“You will.” Yrsa snickered, but sobered when she looked back at me. “I will be honored to be his wife. I will be honored to watch him fall in love with another as I have. I only hope she will be as understanding to our situation as Emi.”

The prince kissed Yrsa’s knuckles.

“Now that all this has been cleared, may we get on with the feast?” Emi’s face softened.

I glanced to the floor. “Forgive me for assuming.”

“Nothing to forgive. It is reassuring to know you care for the prince.”

“It is.” Prince Thane strode past, Yrsa still linked to his arm, but he patted Roark on the side of the face as he went. “How do you feel knowing I’ve won her over?”

I’d learned enough of Roark’s vulgar gestures to know he leveled no less than three at the prince.

Thane simply laughed and escorted both Emi and Yrsa from the room.

I looked at the Sentry. “Next time your cousin is a princess’s lover, tell me.”

Roark took my hand and squeezed it twice. I did not think you would be so nosy to deem it necessary.

“I am not nosy. I happened to stumble upon them and have been torn over what to do all afternoon, I’ll have you know.”

A short gasp broke free when Roark had my back to the wall in the next breath. The others had rounded the corner, but alone in the corridor, the Sentry made a hard cage over me.

His fingers traced the line of my jaw before forming his words. I could help with the distress.

I’d be wise to heed Kael’s warnings, be wise not to let up my heart so easily. I should’ve done all that before Roark’s damn fingertips traced the neckline of my gown. An ache gathered in my chest and spread lower in my belly when Roark brushed his palm over the swell of one breast.

“How would you do that?”

Wickedness burned in the gold of his eyes. On my knees with a kiss. His palm slid over my hip.

I dug my hands into the wall, feigning indifference. “I’ve had your kiss. Not certain it would be enough.”

Not here. Roark touched my lips with his. His other hand glided down my thigh, toward the inner leg. I jolted when he paused over the apex between my thighs. On instinct, I widened my stance, wanting him to touch me deeper. Roark’s fingers brushed over my skirt, adding pressure to my core. My breath caught when I looked down to see him forming a single word.

Here.

Damn the gods. My breaths came too swift, too heavy. His silent words bled into my pores until they pulsed the ache to the lowest part of my belly.

Roark grinned, like he knew exactly how easily he’d found the loose thread, tugged, and unraveled me.