Page 21 of Onyx Cage: Volume II

Nothing at all like dealing withher. Fiery red hair danced in my periphery, as if to taunt me as she moved across the dance floor.

Several minutes into my exchange with Rowan’s family, the music quieted and Davin cleared his throat.

“As much as I hate to end this fascinating conversation, there are a few ladies I’m sure are waiting for the dashing lord’s attention. And mine,” he added with another lopsided grin.

The queen hid a smile behind her whiskey glass, while his mother seemed to barely suppress an eyeroll.

A quick glance around the room revealed Davin wasn’t wrong, though. At the very least, I was garnering several curious stares. But I followed his gaze first to Rowan’s small rigid form, back to me like she was deliberately refusing to look my way, then to Korhonan who was subtly glaring at me over a glimmering tiara nestled into smooth red waves belonging to Rowan’s sister.

Both would likely be headed here when the song ended.

Der’mo.

Clearly, Davin wanted to avoid another scene. Which was fair, since just the sight of Korhonan’s smarmy features made Rowan’s voice echo in my head.

We’ve had plenty of time to get to know one anotherintimately.Bile rose in my throat once more, my fist clenchingaround the empty whiskey glass. I got to my feet to follow Davin, suddenly just as eager to be away from this table as Davin was to move me.

I reminded myself—for roughly the thousandth time—that the point of this trip was for my clan. For the relationship between our two kingdoms. To keep my people from a war.

That was it. It had nothing at all to do with the princess ignoring my presence behind me.

There might have been signs of contention brewing amongst the soldiers and on the road, but there didn’t appear to be much prejudice within the ballroom itself.

At least, not among the many lairds who were throwing their daughters my way. There were those who hung back, of course, casting wary or suspicious glances, but the overwhelming majority were in the former category.

I felt eyes on me constantly, and though I knew the Lochlannians were plenty curious, this was a stare I was intrinsically familiar with. I refused to turn in Rowan’s direction, though, taking every ounce of Socairan decorum drilled into me from the time I was a child and directing it at the incredibly unsubtle dance partner before me.

“I see the vultures have descended,” Lady Fiona said, gesturing with her eyes to the pack of ladies waiting for the song to end.

She hadn’t cared that I was mid-introduction with the Wilson family when she decided to interrupt, extending her elegant hand toward mine while brazenly asking for the next dance. Or that a veritable crowd had gathered since I escorted her to the dancefloor.

I had a healthy respect for someone willing to go after what they wanted, and at the very least, she offered a break in the monotony of encounter after encounter with the simpering ladies of the court, so I only nodded.

“Fortunate there are no vultures here, then,” I responded, letting a small bit of teasing enter my tone.

She let out a light laugh. “I’d never be so common as that.”

“No, I don’t think anyone would describe you that way,” I said honestly. Her gown was crimson and cut low, her dark tresses falling in a pattern designed to draw attention to her curves.

She was objectively pretty, even underneath the cosmetics, and there was a ruthless sort of practicality that bled through everything she did. I almost wished I could be tempted by her long enough to dispel the image of Rowan backed against a cabin wall, peering up at me through her lashes with her swollen lips parted in surprise.

But I would never complicate the already tenuous situation here.

“You’re too kind, even if we both know you aren’t exactly on the market.” Her voice sliced through my thoughts, her gaze sliding in the direction I was pointedly avoiding.

She reached up her hand to brush a lock of hair back from my forehead, something I suspected she was doing for the audience I refused to acknowledge.

Thus far, everyone in Lochlann, even the soldiers on the road, had been prone to casual touch, but Lady Fiona was decidedly more forward than the rest.

“No,” I confirmed. “I’m not here for a wife.”

The corner of her mouth tilted up in something like mockery, but she only leaned closer, her voice a near whisper when she responded.

“Neither am I looking for a husband, but I wouldn’t let that hold me back from having a little fun with our infamously attractive new allies.” She said the wordinfamouslylike it was something scandalous, her gaze lingering on my lips while her hand tightened on my bicep.

I couldn’t help the small chuckle that escaped me at her sheer, raw nerve. Not subtle or shy, as it turned out. But the calculating gleam in her eye told me she was looking for far more than a release. Though I couldn’t precisely say I had ever met anyone exactly like her, I knew her type all the same. Women who dealt in information like currency.

She might want an evening of fun, but more than that, she wanted the pillow talk that came after, and I wasn’t interested in either.