Forbidden Honor (Dragon Royals #1)(10)

On a whim, I strolled down the aisles and picked out a book. I needed to clear my head after that odd dance with Talisyn, and nothing ever cleared my head like a few minutes—or hours—lost in a fantasy world. Books are a break from reality that make it far easier to bear.

It was hard to pick just one, but I finally pulled a book out. I glanced around, struck with an urge I knew was silly, before I crawled underneath one of the tables, rested my elbows in the thick rug, and started to turn the pages. I was a lot bigger now than I was at ten, but the space under the table still felt cozy and familiar. I should really vegetate under furniture more often.

Then the door creaked open. Rough, masculine voices, teasing each other, entered the room.

And I realized just how flipping weird it really was that I was under the table.

I’d just wait for them to go, and then I’d make my escape. I’d been humiliated enough for one day.

“What’s Purick doing here?” That was the smoothest, sexiest voice I’d ever heard. Prince Jaik. I dropped my face into my hands.

“You’d think he’d know better than to show his face around us, even if the Olds are protecting him.” That was probably either Branok or Lynx, one of the twins; the speaker dropped into a seat near me, and I bit my lip. He tilted back in his chair, and his fancy boots disappeared as he stacked them on the table.

“He has no reason to think you’re any threat.” That must be Prince Arren, with the rough grumble. “Because you aren’t. We aren’t moving against the Olds.”

“Not anytime soon.”

“Talisyn.”

“You say my name like you’re my mother, Arren.”

“Perhaps that’s because I’ve spent so much time in her bed.”

They all laughed. I rubbed my hand across my face. I was too tired to listen to boys being ridiculous. I should’ve asked Head if I could’ve gone home, but I hadn’t been thinking clearly.

Counting the pairs of expensive shoes, all five royals had assembled. How disappointed the dancing ladies must be now that the main attraction had left the ballroom.

One of them perched on the edge of the table, which made the faintest groaning sound. I hoped I wouldn’t die pinned underneath an enormous oak table and the five of them.

“I see Caldren’s here tonight too.”

“Don’t bring up Caldren.” Jaik’s voice was dangerous.

“You’re being an idiot. Are you just going to ignore him forever?”

Wait, did one of the princes have a love affair gone wrong? Maybe that was why Jaik was so infamously cold with the ladies; I’d heard he was good in bed but an asshole after. Frankly, I was surprised by the notion that Jaik was fun to be with any time at all. He hadn’t seemed like a bundle of laughs when he was yelling at me in his room.

“I’m being an idiot? What are you doing, dancing with that maid?” Jaik asked icily.

“Antagonizing Ariza.”

The bastard had implied on the dance floor he was using me for his own amusement, I knew he was just using me for his own amusement, and yet somehow, I was outraged when he said that he was using me for his own amusement.

“Sure, sure.”

Although maybe I could spin the way he’d danced with me to get a little revenge on him, and to make life a little easier for myself. The mean girls had melted when Talisyn’s touch on my shoulder implied he’d protect me.

“But if you were just antagonizing what’s-her-face,” Arren said, “what were you trying to accomplish when you flirted with the maid on the steps?”

“Why are you in my business? What do you care what I do with the maid?” Talisyn asked. “She’s pretty. Quick-witted. There’s an abundance of pretty around here, but these noble girls are all so boring…”

Talisyn thought I was interesting. I shouldn’t be so pleased by that.

“She’s a Posselbaum girl, and you’re going to get taken for information if you aren’t careful.” Jaik warned.

“You think she’s a spy?” Talisyn sounded as if the thought were ridiculous.

“Why else would she be always underfoot? Always waving her adorable little ass in our faces?” Jaik demanded.

Adorable? The royals thought I was adorable?

No, that was the wrong part of that sentence to focus on.

Shit, shit, shit.

The royals would certainly think I was a spy if they found me hiding under a table. This was it. I was committed. This table was my home now. I rested my forehead on the open page in front of me, wishing I could become one with the rug.

One of the twins snorted. “She’s not adorable.”

“If you really think she’s a spy, have her fired.” That was the other twin. “Or killed. Either way.”

So, neither of them was a fan of mine.

“How embarrassing if you’re wrong, though.” Talisyn was sticking up for me, even though his lazy drawl suggested he didn’t care much.

“I’m never wrong.”

“You most certainly are,” I mouthed.

“I’ll get close to her and find out,” Talisyn offered.

“Please. You can’t be trusted with the girl.” That was a twin again.

I’d always thought twins would be fun, but I didn’t like these twins, no matter how handsome they were.