Page 28 of Crimson Kingdom
“I also have a question,” Evander said, just a hair too casually. “What possible reason could I have for consenting to the very thing I went so out of my way to stop from happening?”
My mouth dropped open in offense. “Yes, I’m sure kidnapping me was a real burden onyou.”
He shrugged, as if to say it was. I clenched my fists in my skirts to avoid throwing my water glass at his face.
“Funny you should ask.” Laird MacBay had been kind the entire time I knew him, affable, even, but there was no trace of that in his voice now. “It might interest you to know that our people have a great deal of love for their princess. That some ofustook it quite personally when she was held hostage for months. There are many who believe retaliation is the only way to prevent something like that from happening again.”
His tone left no doubt that he was one of those people. A muscle ticked in Evander’s jaw, but he said nothing.
MacKinnon cut in. “Which is why the princess graciously agreed to entertain betrothal talks, once she realized some of the Lairds were ready to march on Socair if no one intervened.”
Thank you so much for that, MacKinnon.
Theo stiffened at my side, and I disentangled my hand from my skirt to place it on his.
“It wasn’t...only for that,” I said quietly.
“Correct me if I’m wrong, Lord Evander,” Uncle Oliver said in an overly pleasant tone. “But a march on Socair would lead directly toyourterritory, would it not?”
“It would.” Evander’s gaze snapped to mine, his eyes narrowing like he was trying to solve a particularly annoying puzzle.
I did my best to keep my features neutral, grateful all over again that Avani had insisted on getting me ready today. It was easier to hide behind a mask of cosmetics and a tiara.
“So, you can see it’s in your best interest to be obliging, then,” my mother summed up.
“I can,” Evander conceded. “As I understand it, then, the purpose of this arrangement is a peace alliance between Socair and Lochlann?”
“Exactly,” MacKinnon said, just as I said, “Not entirely.”
“You know perfectly well that Rowan and I were betrothed before this, and it had nothing to do with an alliance,” Theo growled.
“No, just the threat of execution hanging over her head,” Lord Arseling pointed out. “I also know that you called that betrothal off yourself.”
“Becauseyoutook her,” Theo protested.
“Andyousaid it was of utmost importance that you marry quickly and produce heirs,” Evander countered. “So let’s not pretend politics doesn’t play a role here, shall we?”
Theo fumed, and I held a hand out.
“Yes,” I breathed the word irritably. “Obviously, the alliance is advantageous. Allowing it serves your people as well as mine, because not only will we avoid a war, we can resume trade. Isn’t that why you’re here?”
Evander nodded slowly. “The alliance is not restricted to Elk, then?”
I leveled a suspicious look at him. Was he really going to try to pawn me off on one of the other Lords just to keep me from marrying Theo?
“It’s true that we’ve had other offers,” Aunt Jocelyn offered. “Sir Mikhail from Ram sent one.”
“How ever did you resist that temptation?” Evander asked under his breath, and I almost smiled before I remembered how much I hated him.
“Lord Luca from Lynx,” Jocelyn went on.
That one seemed to give him pause, but he cleared his throat. “That’s hardly helpful to you, on the opposite end of Socair from the mountains.”
“Precisely,” my aunt agreed. “So, you can see that even if the princess’s preferences were not taken into account—and let me assure you, this decision rests entirely with her—Elk offers the most advantageous alliance for our people, and, quite frankly, yours.”
Evander nodded again, thoughtfully this time. “Yes, I can see that of those options, Elk would be the smartest choice for an alliance with Lochlann.”
There was a collective sigh of relief, and I almost joined them…but something brimmed in Evander’s storm-cloud eyes that I couldn’t quite read.