“There are whispers of a new threat from the Blood Court. He has gathered his council to discuss our options.”
“And are the whispers true?”
Evren looked back to his brother, and I couldn’t place the look that glazed over his face. “They came from legitimate sources, but I am not at my post, so I don’t know the validity of what has been told. But this isn’t something we should be discussing in front of the Starblessed.” He nodded toward me without truly looking at me again. “Let her finish picking out a dress for the ball while we meet with the king.”
Gavril looked down at me as if he had almost forgotten that I was still pressed against his body in a hold he had yet to let me out of. His hand loosened in my hair, and he took a step back.
“Excuse me, Adara.” He dipped into the slightest bow. “Duty calls, but we shall finish this conversation later.”
He smiled softly, and I tried my hardest to return it. But I could feel Evren’s eyes on me. I didn’t look back up at him, but it didn’t matter. I sensed his gaze deeper than any touch from Gavril.
The crowned prince walked past me, heading in the direction of his brother, and I gasped down a deep breath.
“I will head to the council room.” He was no longer speaking to me but straightening his shirt as he spoke to Evren. “Please make sure that Adara makes it back to her room before you join us.”
“Of course.” Evren bowed his head to his younger brother, and the sight was unsettling. My chest ached as I watched him, and I knew that Evren wasn’t born to bow to anyone.
I stepped away from the mirror and slowly lifted the jeweled chiffon from my shoulders and placed it on the table with the rest of the seamstress’s belongings.
“I need a moment to change.” I moved behind the small divider that was placed in the corner of the room and slowly pulled the fabric away from my skin. I was careful not to ruin any of the work the seamstress had done. There were pins and small marks of fabric chalk along the length of the dress where she intended to make it tighter.
“There’s not much need for you to hide behind the screen.” Evren’s voice was calm and casual, and I hated the sound of it as he spoke. “It would appear that you don’t have much left to hide from either of us.”
I let the fabric fall to the floor in a pool and pressed my arm against my breasts as I tried to calm my heart. “Trust me, prince. I have plenty to hide from you both.”
He scoffed, and I hurried to pull my dress over my hips and up my arms. The fabric fell against my upper arms and along my breasts, and accentuated parts of my body I wasn’t accustomed to showing. I reached behind me, grasping for the ribbon that held the dress together, but it was out of my reach.
“Could you call for Eletta?” I grumbled even as I still tried to gain hold of the fabric.
“What could you possibly need your lady’s maid for?” He chuckled without a trace of humor. “You really are getting used to the royal life, aren’t you?”
I cursed under my breath and held the dress against my breasts. “If you must know, you ass. I cannot lace up my dress. It’s impossible. I’ve tried.”
He was quiet for a long moment before I heard his movement. I let out a low breath. I was thankful that he was going to get her. With Eletta here, that meant he would leave. He would leave, and I would try anything to distract myself from thoughts of him.
“Let me help you.” Evren came into view around the screen, and I quickly took a step back.
“This is improper. You should call for Eletta.”
He smirked, and that one small look made my stomach flip in a way that Gavril couldn’t dream of. He gripped my upper arm in his hand and forced me to turn so that my back was to him. “I had my fingers buried inside you a few days ago. I think I can handle tying up your dress.”
I gasped at his words, and I swore he moved closer to me.
“Unless you’d prefer that I help you out of it instead. The door is still open, but gods, could you imagine the rush of trying not to be caught while the bastard son of the king was buried deep inside you.”
I jerked away from his touch and stared at him over my shoulder. “You cannot say things like that to me.”
“Why not?” He ran his thumb over his bottom lip as he devoured my skin with his gaze. “Would you prefer that I call my brother back and let him whisper such words instead? Is that what he was doing when I entered? Was he promising you that he would do things to your body that would make you wish for the rest of the world to disappear?”
“Why do you care what your brother was whispering to me? I am his betrothed, and you would do well to remember that.”
That only made him smile wider, and this time when he reached out for me, my mark buzzed with pleasure and my knees threatened to buckle. He wrapped his arm around my chest as he forced my back to press against him.
“Do you remember that, princess?” He grazed his nose over the back of my neck and my eyes fluttered closed. “I can scent how badly you want me. I don’t think my dear brother could say the same. Poor crowned prince of Citlali destined to marry a woman who is getting wet at the thought of his brother’s cock.”
I attempted to jerk away from him and his harsh words, but he refused to let me go. His arm tightened around me, and his breath fell from his lips in a harsh rhythm against my neck.
“Why are you so cruel?”