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Back The Beholder
Chapters (64)
  1. Cover
  2. Dedication
  3. 1
  4. 2
  5. 3
  6. 4
  7. 5
  8. 6
  9. 7
  10. 8
  11. 9
  12. 10
  13. 11
  14. 12
  15. 13
  16. 14
  17. 15
  18. 16
  19. 17
  20. 18
  21. 19
  22. 20
  23. 21
  24. 22
  25. 23
  26. 24
  27. 25
  28. 26
  29. 27
  30. 28
  31. 29
  32. 30
  33. 31
  34. 32
  35. 33
  36. 34
  37. 35
  38. 36
  39. 37
  40. 38
  41. 39
  42. 40
  43. 41
  44. 42
  45. 43
  46. 44
  47. 45
  48. 46
  49. 47
  50. 48
  51. 49
  52. 50
  53. 51
  54. 52
  55. 53
  56. 54
  57. 55
  58. 56
  59. 57
  60. Acknowledgments
  61. About the Author
  62. Books by Anna Bright
  63. Back Ad
  64. About the Publisher

I bit my lip, shifting my weight from one sore foot to the other. “I just hope the duke doesn’t win next week.”

“He won’t. I’m certain,” Bear said, voice intent. “Selah, would you be embarrassed to dance with me?”

I glanced up at him, surprised. “With my fearless defender? Of course not,” I said. “Unfortunately, my shoes are killing me.”

“Take them off.” A grin pried at Bear’s mouth. “We’re the last ones here.”

It was true. The throng that had easily numbered six or seven hundred when we arrived had dwindled with the passing hours. A few exhausted princes and princesses were draped over chairs inside the banquet hall. Nannies chased the royal children or let them be; little Gemma was fast asleep, curled under a table with her thumb in her mouth. Bear and I were alone in the courtyard with soft music and the scent of climbing roses.

He eyed me, expectant.

The musicians’ sibilant tune posed no distraction to the weight of Bear’s right palm on my waist, the shift of muscle and bone in the warm hand that held mine. He’d loosened the tie that I’d knotted around his neck.

“Thank you for taking me outside this morning.” My voice was uneven, treacherous. “I had a wonderful time.”

“The prince was pleased,” he whispered. Guilt stabbed my stomach and heat bloomed beneath my skin as Bear’s cheek grazed my temple. His nose and mouth were a mere heartbeat above mine. “Half the village and the court are in love with you.”

My nerves sparked and flared. I gave an edgy laugh. “Why do you say that?”

“I’ve been paying attention,” Bear whispered, thumb tracing a small circle of fire through the fabric over my waist. “You should do the same.”

The last notes of the song still hung on the air as he bowed over my hand and kissed it. Though light as butterflies’ wings, my skin burned beneath his lips; I half expected their touch to leave a mark.

I was still rooted to the ground when words cold as an icy wind blew my reverie away.

“Seneschal-elect.” Sir Perrault loomed at the edge of the empty courtyard like a ghost, black eyes flashing. “Take a walk with me.”

28

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The protocol officer strode inside, and I lurched alongside him like a marionette. Lang’s brow puckered in question as we scuttled through the beautiful hall, but he looked away when our eyes met. He shifted uncomfortably, turning his attention back to Yu.

When we finally reached our quarters, Perrault faced me, eyes hard, voice stripped of all its charm and silk. “It’s apparent that your relationship with your guard has progressed beyond the merely professional.”

I wasn’t cold, but fear spread like frost through my veins, wrapping icy fingers around my throat.

What is he going to tell Alessandra and the Council?