Heavens, this was fucked up.
“Don’t take it the wrong way,” Aedan said, nursing his own drink. He glanced over the rim of his glass in Ksar’s direction. “But after having my bond broken, I have a newfound appreciation for Ksar’ngh’chaali.” He grinned lewdly. “If you get what I mean.”
Seyn scowled. “He’s not the most handsome man in this room.”
“No,” Aedan said agreeably, looking far too amused for Seyn’s liking. “You are. But there’s something about him that’s just…” He licked his lips and smirked. “He looks like he’d be fantastic in the sack.”
Seyn pursed his lips and tried not to glare at him. In all honesty, he could hardly blame Aedan for noticing attractive people—he remembered how horny he’d been the first month after his bond’s breaking, so he could definitely understand—but it didn’t mean he liked it. He didn’t like that Aedan was imagining having sex with Ksar. He didn’t like to imagine Ksar having sex with Aedan. The mere thought was wrong, disgusting, and just—just infuriating.
Dropping his smirk, Aedan actually took a step back. “I was joking, Seyn. Well, mostly.” A furrow appeared between his brows. “I thought you hated him.”
“I do,” Seyn said testily and walked away before Aedan could say anything. He felt absolutely mortified—and horrified—by his completely inappropriate possessiveness. He had no business feeling proprietary over a man who was nothing to him. Over a man he hated. It was none of his business if people wanted to bed Ksar. This vicious possessive feeling was weird and completely fucked up.
Furious with himself, Seyn wasn’t looking where he was going.
So of course—of course—out of the hundreds of people in the room, he collided with Leylen.
“Sorry,” he said automatically before realizing who it was.
Leylen smiled at him kindly. “Oh, don’t worry. It’s understandable that you’re distracted.”
He wanted to hit her.
Immediately, Seyn cringed at the thought. He wasn’t a violent person, least of all toward women, no matter how superior and smug they looked. He had been raised by two strong women and had nothing but the utmost respect for them.
But fuck it, Leylen didn’t deserve to lick his mothers’ shoes, as far as he was concerned.
Isn’t that a bit too extreme? his inner voice said quietly.
Seyn had to admit that perhaps he was being a little unfair toward the woman. He’d never felt such disdain toward her before. She was hardly the epitome of evil.
He still wanted to punch her in the face.
Seyn took a deep breath. He knew people were watching them. The hush that fell around them was unnatural. Making a scene was the last thing he needed after all the rumors Leylen had spread about his inappropriate conduct. So if he were thinking rationally, Seyn would have walked away without saying anything.
He wasn’t thinking rationally.
“Your Highness,” he said flatly.
She arched an eyebrow. “Pardon?”
“One would think that someone with your impeccable conduct would know how to properly address your betters,” Seyn said.
She flushed.
For a moment, she looked mutinous. It was obvious that she already considered herself of a higher rank than him—and she would be, after marrying Ksar.
But she wasn’t, not yet. Seyn was a prince of the Third Royal House. She was a member of a minor noble family with more wealth than pedigree.
“Your Highness,” Leylen grated out before smiling innocently. “Forgive me, I’m so excited these days that I get distracted and forget my manners. Have you already received your invitation from the Second Royal House?”
Seyn spared a moment to admire her quick mind. She was smart enough to know how to turn the tables on him and make him look pathetic.
Unluckily for her, he had a thicker skin after years of verbal sparring with Ksar, and she had nothing on Ksar’s sharp tongue.
Smiling amicably, Seyn leaned closer to her and murmured just for her ears, “Enjoy your excitement while it lasts. You don’t know him like I do. He will crush you.” He nearly face-palmed as soon as he said that. What was wrong with him? Seriously—what was wrong with him? It would have been easy to subtly put her in her place without resorting to such juvenile methods.
Leylen looked as shocked as he was by his open hostility before giving him a haughty look. “Jealousy is so unbecoming, Your Highness,” she said, raising her voice.
Scandalized whispers around them got louder.
Seyn winced inwardly, already imagining the headlines. Stupid, stupid, stupid.
Before he could tell her how ridiculous her words were, a familiar voice said from behind him,
“Is there a problem?”
Seyn’s heart skipped a beat.
A nervous look flashed across Leylen’s face before she smiled pleasantly. “Not at all, Your Highness. We were just talking.”
Distantly aware of the stares and painfully aware of the man behind him, Seyn turned around.
The moment his eyes locked with Ksar’s, he felt hot and cold all over, his stomach quivering.