“You ladies always know better than I.”
Lady Sasha smiled, her beauty shining so bright that Mina felt even more nauseous than before. Lady Sasha whispered something to the brunette, who nodded and began playing a plaintive tune. The blonde joined in with a melodious strumming of the harp. Then Lady Sasha sang, and Mina understood why Lord Rathbone would want to keep such a woman in his possession.
However, as she began to sing about lovers parted at sea and their ardent reunion upon the soft sands by night, and as Mina’s gaze lingered overtly upon Mikhail, her thoughts drifted to the last time they were alone. To his hands on her skin, his lips on her breast, his mouth between her legs.
“Your Highness, you look a bit flushed,” Lord Rathbone whispered close to her ear. “Might I escort you to the balcony for some fresh air?”
She shot up without a word, allowing him to take her through the open doors out onto the darkened and chilly night. What she needed was to speak to Mikhail alone, but even more urgent was her need for Lord Rathbone’s help. Now was as good a time as any to acquire that aid.
He immediately removed his coat and wrapped it around her shoulders. She crossed her arms and gripped the lapels to keep it tight around her, though the frosty night was welcome on her heated cheeks.
“I’m glad to have you alone, my lord.”
“That makes two of us.”
She ignored his flirtation. “You know you haven’t once asked why we are here or what we’ve come for.”
“I can guess.”
She leaned against the stone banister, the half moon peeking through wispy clouds. “Then please do.”
“As I’ve mentioned, the Black Lily army was destroyed. They’ve lost their numbers. The Bloodguard has rescued you from a horrific fate, so you feel obligation toward them. As the Princess of Arkadia, you seek help in recompense.”
His demeanor changed not one iota, his flirtatious tone ever present, as was his knee-buckling smile. He leaned against the banister, facing her. He tilted his head, his perfect features appearing all the more dazzling by the pale moonlight, but he didn’t interrupt her. Simply waited.
“You are still the lead counselor of the House of Arkadia, are you not?”
“I still share that role with Lord Maksim and Steward Thorwald.”
“I may have looked only like an ornament all of those times I visited the House, but I observed well. We both know that no matter what is decreed on parchment, you are the lead counselor.”
His mouth ticked up into a smile. “I won’t deny it.”
She lifted her hand from his sleeve and gripped the cold banister, needing the tangible feeling of the stone beneath her fingers, of holding onto something sturdy and true. That unfurling bloom within her chest pressed wider, seeking the light that would finally open her to the world.
Lord Rathbone lay his large hand atop hers.
She flinched but didn’t remove her hand from beneath his.
“Your Highness,” he started gently, “tell me.”
Deep breath in, then out. “My lord, I intend to present myself to the House and demand my rights as Queen of Arkadia. Steward Thorwald has kept my throne warm for long enough. I intend to exert my power as the rightful heir of the Arkadian throne, and I am requesting your support. Not just for me, but for all of Varis.”
His winter-blue eyes sparked with supernatural fire. “You will have it.”
She blinked, not expecting it to be quite that easy. “You understand what I’m asking of you? Of the people and the army of Arkadia?”
“Let me see if I have it.” His devilish eyebrow shot up. “You’ve come with full armed guard, intending to stake your claim as queen—as you should—then you plan to rally the resources of the south against King Dominik, since he is trying to force an unwilling alliance of marriage between the two of you. Furthermore, you will ally with the army of the Black Lily, as you are now in the company of the exiled Duke of Winter Hill, to overthrow Queen Morgrid and start some kind of new world order.”
Mina could only stare for a moment, completely at a loss for words.
“Is that your intention, Your Highness?” he probed softly, brushing his thumb over her knuckles.
“Yes,” was the only answer she could think to say. “The punishment for treason is death. Supporting my claim would go against Queen Morgrid’s wishes. You have much to lose.”
“Precisely,” he agreed, his tone grave. “I have too much to lose for that power-hungry King Dominik to come in and take it all. Do you know what would happen to Arkadia if you should marry him?” His perfect features hardened, and she saw the charming facade vanish and the vampire thrust forward. “He would rule with an iron fist, and the freedoms and prosperity we’ve enjoyed in the southern provinces would vanish overnight.”
“Then why did you sign contracts with him in Izeling?”
His composure slipped for a second. He glanced through the balcony door opening where Friedrich sat, clapping at the closing of another song.
“Damn, that vixen of the duke’s overheard everything, didn’t she?”
“Yes.” Mina refrained from smiling. “She did.”
He launched forward as if it mattered not at all. “The contracts were to appease the king and keep him out of our territory. We’d counseled with the lords of the House and all were in agreement to sign over some of our resources—equestrian soldiers and Arkadian stock horses. Then the queen made that damned announcement, and we abruptly changed our minds. We left at once without engaging the king on the matter till we could figure out what must be done.” He smiled, and this time Mina did feel her heart race at being the recipient of such a godlike smile. “And here you are, our angel straight from heaven to save us all.”
“I’m not so sure about an angel.”
He edged forward. “You certainly look like one. You are quite breathtaking, Your Highness.”
Laughter lilted from the open doorway. “Wouldn’t your concubines disapprove of you flirting with another woman?”
He let out a full-throated laugh, his breath white curls in the air. “My blood concubines are not mine. They are free to come and go as they please. If they decide to leave Sommersby, they can go without a moment’s notice. And I am not flirting with another woman, I am attempting to get the attention of my future queen.”
Her gaze drifted back to the open doorway.
“Princess Mina, an alliance of our houses would strengthen your claim of the throne.”
Pulled back to Lord Rathbone, she refocused on what he’d said. “Our houses? As in you and me?”