[SILVER RAYNE WILLIAMS]

ALL IS WELL.

I repeat to myself. Somehow the worst part is over. Forks are scraping over plates, attention is on the meal.

I can breathe. Finally.

At least the illusion is comforting, at least it feels that way but in truth, it is not. The attention is not on the meal, although it cascaded as such.

I feel an array of gazes in the small silence, flickering to me in instances.

The closest one is Lady Elise. Her deep brown gaze watches me through hooded eyes.

It is so subtle I do not think anyone else notices but me. Or perhaps it is just me. Me who feels guilty that I sit at the right hand of Prince.

I feel this should be her place. She is his Sworn. The new Queen promised.

My jaw ticks slightly, and I try to focus on the meal. Amongst other gazes is that of Lord Valcon. His is still inscrutable, hard as steel and dark.

On the other hand, although I feel the King has decided not to give me any more physical attention, I still feel the disgust reeling off of him.

And then, I feel mothers eyes.

Her gaze is the softest among all, though it feels nervous and relieved at the same time. Her eyebrows are drawn in, seemingly studying the small space between the prince and me.

It is the elephant in the room. It is like I can hear all thoughts for a moment.

What is this sudden fixture the prince has with this human girl?

I can see the question laced in the eyes of the Lord Selects, Lady Elise, and my mother.

Yes, it is quite apparent.

And because I know this, I cannot enjoy my meal.

Words can not convey how grateful I am when the Queen she speaks, drawing all attention to herself.

"Roman, will you tell us then?" Her voice carries a low excitement. I note that since our arrival, her eyes have never truly left her son, as if he is all that matters and all that exists.

There is a smile playfully playing at her blood-red lips and her eyes glow momentarily, outlining her irises crimson as her immortal lingers.

I only glance at the Queen for moments, not willing to risk being trapped in a royal gaze, focusing instead on my food. I did not want the attention of a Pure-blood. She could obsess over her son for as long as she needed.

I did not even need to look at the prince to know that he was more focused on his food rather than his mother's questions, but the Queen, seemingly accustomed to his behavior, pressed on.

"I know," she drags, her gaze shifting to the sworn beside her, "That you two love birds planned something rather—special last night," she beams.

It is a shallow flirty hint.

Shit.

I blink quickly.

Of all things to ask! Just my luck. My rotten luck.

I keep my gaze now glued on the plate. For goodness sake, I had just started breathing well and now I'm a nervous wreck once again.

I hated this breakfast.

The fact that I couldn't even enjoy the meal was worse. Instead, I could feel butterflies beginning to swirl in my stomach.

"I'm eager to hear more," She adds, eyes still on the prince.

"There is nothing to tell," The prince declares, his tone dismissive.

The Queen pauses, staring at her son momentarily.

"Nothing?" She echoes, her gaze brightens and her smile widens, "Now, no need to be shy, Roman-—" her gaze trails the lord selects, grinning slightly, "I trust anything the prince says will be held in good faith?"

Her smile is bewitching. The way she moves over the table as she speaks is so elegant, I realize elegance itself was probably molded after her.

The Queen is absolutely beautiful with her long blonde hair and her youthful look. Perks of being immortal I suppose.

Her eyes are pretty, and her smile could stop a heart. It was hard to believe that beneath those lips lay a pair of sharp deadly fanga, and her tongue was no stranger to the taste of death.

But That was Fang.

The more beautiful, the more dangerous. My gaze shifted to the Prince.

Yes.

The more dangerous.

"Of course Your Majesty," Lord Bane gushed.

"Kept to the heart," Lord Graydon added, with a firm nod, his trailing the Prince and the Lady.

"My lips are sealed," Lord Heil finishes, "Nothing to pry."

The Queen beams at this, excited eyes trailing to her son.

"Go on then, Darling, Do tell," she gleefully claps, "Young bonds are so exciting."

The Prince's gaze finally rises, trailing everyone's eyes in a rather bored manner. We all await his words but, his gaze falls back to his plate, and says nothing.

Absolutely nothing.

Silence crosses the room. Even The King's eyes knock heavily on his son.

I feel uncomfortable with it.

I note that the Lady Elise is staring at the prince as if waiting desperately for a word, but when the moment lingers she suddenly speaks, just before the silence gets too awkward.

"Oh, Your majesty," she begins shyly, "I fear the prince is far too kind to say it," she clears her throat glancing at the prince, "Unfortunatley, our plans were delayed, last night," she sighs.

My heart pumps twice as fast.

Keeping my eyes on my plate.

"Delayed?" the Queen echoes, her smile is gone. Evaporated. She looked slightly scarier, her lips pursing as she glanced at her son, "Why?"

It is dry and cold.

"Forgive me, It is entirely my fault, I feel so bad." Lady Elise quickly rushes

I freeze. What?

"I had to cancel. You see, I wasn't feeling too well last night, and I-I suppose I needed rest."

"Oh my, I trust you're feeling better, My lady?" Lord Bane calls from across the table.

She flashes him a bright smile, "Far better. Thank you for your concern, Lord Bane, but I was in the best care. The Prince made sure I was adequately attended to."

