felt like a caress when he whispered, “Tell me what you really want.”
My lips twisted, my gaze still on Faer. “I’m not going to tell you my secrets. I wouldn’t even tell you my to-do list.”
“Very well,” he said. “Then I’ll guess.”
His voice was low in my ear, and his breath against the shell of my ear sent a strange shiver through my body.
“Guess away,” I murmured. “Even the blindest of squirrels runs across a nut on occasion; perhaps this is your lucky day.”
“I think you would like to marry the fall princes,” he whispered, and tension seared through my body. “Both of them.”
His hand caressed my hip, and he murmured, “Relax. I’m not angry.”
“Oh?”
“I can share.” He nipped my earlobe with his teeth, and I pulled away so fast I might have tripped into the person behind me, except Raile reeled me close again.
“You’re a madman, Raile,” I whispered. My father, Herrick, would see us both dead instead of married if he knew Raile was willing to help me on my quest for the throne—and true love. I wasn’t sure which I needed more; to save my people from Herrick, or to save myself.
“Perhaps.” A smile played at the corner of his lips. “I’m also your best chance of getting everything you want, summer queen.”
I pulled away, staring at him. “Perhaps we should discuss plans simply and honestly, so I can decide if I’m interested or not.”
“You and I are not on simple and honest terms,” he told me.
That was certainly true. He would remember that when we had our engagement ceremony, which was planned for just a few months from now.
I had no plans of being married anytime soon.
The music faltered, then switched into the next tune. I used the break as an excuse to jerk away from Raile and bow to him.
“You’re too stubborn for sense,” he told me. “I’ll come to you tonight. We can swim in the sea and talk.”
I laughed at that. “I’m not going into your territory.”
“I come into yours.” He gestured with his hand around the room.
“This isn’t my territory. It’s Herrick’s.”
“Then show me yours.” He stepped subtly closer to me, his face intense. “Let me into your world. Let me know you, as you truly are. That’s all I desire.”
I shook my head. “I’m not going to pretend you and I can have some pleasant time together when you’re trying to force yourself on me. If you want my attention, Raile, you’ll have to change your approach.”
He stared at me, his eyes glittering darkly, the same color as the sea outside. “You are so smart, Alisa, and yet somehow you are such a foolish little girl at the same time.”
He was so ridiculous that he shocked a laugh from me, before I told him, “No, that’s definitely not the right approach.”
I spun on my heel and made my way through the dancers. As we came face to face, Faer half-bowed to me. I didn’t acknowledge my brother, and he didn’t look as if he cared. It was eerie to see a face so much like mine and know he was my enemy.
I could practically feel Herrick watching me; even though he was up on the dais, his gaze felt hot on the back of my neck. I wished I could tear him down from that throne. Let him sink beneath the waves, along with the insufferable prince he’d chosen for me.
I stormed into the long, cool hallway; it was open at one end to the sea, and when I breathed in, it was the same as inhaling that intoxicating scent of Raile’s body. It just made me more furious. The servants closed the doors behind me, blocking out the happy noise of the band.
The breeze blew up off the sea, rustling my gown and my hair around me. But I couldn’t go toward the sea, not now, so I strode toward the garden instead. I couldn’t stand to go back to my room or anywhere else I was confined; if these males in my life had any say, I’d be trapped forever.
Instead, I walked past the fountain, with the enormous tree in the center hung with enormous red jewels of fruit; the statue of my great-great grandfather stood under the tree, half-submerged in the water, paused with his arm raised and an apple gripped in his hand.
“Hello, Grandfather,” I said lightly, as I always did. There were dozens of statues surrounding us in the garden, many of them covered in flowers