Page 139 of The Fifth Life of Alicia
She looked shocked. “Are you sure, my lady?”
I nodded. “Isn’t your sister here?”
“Yes, I believe she’s attending with House Carden as Lady Mona’s maid.”
“Why don’t you go and see her? I don’t mind as long as you return before the hunt begins.”
“Are you sure, my lady?”
“I wouldn’t say so if I wasn’t.” I smiled. “Rina has some personal time, so please take a little for yourself.”
“Thank you, my lady.” She curtseyed. “I will excuse myself, Your Highnesses.”
She disappeared, and Torin turned to me. “You’re far too nice to your servants.”
I refused to meet his gaze. “I’m not the only one who left my family behind when I moved to Stein. While I could live quite happily never crossing paths with my sister again, Bella is not the same.”
“What are you doing here?” Kalon glared at Torin. “And what are you doing sniffing around Allie?”
Torin raised his eyebrows, looking more amused than anything. “Goodness, brother. Anyone would look at this situation and believe you feel threatened by me.”
Kalon grabbed my waist and yanked me back against him, and I squealed out an, “Eep!” in surprise.
“Do you think I don’t know she was the number one choice for Crown Princess? Not only by the Emperor and Empress, but by you, too?” He clamped his arms around my shoulders, pinning me against him.
Wait. I was Torin’s choice, too?
How annoying.
“If you knew, why did you propose marriage to her? Wouldn’t your life be easier if you found someone else?” Darkness glinted in Torin’s eyes. “You have to know that Mother hasn’t given up on making her my wife, and I’m not sure I have, either.”
Brat.
“Then you should share my apologies between you, because I would die before I ever let you marry her.”
“That can be arranged,Grand Duke.”
“I’d like to see you try,little brother.”
They glared at one another so intensely that the tension prickled at my skin. It was almost suffocating, and for the first time, I truly understood how deep their hatred of one another ran.
It was almost as if it were ingrained into their very souls.
“Kalon,” I said, holding onto his arm as I tilted my head back to look at him. “We ran into each other by chance while I was speaking with my sister. Crown Prince Torin ran her off and offered to escort me to your tent as he was heading this way, that’s all.”
Kalon clenched his jaw.
“And Your Highness, not everyone aspires to the seat of Empress. Please keep that in mind.” I turned my attention back to Torin, who almost looked shocked that I was addressing him in such a manner. “Just as it’s improper for a lady to offer her handkerchief to a betrothed man, it’s equally as rude for a gentleman, regardless of his stature, to openly covet another man’s fiancée. If what you say is true and you wished to marry me, then you should have taken the initiative and proposed to me first.”
Shock flashed across Torin’s features quickly followed by anger before he restrained himself. It was quite impressive how he managed to swallow back his emotions and present a cool façade even though I’d just borderline insulted him.
“You should go back to your tent and prepare to leave, brother,” Kalon said, his shoulders shaking. “Excuse us.”
He dragged me inside his tent before Torin could say a word, and once the curtains fell shut behind us, Kalon spun me around and grabbed my waist. He plopped me onto the table in the middle of his tent and, planting one hand on the flat surface next to me, used his other to cup the back of my neck, then kissed me.
“Mmph!” I gripped onto his shirt as I fell back from the force of his kiss. My legs were tucked between his as he covered me with his strong body, and I had no choice but to give myself over to his whims.
I wrapped my arms around his neck. Kalon’s tongue teased my lower lip, and as I sank my fingers into his thick, silky hair, I parted my lips, giving him the permission to deepen the kiss.
