"Go on. Knock." The words came out silky and dangerous, with a hint of disgust that was fully evident now that we were past the guard's hearing. I chanced a glance at Blayne's expression and saw the malignant curve of his lips.
Rapping twice against the dark wood I waited, my stomach in knots. I heard the soft pad of boots against carpet, and then the door swung open to reveal Darren, half-dressed in dark breeches and a loose cotton shirt. Dark bangs fell to the side of his face - but it wasn't enough to shield the guilt that flared in his eyes for just a moment before quickly melding into cool indifference.
Darren's mouth hardened into a small, thin line. "What are you doing here, Ryiah?"
My whole body went cold, and for a moment I couldn't believe it was Darren standing in front of me. There hadn't been a single hint of emotion in his address.
"I need to talk to you." I was trying my best to sound calm. "Alone."
The non-heir's gaze slid to his brother, and then back to me. His expression didn't waver. "There is nothing to discuss."
"Darren." My voice cracked. "Please."
Blayne - who up until now had been a smug spectator, leaning against the frame of Darren's door lazily - snorted rudely. "My dear," he drawled, "my brother has given you his answer. Pick up your lowborn pride and leave before this gets worse. I only brought you so you wouldn't assault those poor guards trying to get over here in the first place. I am well aware of your temper." He pronounced the last word distinctly.
I ignored Blayne and kept my eyes locked on the one person that mattered. "What did they say to you, Darren?" My pulse was racing. I could feel my heartbeat in my throat. I swallowed and forced myself to continue. "I'll wait… If you tell me you need more time to talk your father around-"
Blayne let out a high-pitched laugh.
"Ryiah." Garnet flames stopped me mid-speech. "I don't want you to wait."
It was as if someone had just plunged me into a bath of ice. "What do you mean?"
Darren was silent.
I felt hysteria rising. "Darren." I took a step forward – ignoring his brother's sharp intake of breath - and took the non-heir's hand. "Don't do this. I-" My voice caught. "-I love you."
The prince frowned and looked pointedly to his brother. "Might we have a moment alone?"
Blayne's blue eyes narrowed in suspicion, but he stepped back with a curt glance at me. "Remember," he snarled, "if you try anything I will have the guards over here at a moment's notice."
I glared back at him. "I believe your brother asked for some privacy."
Anger shot across the heir's features – but before he could say anything in reply Darren had pulled me into his chamber and shut the door. Then it was just the two of us facing one another, no noise except for the quiet beating of our chests and Blayne's pacing outside the room.
"What are you doing?"
"I am making the best of a bad situation." Darren dropped my hand as he added, "It will be best if you don't make a scene."
"A scene?" My voice was shrill. "Darren, you told me you were leaving her! Why are you still betrothed to Priscilla?"
"You know why."
"I thought you were tired of following rules!" I shouted, furious. "You told me – you promised that day on the ship - even if things became hard you wouldn't give up on us!"
The prince didn't respond. I closed the distance between us and grabbed both of his shoulders, shaking him. "Darren, look at me!"
Darren shoved me away angrily. "What do you want me to say, Ryiah? I made a mistake."
For a moment there was only silence.
"We aren't a mistake." Tears were burning my eyes.
"You had to know we would never be able to marry." His eyes were fathomless. "Even if I had somehow convinced Father to break off my engagement to Priscilla and court you, it never would have lasted long."
I couldn't breathe. For a moment all I could hear was the angry pulsing of blood.
And then:
"YOU COWARD!" I picked up the nearest object I could find – a large glass globe - and lobbed it at his head. "YOU AREN'T EVEN TRYING TO FIGHT FOR US!"
Darren dodged the globe easily and there was a loud shattering as millions of tiny shards misted the air between us.
"You shouldn't have done that, Ryiah," he said.
The chamber door swung open as Blayne and the two guards from earlier strode in, weapons raised.
I dropped my hands and let the two men bind my wrists, two sets of rough hands dragging me away from the prince. "All this time I respected you for trying to prove you were more than a prince, more than some privileged highborn!" I spat at him. "It's a shame to find out you are no more than your father's whipping boy!"
Darren's stopped looking indifferent – now the expression he wore was livid. "You want to know the truth?" He shouldered his way past the guards so that he was inches from my face. Blayne watched the both of us with keen interest.
"I never loved you."
"LIAR!" I wrestled with my restraints, but the guards were too strong.