Page 63 of Her Ivory Flame

“Lets just walk around the castle and then maybe the garden. I’m guessing I’m not allowed outside the main castle walls into town?” she said quietly.

“Kaden said to keep you close.”

“Close to the castle or close to him?” she asked curiously.

“Both.”

A heat in her gut formed and she knew things were changing around her when it concerned Kaden. Ever since they fought the Trenchers outside the main gate, there had been a shift between them she couldn’t explain.

Not that he wasn’t a good looking male, many females would probably jump at the chance to be close to him, but after Silas she wasn’t sure she could trust anyone again that way.

They walked in silence around the halls, guard looking at her as they passed and could see them tense under their leather armor. She could even see some of their cheeks blush and she wondered if their pants were getting a little tighter too.

She didn’t try to purposely be flirtatious, but her hips might have swayed more than necessary.

Kaden had said to play the game, so she was going to take it up a notch.

The door to the throne room was wide open and she slowed her pace as they walked past it, the guards nodding to her as she walked by.

“Alyra.” Emris’s voice carried into the hall and she let a smile form on her face.

Her steps halted and she started towards the door they had slightly walked past, Raine and the guards following. She looked at the floor as she entered for the first few steps, wanting whoeverwas in the room with him to take a good look at her before she saw their faces.

The room went silent as she strolled in and when she finally decided to lift her eyes, Kaden’s was the first one she saw.

He was tense, his eyes focused on her face but she could tell he was struggling to keep them there. She gave him a mischievous smirk, his eyes smoldering even more and she looked around to see who else was standing nearby.

Silas was next to Kaden, followed by Logan, Declan, and then Emris who was looking at her, fury in his eyes. She knew this wasn't attire that he would approve of her wearing, with the culture in the fae kingdoms being more conservative.

“What are you wearing?” Emris asked through gritted teeth.

“Well, since I am the Queen of Mydalsa I thought I should act like it. I had to do some alterations but I think it turned out perfect.” She kept the smile on her face and her hands clasped together in front of her trying to pull off an innocent look, though she knew he could see right through it.

“You are not in Mydalsa and I don’t appreciate you strutting around barely clothed.” Emris looked to Silas with an annoyed look. “You approve of her wearing this?”

Silas just watched her carefully and she gave him a warning look in return.

“I don’t have a say in what she wears, my king, she is a female of her own free will.” Silas answered calmly.

She could see Logan trying to avoid looking at her out of the corner of her eyes while Kaden’s eyes burned into her next to him. She could feel that familiar pull coming from his direction when she looked away and if she wasn’t so focused on her performance, she would have looked back at him.

“If you want to get technical.” She started, “I’m a visiting queen being housed in your castle and typically that would make you the host.” She tilted her head and smiled, her eyes still glued to Emris. “Which also means you have to cater to my culture and my needs for however long I stay per your kingdom’s law if I remember correctly.”

The look in his eyes darkened and she knew she had just beat his game. She wasn’t just a soldier he could command, but a true queen and ally that he needed to respect.

“Well I’m glad you decided to wander down here, you are leaving the castle.”

For the first time since she entered the room she let her smile fade and her eyes instantly went to Kaden.

“What do you mean?” she asked and struggled to keep her voice from faltering.

“Emris thinks you should travel to Bromel for a while to pull the attention away from Elnora and tour part of the kingdom. This way more people will see you are alive, they think it's for the best.”

She noticed the way he said ‘they’and realized he was against the decision to move her. Her eyes scanned the others in the room,Declan barely making eye contact with her which made her conclude he knew she wouldn’t like the decision.

“Bromel is a seven day ride and we have to go through Grimstone to get there.” She focused her eyes on Emris and made sure he was aware she was not pleased.

“Seems you are capable of handling yourself with the show you put on yesterday.” Emris sneered.