Page 6 of Crimson Kingdom
Six dances had sounded like a decent deal before I actually arrived at the ball.
Yet here I was, a mere two dances in, and my tolerance for the evening’s festivities had already reached its cap.
It hadn’t taken the lairds long to ask me about my time in Socair. They unashamedly leaned into every possible rumor that had circulated since my return, many of which I hadn’t yet heard.
“After the months of torture you endured, no one could blame you for giving up Lochlann’s secrets,” one helpfully consoled me.
Another patronizing old bastard looked me over from head to toe. “I can’t believe a delicate little thing like you survived months in that tunnel on nothing but rats and cave water.”
At least those stories were relatively harmless, though.
As I wound my way through the ballroom, more than one person made comments intentionally loud enough to reach my ears. They wanted me to know that they blamed me for bringing another war down on Lochlann after twenty years of relative peace.
Mamá caught my eye from where she was dancing with Da’ across the room, shaking her head subtly like she knew how seriously I was considering telling everyone in attendance precisely where they could shove their rumors.
She looked especially regal tonight, an emerald crown resting on her deep brown waves. Sympathy shone from the spring green eyes that were the exact shade of mine, but there was a warning there, too.
This night was about a show of unity between the monarchs and our court, one we desperately needed.
Davin was in deep conversation with a few members of the council, playing his role far better than I was, as usual. He glanced in my direction, though, raising his eyebrows in question when he saw my dance partner.
Everyone knew who the old lecher was. But I didn’t want to pull Davin away from doing what he was supposed to be doing just to come rescue me, so I gave him a subtle shake of my head.
Out of habit, I searched the room, and it took me far too long to realize I was subconsciously looking for Mac.
I visibly flinched at the thought of his name.
“Are you well, Highness?” SirLeers-Too-Muchasked, his imperious brow raising in suspicion.
“No,” I answered without thinking. “I mean, I just realized that I’ve forgotten...erm...something. Would you please excuse me?”
I tried to keep my features straight, but I was abruptly assaulted by memories of the last time I had walked away from someone mid-dance.
What would you know of responsibility?Evander had issued the words like a challenge.
Had he been wrong, though? Wasn’t I still managing to avoid that very thing?
I squeezed my eyes closed like it would shut out the echo of his condescending voice resounding in my head.
Forcing the thoughts away before they undid me entirely, I dipped my head at the laird. I murmured a preemptive thanks for understanding, pretending not to notice his bafflement, then practically ran in the opposite direction.
Here I was, provinghimright all over again.
But he wasn’t here to see it, and he never would be, if his precious, stupid, three-worded, stars-damned note was anything to go by. Which was a relief.Obviously.
Grabbing a flute of sparkling wine from a tray, I headed for the massive marble pillars on the outside of the room.
My shoulders sagged in relief as soon as I was relatively hidden between two of the columns. I took advantage of the rare break from scrutiny to throw back several long gulps of the wine, not caring about how the bubbles popped on my nose, or the way they burned my throat.
“You’re going to give away my hiding place, little sister.” Avani’s voice startled me from behind, and I spun around to find her leaning against the other side of the pillar.
I darted a look around before sliding next to her, fully out of sight from the rest of the party.
“How long have you been back here?” I whispered.
Avani took my glass and finished off the contents in one swig.
“Since we arrived?” She matched my volume, shooting me a guilty look.