“You look like a cornered wild animal. Relax,” says a voice to my left, on the other side of the blushing peony plant that would make Xonier look small.

I peek out from my shadowed hidey hole, and blue eyes glimmer with mirth in an otherwise placid expression. He’s wearing a grey tunic over silken black pants tucked into sharp black boots with a silver thing that looks like a necklace around each of his boots with a pendent in the shape of a dove. The grey tunic brings out flecks of silver in his eyes.

I sigh, leaning back as far as possible to avoid any further eyes seeing my hiding place. Still can’t believe I didn’t see it before now.

It’s obvious. It’s so obvious it’s now embarrassing... but how was I to know the Crown Prince was also a master assassin running around like a chicken with its head cut off chasing my tail?

“Would you go back to your princely duties? Look, there’s a girl who wants you to dance with her!” I gesture to a girl, forgetting he can’t see me. She’s the one with the dress the size of Irisia with the candy cane splattered train. She looks up at the prince and bats her eyelashes. What was her name? Bridget. Princess perfect Bridget.

Did I imagine that sigh? Or did I actually get Mr. Stoic to sigh?

“I begged a moment of refreshment.”

“She looks like she’s ready to cut that refreshment short,” I reply.

I clearly hear his sigh this time. “Any chance there is room for me in there?” he whispers.

I chuckle. “Nope. ‘Fraid not.”

Liar, Ran hisses.

“Hush!” I say, fighting back a smile that she’s still listening in on my conversations. Just like old times.

Ain't no way I'm missing this, sista. Lightning bursts when you two come together and it's always entertaining.

Gee, thanks, I reply, rolling my eyes since no one can see.

“Do you wish me to leave?” Prince Arin asks.

“I was telling Ran to shut up.”

“Ahh, I see. What does she say?”

“I could hide many knives in a dress,” I say, speaking the first thing that comes to mind as I’m not telling him the last thing she said about him joining me in my hiding place… nor about her upcoming pups. That’s something for her to share when the time is right.

He chuckles, deep and filled with actual mirth, and it lightens my heart and distracts me from Ran’s revelations. “Of course. And do not forget the fans.”

“Can I have one made with razor edges?”

...

“It’s dumb, I know,” I say, shrinking into my shadowy corner the longer it takes him to respond. Ever since the kiss, I feel weird things in my heart and I'm... shy. Heck.

I squeak when he appears in the plant on inch from my face.

I clutch a hand to my heart, backing away and shoving my blade back into its sheath.

“Bad prince. Ba-aad prince,” I hiss under my breath.

Ran laughs so loud I think she falls over wherever she is. I hope she falls off a tree and breaks her tail.

See? Lightening.

Shut. Up! I hiss.

He finishes stepping out of the plant and dusts himself off. “Forgive me, I merely wished to see you as we spoke without the prying eyes out there,” he jabs a thumb toward the people on the floor, and I can’t help but compare his demeanor to what I’ve seen this entire night.

He has a slight smile on his face that reaches his eyes, as opposed to the thoughtful smile and sometimes amused grin of the prince that sometimes he forced to reach his eyes. I could tell when he forced it because his eyes became squinty, whereas when he’s truly smiling, the wrinkles are just barely there but his eyes twinkle in constant mischief. Like now.

“And I have well imagined the lethality of such a weapon. Would not be my first choice, I suppose, but would be quite unexpected.”

I can’t help my grin. “And sometimes the unexpected is all it takes to win.”

His smile grows a touch soft. “You do well in such, Ri. Your talent to overcome much larger and many times more experienced foes comes in your unpredictability and ease with which you adapt.”

I look down, blushing as a big smile crosses my face.

Wow. He knows the way to my rider’s heart.

Hush!

“Thank you,” I whisper, looking up shyly.

“Care for a dance?” he asks, eyes twinkling.

I stifle my laugh by covering my lips. I shove his shoulder. “Stop it! It would ruin my standing as Sir Ri.”

He steps closer, his eyes searching my face. “Yes. But it made you laugh. Perhaps someday, instead of a spar, we should dance.”

I snort, throwing snot all over his fine tunic. I cover my nose, but much too late for stopping the projectiles.

His laughter begins deep in his stomach and erupts from his lips, and I place both hands over his mouth to muffle the sound as I glance out of our hiding place.

“Hush! They’ll find us!” I hiss.

He grows still, his eyes growing bright and almost silver, glowing like twin pinpricks of starlight in the night, and I realize just how close we are. I near plastered myself against him to reach his mouth, and I feel his warm breath on my fingers and palm, making shivers race up and down my spine and my stomach grows warm. My lips part, and I feel his breath beneath my hands before I jerk back and create space between us that still feels like too little. Something has changed between us. Something is different.

And something like charged lightning lingers in the feet between us, sizzling into my soul and making me both giddy and downright lightheaded. And annoyed that my traitorous body is reacting this way to a prince. Why couldn’t I have just met and fallen for someone normal? Like a farmer or horse trainer?

Lightening, Ran whispers, her snooty nose turned high in the air.

Heck. You placed that thought in my mind. I never would have thought such things without you!

She bursts into uncontrollable wolf laughter.

Back to Arin. It feels like we are magnets, both drawn to each other on one end and able to shove each other away on the other.

My heart races as if I’d fought a Bamshee and my mind recalls the last time we… kissed. We have thoroughly avoided discussing that night.

Ran snorts. More like you run anytime he even tried to speak of it.

