Restored (Eternally Tethered Book 3) by Christina C. Jones

Author:Christina C. Jones [Jones, Christina C.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Warm Hues Creative
Published: 2021-10-29T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter 5

Eryn - past

Having a secret was… exhilarating.

So much that it was hard to focus.

Throughout the formal introductions and other boring ministrations of court, I was thoroughly distracted by Zair.

His eyes.

His hands.

The tongue he cheekily licked out at me when no one else was watching.

I swallowed hard, trying to keep my head together until we parted ways to actually join the dinner table.

But then my mother pulled me aside.

“I heard you have had a busy day,” she said, eyebrow raised.

My mouth dropped open. “My queen, I—”

“I am glad you could help that family,” she spoke up, beaming before she leaned in. “I trust everyone was discreet?”

I nodded, relieved that it was about the other thing I wasn’t supposed to be doing – the one I’d all but forgotten. “Yes, of course.”

“Good,” she smiled, then cast her gaze toward where our guests were already being situated around the table. “I see a certain warrior has caught your eye. Understandably – he is beautiful.”

My eyes went big. “I… do not know what you—”

“You would lie to my face?”

I stopped.

Swallowed hard.

Then shook my head.

“No, mother.”

“Good,” she nodded. “You are much too obvious anyway – the young man clearly has your attention.”

Not that it matters when he’s going to be engaged to someone else.

I wanted to ask about that, but then a different question popped into my mind.

“My queen… I overheard the most preposterous thing today.”

Her eyes narrowed a bit. “And what would that be, sweet Eryn?”

I let out a breath. “Supposedly… your majesties have seen it prudent to deny every suitor who has approached this kingdom in pursuit of my hand,” I started, watching her face for a reaction. “But… that cannot be, since I was led to believe there had been no requests.”

Queen Vedis’ jaw was tight as her gaze darted around before landing on me again. “Who did you hear such a thing from?”

I shrugged. “So many visitors in the castle today, I have no idea. But it is not to be taken seriously – idle chatter, of course?”

“They are waiting for us at the table,” she said, instead of answering the question. “But let me say this – we were given explicit instructions for the futures of our children, and we have always followed them. This is no different.”

What?

With a room full of expectant eyes on us, we had no choice but to end the conversation… for now.

The implications of my mother’s words swam in my head through dinner, only permeated by irritation from where Ancelin and Zair were seated next to each other.

Flirting.

Well… he was.

Ancelin was actually rather subdued from when I’d met her earlier, and I wasn’t sure what that was about. With her looks, personality – and reputation – I half expected to want to rip her hair out for having the attention of Zair.

But his eyes kept coming back to me.

And I didn’t get the impression she cared very much.

If I didn’t know better, I would almost think she seemed… heartbroken.

The same energy I was picking

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