I raise both eyebrows subtly at her words, "I just needed a little bit of rest. And he was such a sweetheart, to grant me some time alone."

"Ah, indeed. My cousin found his mate last month, he can barely keep his hands off of her, it is insufferable. I imagine one does need some time alone. It takes a strong man to fight the pull of the bond," Lord Heil backs, giving respect to the prince.

My eyebrows gathered slightly at all her statements. True, it was false in every manner, and I did not understand why she felt the need to protect the Prince, but it worked in my favor.

Perhaps she was embarrassed that he had spent the night with me instead.

I side glanced at the Prince. Yes.

That was it. That was definitely it.

How was it to sound that the Prince, her Sworn, had ditched her to save a random human girl he was now parading about, and making sit at his right hand?

My jaw clenched at the thought. This was messy. Way messier than I ever intended.

Still, despite the true reason for it, I have to say, I was impressed. She was a girl that knew what she wanted evidently and she was determined to get it.

That. Yes, that I could work with.

A girl who would change her colorful gowns to dull ones and lie all for the sake of the prince.

I looked at the Tribrid momentarily. This was golden. Who would have thought? For all my bad luck, I got the one girl in the world who actually wanted to marry the beast.

The thought hit me so hard that I felt euphoric.

"I am blessed to be paired with a man as kind," Lady Elise beams.

Oh, I love her.

"The match is designed by the fates themselves, I have never seen a pair that compliments each other so well. The Prince is— godly," Lord Bane states, "and you, my lady, know exactly how to translate him for us mere normals."

Lady Elise blushes, and she glances at the Prince through her eyelashes. His gaze is drawn down.

I wonder if he is even listening to the conversation.

"Indeed, I have never seen my son, happier." The King adds rather stiffly.

The Queen hums in response, her bright eyes on her son.

King Drake Alistair's gaze shifts to his son, "Tell me, son," he says, then smiles though it seems nothing less than sinister, "Do you, feel happier?" He drawls, casually, swinging his wine glass between golden-ringed fingers:

It is a question, but I sense an underlined emotion. As stiff as his demeanor.

The Prince finally gazes upwards, his eyes boring into his mother's. This seems to make her more happy for a moment. Then his saltwater gaze shifts to his father's, "I feel near complete."

His answer is rather gray.

But Lord Heil is more than happy to paint it all rainbows.

"Completion can only be felt after one is marked and mated. It must be so agonizing to have to wait until your ascension to mark her. My cousins have been at it like rabbits," he grunted, shaking his head.

Lord Graydon chuckled lowly at this, and even I managed to break a small smile. It is because Lord Heil sounded truly stressed.

"Please, not in front of the child," Eden grunts.

Hunter rolls his eyes as his father gives him a look.

The Kings gaze shifts to Lord Heil at his comment and then back to the prince with a low grunt, picking up his fork, "Days fly by, it will be here before we know it. Duty, duty," he drawls, a chant against his lips, looking at his son, "let us not forget."

Silence falls on the company.

Lady Elise clears her throat and all our eyes travel to hers. She does know how to capture room, I'll give her that.

"I'm all for duty," she smiles sweetly, but her gaze trails to the prince, "But I do cherish the time we have together as we wait. I was promised a reschedule."

My gaze dropped to the plate. Indeed she was.

"Wonderful. Are there plans?" The Queen asks.

My gaze rises from a lowered head to glance at Lady Elise. Her eyes focus on the Prince who has returned to calmly eating.

"Yes." She stated firmly.

Her words have some gravel in them. They are firmer I note.

Her eyes seem, determined.

"This evening," she states, her gaze shifts to the Queen, eyes bright, "a walk through the gardens, and-"

My eyebrows raise at her sudden boldness.

"We will also be having lunch together."

The Princes gaze flashes forward. My heart rams within me. Lady Elise seems to freeze at the look in his eyes, but she takes a breath in and I see her hand on her fork tightens, but she masters a flawless smile.

"He has promised that I'll have him then," she smiles, looking at the Queen, "all to myself."

She's smart. Very smart.

I stare at her in a newfound light.

The Prince only watches her whilst I hold my breath. Her hand is still clenched tightly as if she is nervous that he will say something, and for a moment even I hold a breath, but he merely glances at her, and returns to his meal.

An action he has done before.

I remember his demeanor in the gardens. When Lady Elise was bold enough to touch his hand. I understood that moment better now.

When nothing is said, - a deep blush highlights Lady Elise's cheeks, and I know now she feels warm and light as well as important, seen.

A stark contrast of what she probably felt last night when the Prince slammed a door in her face.

I watch her momentarily, amazed someone would feel this for the Tribrid.

How utterly wonderful for me.

Now that fate has thrown me a bone, it is up to me to make the broth. I must find a way to make the prince as receptive as possible. They have a lunch and an evening together. And I have a morning to get the Prince to par.

Everyone will be watching.

My gaze follows the maids lined at the back. And the Lord Selects.

Everyone. Will. Be. Watching.

Perhaps in the shadows. But they'll be watching.

I take in a sharp breath, my gaze raises to Lady Elise, but her eyes are already watching me through a subtle wooden glare, poisoned with hate.

Shit.