Page 38 of A Kiss of Flame

The look Leander cast at her could have curdled milk. He was not happy. Not in the least. He had not intended to do this here and now. And an angry or embittered Leander, who felt he had been slighted in any way, was dangerous.

But Leander stepped forward and bowed much more deeply to Roland than should have been imaginable. He was the crown prince of Ilanthus, heir apparent and the last of the line of Sidon aside from Finn, and to a lesser degree Laurence.

‘Grandmaster de Silvius, I am here in penance for my egregious actions towards your queen, your daughter and your ward. I am here to make my humblest apologies. Your forbearance in the matter has been noted by my father and he bids me introduce my cousin to you, Lady Hestia Rayden, who will speak with his voice.’

Hestia sank into the deepest curtsy, releasing Finn and offering her hand to the Grandmaster. That was when Sassone, Ylena and other members of the court arrived on the scene. Once it was clear that no blood was about to be shed, of course. They weren’t fools.

Sassone stepped by Roland and took Hestia’s hand, raising her back upright.

‘Lady Hestia, it is our honour to welcome you here,’ he said.

She fluttered her eyelashes. It wouldn’t work on Roland, of course, but she didn’t know that. And it still wouldn’t stop her trying. She was like that. Sassone on the other hand… The Earl of Sassone was immediately turned to clay in her clever hands.

Unwillingly, Finn glanced at Leander, who rolled his eyes. He wasn’t buying this any more than Finn was, but Sassone was lapping it up. They knew her. Sassone did not.

But it meant Finn was able to slip away, at last.

As he made his way across the ballroom the music started up again, the rigid traditions and ceremonies of Asteroth rising in a vain attempt to smooth over any awkwardness.

Finn didn’t care. All he could think of was Wren, standing there alone in the gown the colour of rubies, which cradled her body, which made her skin glow like moonlight. Rosebuds dotted her hair, and when she saw him making his way towards her that stonelike expression melted to a relieved smile.

She smiled at him, even now, and he felt his heart unfurling inside him, as if she reminded him who he really was.

It had only been a matter of days and it had felt like an eternity. She reached out and took his hands, her touch the only real and solid thing, all he needed.

Music swept her into his arms, and before he knew what he was doing they were dancing.

‘I’ve missed you,’ she said in a rush. ‘Are you all right? They haven’t hurt you or?—’

‘I’m fine,’ Finn told her, cutting off the rush of questions. Because only Wren could look at him dressed in the finery of a foreign court, in the company of princes, and worry about him like this. ‘You’re beautiful, do you know that? You outshine anyone here.’

Wren blushed and smiled again, his Wren, the girl from the forest who had stolen his heart. The music sped up, bringing them whirling around the room again. Everyone was looking at them now, Finn realised. Of course they were. It was probably a scandal but they were used to that.

Everything they had done since they had arrived invited scandal.

The dance came to an end and Finn reached out to brush his hand against her face. Wren leaned into his touch.

‘How sweet,’ said another voice, far from welcome. ‘But we have unfinished business, little bird. My turn, I think.’

Leander gave Wren a courtly bow, unmatched by anyone else there. He hadn’t changed, in spite of his punishment. Perhaps he didn’t really care. The more chaos he could cause, the more he would, especially here. He lived for it, delighted in it and he would never change.

And what Leander wanted more than anything else was Wren. And what Wren might one day be.

She stood there, her mouth open in shock as Leander stepped between them. There was nothing Finn could do to stop him, not without making it worse. Far worse.

Leander took Wren in his arms and the music started up again. The crown prince of Ilanthus whirled her away.

CHAPTER 19

WREN

If Wren had been worried about causing a scene dancing with Finn that was nothing next to what was happening now. Anselm would have a fit. Leander was graceful and powerful, and he knew exactly what he was doing. He moved like he was trying to seduce her and didn’t care who saw it.

Whether his mission was to infuriate her, Finn or the entire court of Pelias, it was hard to say. He was succeeding at all three.

When Wren bristled, he smiled that knowing, self-assured smile and carried on regardless.

Oh yes, he knew exactly what he was doing.