I ignore her. She’s absolutely wrong.

Arin clears his throat, for once appearing a bit... off.

And something in me delights that I’m able to elicit such a reaction from the man who is cool under all circumstances.

Unless you are hurt.

Erm... there is that.

He runs a hand through his hair, taking a breath. “Would you like to see the king?” he asks.

I squeak.

He smiles, his eyes shining with an intensity I’m not sure how to take. “Erm... no.”

He gives a smirk. “You are going to have to meet him at some point. Don’t think of him as the king, just as my father.”

I squeak again, raising my hands as if to fend off an attack. “That makes it worse!”

He shakes his head, his shoulders shaking with silent laughter. “Come on. He’s much easier to deal with than my mother, and you handled her just fine. She even likes you. And besides, I’ll be with you the entire way.”

“I’d actually prefer if you weren’t.”

He cocks his head, studying me. “May I ask why?”

I take a breath, trying to wrangle my thoughts into some semblance of coherency despite the chills still racing up my spine and giving me warm fuzzies. “They... they need to see me stand without you. They don’t need to think me the favorite anymore than they already do. I’ll either earn their respect, or I won’t. But I’ll do it without standing on your title.”

He raises his brows, the most surprise I’ve ever seen from him. “If that is your wish, I will stand by it. You are thinking like a noble.”

I snort, and he holds up his hands, backing away into the bush. “Please don’t punish me further! I promise to behave, no need to resort to such underhanded tactics,” he pleads, pulling leaves in front of his tunic and face.

I shake my head, a smile tipping my lips. “You’re just a big kid at heart, aren’t you?”

He peaks from behind the leaf. “Where I to agree, would you agree to a ceasefire?”

I snort, and he pulls the leaves back into place.

“Arin?” I ask. He’d moved deeper into the leaves, but turns back to regard me.

“Yes?”

“Thanks.”

His eyes get soft in that smile I love. Stupid crazy idiot. LIKE. Smile that I like! Not love. No love involved here.

Keep lying to yourself all you like, rider. You’re hooked, line and sinker. No use to keep lying now, you even told him you lo-oove him.

You’re one to talk, Mrs. One-Night-Stand.

She snorts.

“You still have to speak with my father tonight.”

I cover my face with my hands. “I take it all back, I hate you,” I say, groaning into my hands while he chuckles.

He’s gone the next moment, and I turn to face the crowd.

I can do this.

I can’t do this.

The king is accepting a line of folk, his eyes somewhat red-rimmed and he almost knocks a wine glass from the arm of his kingly chair. Is that even where a royal is supposed to put a wine glass? I guess he’s the king, so no one questions it.

Princess Bridget stands at his side, her tinkling laughter shimmering through the air. She lays a hand on the king’s arm, her fingernails a bright red to match her red hat with trailing parrot feathers.

Something catches her eye, and she excuses herself from the king, going to a dark corner. I watch as she speaks with someone, but am interrupted when someone clears their throat. I tighten my hand on my glass of wine as if it could be a shield.

“You will win no friends hiding in the shadows.” Light grey eyes peer at me from beneath heavy silver eyebrows going over a cleanly shaven egg-front of a bald head leading to silver-blue hair streaked with gold and pulled back in a warrior’s queue, reminding me of Hans. His creveat is sharp, the dark blues and golds resplendent and cuffs with twinkling lights as adornments. Are those diamonds?

“I am not here to win friends,” I say, hoping my voice doesn’t betray my nerves by squeaking.

He laughs, the sound entirely at odds with the frown on my face. “Such delightful naivete. I like you, Ri, and hope you survive what’s coming.” He gives me a tiny salute, still smiling when he gets beyond the food dishes and back near the king’s receiving line.

“Don’t mind Duke Verity. He can be a prick.” I jump, glancing behind me to see another wallflower adorning the edges of the ballroom. She steps into the light so I can see her pale features and fea-like beauty with sharp blue eyes that remind me of her brother.

I fold into an immediate curtsy-slash-fumbling-bow, forgetting who I am for a moment. I’m not cut out for this intrigue.

“Your highness,” I say.

She smiles, covering it with her hand. “At ease, Sir Ri. I merely wished to come take measure of the one my brother would jump from the royal box for.”

I roll my eyes. “That was ill-advised. I was fine.”

Her eyes appraise me, finger tapping against her dress before she catches herself and smoothes the silver-blue fabric. “It seems my over-protective big brother has taken another under his wing.”

“Another ill-advised thing.”

A slow smile lights up her face. “You are good for him, Sir Ri. I dare say you are good for all of us. But a friendly word of advice. Vipers hide behind diamonds and easily concealed words. Be on guard, not merely against physical attacks, but the more damaging ones which can ruin an entire family.”

“This is the reason I didn’t want to get shoved into this,” I whisper under my breath.

“Would you mind to repeat your words?”

I clear my throat, meeting her eyes which dance with mischief, reminding me of Silver. Heck. “I will be on guard, your highness. Thank you.”

“It was nice to meet you, Sir Ri. One last word of advice. Do not thank anyone. You can appreciate. But a simple thank you may get perceived as debt here.”

She sinks back into the shadows, and I’m left nursing a headache.

La’Maciago is coming. My Bond is having pups. The city is running low on food.

And the nobles are still trying to pull power struggles over each other.

I leave, not able to handle a moment more of hearing the princess’ twittering laughter or see Silver dance with snakes draped in silk.