Heir Untamed - By Danielle Bourdon Page 0,55

them. A small bit of wine spilled down the front of Chey's dress, splashing droplets onto the skin of her chest.

Gasping in outrage, Chey had half a mind to throw the remains of her drink right in Natalia's face. Of course she couldn't. That would land her in very hot water.

“Natalia,” Mattias snarled, arriving in time to see the blatant collision.

“I'm so sorry, Miss Sinclair. You'll have to forgive me.” Natalia simpered, offering Chey the napkin with a smirk in her eyes but not on her mouth.

Mattias, in a low voice, ripped a stinging reprimand in their mother tongue and snatched the napkin from her hand.

Chey, unable to understand the language, nevertheless had no trouble discerning his anger at Natalia. Rather than blot the napkin on her chest and the front of her dress, he set his wine down and cupped Chey's elbow to escort her to the private exit. The guard opened the door and they stepped through into the hall. Now she felt like she needed to apologize to Mattias for cutting his evening short.

“I'm sorry--”

“Don't apologize for her, Chey.” He spoke in a quiet, no-nonsense voice.

Chey picked up her pace to match his long strides. A quick glance aside showed her his profile and the compressed line of his mouth. Mattias was not happy.

“I'm not apologizing for her, I'm apologizing because your evening was cut short. You don't have to walk me all the way back to my room. I can find my way from the stairs.” She brushed ineffectually at the stain on the dress. What a waste. Thousands of dollars down the drain.

“I'm not leaving you to walk alone back to your room. That was the preliminary greeting round—the more serious talks begin tomorrow morning. I won't be missed.” He guided her up the private staircase and out the door leading to the hallway on her floor.

“I overheard Severian,” she confessed. Her curiosity was killing her. “At least the part about the assassination.”

Mattias snapped a sharp look at her. “It's best to forget it.”

“Someone in this house, yes? The King or Queen?”

“There are often rumors. More than you might think. Separating the real from the fake threats can be trying and tiresome.”

“You didn't answer the question.”

“Yes, someone in the Royal family.”

“You're not going to tell me who, are you?”

“Trust me. The less you know, the better off you are. It's not safe to have knowledge of too many insider secrets.” He winked, but his expression remained hard.

Chey considered his words and found wisdom there. The more she knew, the more danger she probably put herself in.

At her door, Mattias released her elbow and faced her. “Thank you for accompanying me. Your presence was notable and noted.”

“Oh, I have no doubt,” she said with a wry smile.

For the first time since leaving the event, he smiled too. “It's good to do the unexpected once in a while. Keeps them on their toes.”

“So that's what my function was. The 'Surprise Factor'.” Chey wasn't all that shocked to hear it.

He reached up to run his fingers along the delicate angle of her jaw. “No, your function was to entertain me and provide me an escort worthy of such esteemed company.”

“Viia isn't a worthy escort?” Chey arched a brow in disbelief.

“I think we have discussed what Viia's more prominent qualities are. It would not be seemly for me to discuss what I perceive her failings to be.” His fingers slid off the end of her chin.

“Right. Broodmare status. Mattias—it's disappointing to hear that. I've heard your reasons and I understand your position. Still. You seem like a strong enough man to make up your own mind and do what you want to.” Chey realized that she spoke from an inexperienced viewpoint, that she had no idea what life for a Royal must be like. All she knew was that she wouldn't be able to live that way, under such strict control and expectation. She'd been spoiled by the ability to make her own decisions and decide her own fate.

He regarded her with serious, dark eyes. Then, he whispered, “And this is why I am second in line to the throne, and someone like you is not.”

Any other time, Chey might have taken serious offense to what sounded like an insult. Except he spoke the truth, and Chey acknowledged it with a tip of her head. “Yes. No matter what else, thank you for inviting me. I would have never had the privilege of experiencing anything like it otherwise.”

“You're welcome.