Anna leans forward and something about her eyes change. Her lips curve in a wicked smile and my heart rate skyrockets—not from arousal, though I’m sure that was her intent, but from fear. Something about that smile is unsettling. “Do you like what you see, Princess Taryn?”
“You’re lovely, of course,” I murmur quickly before looking away. I’ve never had another woman be so forward with me but I’m not convinced that’s what is putting me off the encounter. Usually, I’d give my left hand for sapphics to be bolder around me. There’s always this weird period of guessing, where I try to judge if they’re a sapphic or interested in me; it’s tiring. Anna is obviously open to a woman’s company, but something about her . . .
“Well done!” Dary shouts, clapping his hands together. My eyes fly to the spectacle in the middle of the arena. Callum stands victorious, a wooden sword pointed at Edin’s throat where he lays on the ground.
“Ah! Well done, Sir Callum!” Mira cries out, joining in the applause. Soon, everyone watching claps and Callum reaches down, helping his friend to his feet.
“Well,” I whisper to Mira as I turn my body completely away from Anna. “It seems your man won the tournament.”
“Hopefully he wins the lottery, too,” Mira sighs, her eyes wide with adoration.
“Do you think he’ll enter?” Dary asks Mira, even though his eyes ask me a different question. I know he noticed the strange exchange with Anna. I don’t know what to say, not with her sitting so close by. Luckily, he doesn’t ask anything out loud.
“One can only hope,” Mira murmurs, smiling at the victor.
A warm hand falls on my bare shoulder, the part exposed by my dress and I startle. It’s far too warm—hot even. My head snaps toward Anna and she grins at me, bowing her head before rising from her seat.
“Thank you for sharing your time with me, princess.”
“You’re very welcome, Lady Anna,” I return, studying her hands. Why is she so warm? It’s like she dunked her hands in hot bath water, then touched me. But I know that’s not the case. My head tilts to the side as I watch the strange woman make her way through the crowd.
“And what do we make of that?” Mira asks as she, too, rises from her seat. I shake my head as I smooth my dress down and shrug.
“I’m not entirely sure,” I whisper, turning to look at them both. “You should go congratulate your friend on his victory, Mira.”
“She’s beautiful, isn’t she?” Dary murmurs in awe. I meet his gaze and nod, answering carefully.
“She is. Strange, though, I think.”
Dary shook his head as if clearing it and offered Mira his hand, leading her down to the arena to congratulate Callum. My fingers traced the heat still burning against my flesh and I shook my head.
Strange, indeed.
Chapter Six
Music fills the ballroom and several couples take advantage in the middle of the room, swaying each other around to the tune of the strings. I glance around the crowd, taking in all the familiar faces. I’ve known most of these people in one way or another since I was a child. A few knights—though they aren’t dressed as knights in Vanir or the other kingdoms dress—I don’t recognize move freely through the crowd. They’re from Izvora. They wear the same strange armored formal wear as their king and Lady Anna.
The music stops and my eyes instantly rivet to the area where the musicians stand, holding their instruments to the side as Lord Sheffield clears his throat.
“Thank you,” he says to the musicians. They bow their heads gracefully. “It is my great pleasure to announce, with the king’s blessing, a wedding lottery at this year’s jubilee de paix.”
Beside me, Mira thrums with excitement. I take a sip of the drink I’ve been holding, waiting for Lord Sheffield to continue.
“My daughter, Lady Mira,” he gestures to where she stands and I turn—along with everyone else—to look at her fully as her father announces her availability to the room. “She is a lovely young lady and we couldn’t be prouder of her. Should any suitable bachelors like to place their name, please notify myself or my wife. Thank you.”
A round of applause goes up and I join in, clapping my hands carefully around the glass I hold. Mira curtsies, bowing her head to everyone in attendance before the music starts again.
“Ohhh, do you think anyone decent will enter?”
“Of course, they will, Mira. I’m sure the lottery will be a smashing success.” Dary squeezes her hand and I nod my agreement.
“Your father won’t let anyone you wouldn’t approve of even enter the lottery, I’m sure of it,” I laugh. Several young noblemen nod their head in Mira’s direction, and she flushes under their attention. “Oh, come now. It’s way past time to be shy, love,” I snicker.
“Don’t tease me,” she whispers, pressing her hands to her cheeks. “I’m blushing brighter than a bloody apple, aren’t I?”
“Yes,” Dary and I answer in unison.
“Taryn,” Dary murmurs while Mira fumes quietly about her blushing cheeks betraying her. “Is Anna of Izvora single? Has she mentioned being promised to anyone? She’s quite beautiful.”
I purse my lips and shake my head. “She hasn’t said. I’d think she’s unattached, considering how boldly she was flirting with me at the tournament. I’m not sure you’ll have much luck there, Dary.” I rest my hand on his arm, offering him an apologetic smile.
“She’s a sapphic, Dary. How’d you miss that, with tension between them at the tournament?” Mira rolls her eyes.
“I didn’t—well. I did notice the flirting, but I assumed Taryn started that, you know how she is.”
“How I am?” I scoff. “But yes, she’s a sapphic. I’m sure of it.”
“Quite my luck,” he grumbles, surveying the crowd. I follow his line of sight and find the object of his attention, the Lady Anna herself. Her long blonde hair is loosely braided down the middle of her scalp, the tail of the braid hanging over her shoulder. She is beautiful, he’s right.
“Do you fancy her?” he asks, and I realize he’s been watching me stare at her across the room this entire time.
“I don’t know,” I admit. “She’s beautiful, you’re right. I don’t think anyone can argue that. But there’s something about her—and the king as well—that’s . . . off-putting, isn’t there?”
Mira quickly nods her agreement and Dary reluctantly does the same.
“I think that’s why I’m drawn to her. Whatever it is that’s off about her, I think it has a different effect on men than women,” he mutters as he points across the room. Several known bachelors surround Lady Anna. She stands with her back straight, taller than several of them and shakes her head. I can’t hear the conversation, but I imagine her politely declining something. A dance, perhaps.
“There’s something different about all of them,” Mira says quietly. “They’re so stiff. I always imagined the kingdom in the north to be more barbaric. They wear the armor, they seem to have strange social graces, but watch how they move. It’s as if their entire bodies are tense, all of them, even the knights.”