting to tell me it was doubtful or that she had no interest. The lies refused to emerge, offering me great amusement. Pervinca closed her mouth and pressed her lips together. She glared at me.

I relaxed my shoulders. “Do not worry, Pervinca. I will escort you back to the ballroom. A perfect gentleman, as promised.” I placed one hand on my crown to keep it from falling when I bowed. Then I straightened and offered her my most dashing smile as I held out my arm.

I wouldn’t press her. Pervinca might take several moves to conquer, like a game piece on Aunt Aerith and Uncle Jhaeros’s campaigne board. Tonight wasn’t a failure. Tonight, I’d moved her one spot closer to her downfall.

Pervinca didn’t mask her disappointment. Good. Let her imagination run wild with thoughts of me and what I might have done if she’d allowed me. It would make the pursuit more entertaining.

She was reaching for my arm when I