blasé expression, when I read his emotions I did detect a note of jealousy after all. Did it bother him for Ava to spend time with Lad?
Deciding to test him a bit, I said, “She is lovely. Everyone thinks so.”
Now he allowed his gaze to wander to her. She was leaning toward Lad, head tilted to the side, appearing completely fascinated with whatever he was telling her.
“It’s often the most beautiful roses that hide the most vicious thorns,” he murmured, then held his wine glass aloft, motioning for one of the servers to refill it.
Hmm. An interesting thing to say. Had Ava hurt him? Rejected him in some way? They were betrothed, but with arranged marriages, there was no guarantee of affection or even willingness on either part. I’d learned that from Lad and Vancia’s parent-orchestrated betrothal. We’d been led to believe Ava and Culley were in love and would find it too painful to be separated, but that wasn’t necessarily accurate. Based on the emotions I was picking up from him, it could be one of those unrequited attraction situations.
“Well, I’m not afraid of her thorns,” I said. “I’ve seen worse. And I have some experience with sexual glamour myself. It’s not impossible to resist. Lad may not even be susceptible to it.”
Culley’s eyes widened suddenly and then narrowed as a grin spread across his face. “Oh, you’ve figured out her glamour, have you?”
“Yes, and I’m not threatened. The Dark Council will have to do a little better than that if they want to mess things up in the Light Kingdom.”
Culley made a little tut-tut noise. “I hate to see such an ugly lack of trust in one so pretty. I assure you, we are here as ambassadors, nothing more.”
Care to repeat that in the Elven way? I asked him, taking a sip from my own glass.
“Oh my, the half-breed has some skills.” He nodded deferentially. I’d be delighted to. Your relationship with the Light King makes no difference to me at all. I wish you all the best on your upcoming wedding. May your love last forever. He gave me a deeper nod, almost a bow, and did a little courtly flourish with one hand.
And what about your love? I set my glass down and gave him a direct look.
I’m not sure what you mean, he said. I am offered love on a daily basis from any number of women… and men.
He was trying to fluster me, to throw me off. Undeterred, I asked again. You care about Ava, don’t you?
Culley didn’t answer me mind-to-mind. Instead, he gave me a chiding we’re-not-going-there smirk.
“You seem to put a good deal of faith in love, my lady. I have never found it to be all that reliable. Let us hope the young king is as… dependable as he seems.” Watching his fiancée chatting amiably with mine, he stroked a finger across his full bottom lip. “Even the best of us can forget ourselves sometimes.”
Chapter Fourteen
Ava
The dinner went as well as could be hoped with Culley constantly watching me and Ryann’s warning still ringing in my ears. What she didn’t know and probably would never believe was that I really didn’t plan to seduce her fiancé or harm him in any way—not anymore.
When I saw them acting so loving with each other early in the evening, I was truly happy. Apparently it wasn’t too late. What I’d already done to him hadn’t been enough to alter their course. I could still live with myself.
Of course once Culley had taken such a keen interest in my interactions with my intended target, I had to keep up appearances. It was horribly uncomfortable to flirt with Lad right in front of Ryann. Honestly, I was a little shocked she didn’t call me on it, or at least throw visual daggers at me. But she seemed content and unconcerned throughout the evening. Maybe she didn’t buy my act. I hoped Culley had.
Now I was driving through the small town near Altum’s rural location—Deep
Deciding to test him a bit, I said, “She is lovely. Everyone thinks so.”
Now he allowed his gaze to wander to her. She was leaning toward Lad, head tilted to the side, appearing completely fascinated with whatever he was telling her.
“It’s often the most beautiful roses that hide the most vicious thorns,” he murmured, then held his wine glass aloft, motioning for one of the servers to refill it.
Hmm. An interesting thing to say. Had Ava hurt him? Rejected him in some way? They were betrothed, but with arranged marriages, there was no guarantee of affection or even willingness on either part. I’d learned that from Lad and Vancia’s parent-orchestrated betrothal. We’d been led to believe Ava and Culley were in love and would find it too painful to be separated, but that wasn’t necessarily accurate. Based on the emotions I was picking up from him, it could be one of those unrequited attraction situations.
“Well, I’m not afraid of her thorns,” I said. “I’ve seen worse. And I have some experience with sexual glamour myself. It’s not impossible to resist. Lad may not even be susceptible to it.”
Culley’s eyes widened suddenly and then narrowed as a grin spread across his face. “Oh, you’ve figured out her glamour, have you?”
“Yes, and I’m not threatened. The Dark Council will have to do a little better than that if they want to mess things up in the Light Kingdom.”
Culley made a little tut-tut noise. “I hate to see such an ugly lack of trust in one so pretty. I assure you, we are here as ambassadors, nothing more.”
Care to repeat that in the Elven way? I asked him, taking a sip from my own glass.
“Oh my, the half-breed has some skills.” He nodded deferentially. I’d be delighted to. Your relationship with the Light King makes no difference to me at all. I wish you all the best on your upcoming wedding. May your love last forever. He gave me a deeper nod, almost a bow, and did a little courtly flourish with one hand.
And what about your love? I set my glass down and gave him a direct look.
I’m not sure what you mean, he said. I am offered love on a daily basis from any number of women… and men.
He was trying to fluster me, to throw me off. Undeterred, I asked again. You care about Ava, don’t you?
Culley didn’t answer me mind-to-mind. Instead, he gave me a chiding we’re-not-going-there smirk.
“You seem to put a good deal of faith in love, my lady. I have never found it to be all that reliable. Let us hope the young king is as… dependable as he seems.” Watching his fiancée chatting amiably with mine, he stroked a finger across his full bottom lip. “Even the best of us can forget ourselves sometimes.”
Chapter Fourteen
Ava
The dinner went as well as could be hoped with Culley constantly watching me and Ryann’s warning still ringing in my ears. What she didn’t know and probably would never believe was that I really didn’t plan to seduce her fiancé or harm him in any way—not anymore.
When I saw them acting so loving with each other early in the evening, I was truly happy. Apparently it wasn’t too late. What I’d already done to him hadn’t been enough to alter their course. I could still live with myself.
Of course once Culley had taken such a keen interest in my interactions with my intended target, I had to keep up appearances. It was horribly uncomfortable to flirt with Lad right in front of Ryann. Honestly, I was a little shocked she didn’t call me on it, or at least throw visual daggers at me. But she seemed content and unconcerned throughout the evening. Maybe she didn’t buy my act. I hoped Culley had.
Now I was driving through the small town near Altum’s rural location—Deep
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