In a pained movement, he waves the musicians onward.
The waltz begins.
No one else is dancing. The Prince of Thorns and I move like two petals drifting through the breeze, like a singular ripple on a moonlit lake. If I thought Kel was a good dancer, Caspian puts him to shame. His every movement is fluid and sensual.
I can’t look away from his face; he holds that sardonic expression, barely blinking. His eyes are black holes, and I’m caught in their gravity.
“So, tell me, how do you like being the Princess of Castletree?” Caspian asks bitingly.
“It’s wonderful,” I snark back. “The food is marvelous. You should come for dinner sometime.”
“Oh, princess, you don’t want to invite me.” He dips me low. “I always show up.”
My breast surges with my rapid breath, and his eyes flick to my bodice. He gives a wicked smile.
Needing to focus, I say, “Why are your thorns all over the castle? Why won’t you remove them?”
He twirls me and pulls me flush against his chest. “You wouldn’t like it if I did that.”
“What do you want?” I urge. “To steal the magic of Castletree? Why?”
“I’ll let you in on a secret.” He smirks. “I do believe we want the same thing.”
“I doubt that, Caspian.”
His thumb rubs small circles on my waist. “Listen carefully, princess. Trust your own instincts above all else. The world will tell you that you don’t belong. That you are a mere human. That you have no dominion over the sway of destiny.” He leans forward, warm breath caressing my jaw. “They are wrong.”
“Why should I trust anything you have to say?” I breathe.
A crackle of energy erupts between us as he throws his head back, long dark hair falling away from his face. “Because, princess, I happen to be an expert on things below the surface.”
The music rises, and our movements sway faster, faster, faster. I have the distinct feeling I’m losing myself in a current and there’s nothing I can do to gain purchase again.
“Our dance is almost at a close,” he says. “And so I’ll tell you the real reason I’m here. Your precious princes are hiding something from you.”
I don’t reply. Can’t reply.
“The High Tower you’re forbidden from entering?” His voice is soft over my mind, and for a moment, it’s almost as if he’s speakinginsideme. “Time is running out, princess. See for yourself.”
“There’s no way into High Tower.”
“You’ll find the way easier now. Trust only yourself.” The music rises into a rushing crescendo, and we spin and spin and spin until Caspian dips me so low, my hair brushes the dance floor.
“Our time together has come to an end, princess,” he whispers. “Thank you for a memorable night.”
Then his tongue licks from the dip of my breasts, up my neck, and to my lips—
A clatter sounds and I turn to the dais. Keldarion shoves Dayton and Farron away from him and surges.
Straight toward us.
49
Rosalina
KeldarionisuponCaspianbefore he even has a chance to draw me up. He tackles him to the ground, and I smack hard against the floor. Keldarion lifts Caspian up by the front of his tunic.
Caspian stares down at him with a bemused expression on his handsome face, mouth quirking into a mocking smile. “Oh, Kel, you had me worried. You nearly let me get an entire dance in before your jealousy got the better of you. And here I was, thinking I wasn’t special to you anymore.”