Page 67 of Crimson Kingdom

Breathlessly, I searched the people around us until I found Evander again.

Though I didn’t have to search for long. The force of his gaze was like a beacon, drawing my attention to him.

“Impressive,” he said when I walked over to him.

“And here you doubtedmystamina,” I shot back.

He chuckled, but before he could respond, the musicians started up another tune.

Evander looked at me with a single raised eyebrow, holding out his hand. I took it, letting him lead me to the clearing for the spirited dance.

The upbeat music reverberated in my soul as his hands came around my waist, effortlessly picking me up and spinning me around before gently resting me on the grass again.

Not that it felt like I was firmly grounded anywhere tonight.

When he set me back down the second time, it was closer than before. For the show, of course.

That must have also been why my eyes didn’t leave his face. Why my fingers tightened around his solid arms and my body moved so perfectly in sync with his.

The next song was a slower one. He wrapped his arm around my waist, pulling me close to him. I sucked in a sharp breath that he didn’t miss, judging by the heated look that overtook his features.

His other hand captured mine, and my free hand rested on his chest.

Tension thrummed between us, but I couldn’t look away from him, the way his eyes never left mine.

When the dance ended, one of the villagers stepped forward, holding out a mug of ale in his hand. “A kiss from the happy couple.”

He gestured with his drink toward Evander and me, and the entire crowd cheered.

Evander didn’t hesitate. He leaned down, pausing just before his lips touched mine long enough to whisper, “for the show,” like theaaliothat he was.

Then he closed the distance between us, claiming my mouth with his. Heat spread from my lips throughout my entire body, until my toes curled and fingertips tingled.

I let out an involuntary gasp just as Evander broke off the kiss. He straightened to his full height, stopping just long enough to murmur in my ear.

“I bet you aren’t thinking about stableboys now.”

My lips parted, and my eyes narrowed. Distantly, I heard cheers go up around us.

“As a matter of fact, I am.” I pasted a smile on for the crowd, talking through my gritted teeth.

He didn’t believe me, if his self-satisfied grin was anything to go by. Which was fair since I most definitely was lying.

Meanwhile, all I could think about was how impossibly stupid I was, because I had sworn that I wouldn’t be all in until he was.

But when it came to Evander, I wasn’t sure I knew another way to be.

Which was a problem, in and of itself.

CHAPTERTHIRTY-SEVEN

Evander and I reached an uneasy truce after the festival.

Or, rather, we got to a place where we didn’t outwardly taunt each other quite so much. Tension still crackled between us, though that was nothing new.

I was learning to ignore it.

At least, that’s what I told myself.