A Kingdom of Stars and Shadows

It hit me then who he was, and my entire body stiffened as he tried to turn me along the floor.

“Are you all right, Starblessed?”

I nodded even as my heart raced, and I looked over his shoulder, praying that Evren was still where he had been when I last sought him out.

His eyes met mine instantly, and I sighed in relief. Here I was dancing in the arms of the man who had attacked me only a few nights ago, and all I needed was to see Evren. He shifted as soon as he saw the look on my face. One simple look, and he was marching toward us with determination.

“My daughters told me that they had the pleasure of meeting you yesterday. Both were honored to spend time with the Starblessed.”

His words quickly drew my attention back to him. “Quinn and Lydia are your daughters?”

“They are.” He smiled like a proud father and not the man who had shoved a knife into my leg with no remorse. “They grew up in this palace with Gavril. It feels like home to them.”

“Excuse me, Nobleman Etkin.” Evren stopped at my side, close enough that we had no choice but to stop our dance. “I would love to have a dance with the Starblessed if I can interrupt. She did promise to save me one.”

“Of course,” he said quickly, although his face contorted in annoyance. “We shall talk again later.” He nodded toward me, and I quickly returned the movement.

Evren didn’t hesitate as he took my hand from the man and pulled my body into his. He held me closer than even Gavril had, and I tried to put some space between us but he refused. He spun us around the floor effortlessly, getting us lost in the mix of the others, and only then did he open his mouth.

“What’s wrong?” He searched my face quickly, scanning every inch of me.

“I don’t…” I shook my head because I didn’t know how to put into words what I believed to be the truth.

“What is wrong, princess?” He said the words through his teeth, annunciating each one.

“Who was that man?” I nodded to where I had just been dancing.

“Did he say something to you?” His gaze turned murderous, and I quickly shook my head.

“No. Who is he to you?”

“He is Quinn’s father.” He nodded toward where the girl was dancing with someone else. “He has been a part of my father’s court for as long as I can remember.”

“But he doesn’t live in the palace?”

“Not anymore.” His hands tightened against the small of my back. “Why are you asking?”

I shook my head because I didn’t want to tell him. What if I was wrong? What if he wasn’t the man I had seen that night?

“Fucking tell me, princess.” He growled at me, and my heart raced even harder.

“It’s just…” I looked back for the man, but he was nowhere to be found. “I think he was the man who attacked me.”

Evren’s body went rigid under my hands, and I knew that I shouldn’t have said anything.

“I’m sorry. I must be mistaken. I shouldn’t have said that.”

He looked down at me, and I could see the anger burning in his gaze. My hands loosened against him, and for the first time since I met Evren, I truly feared the man standing in front of me.

“I’m sorry.”

“Do not apologize.” He shook his head before looking over my shoulder with the same ferocity that he had just been directing at me. “Don’t you dare fucking apologize for that coward.”

“But what if I’m wrong?” I shook my head and tried to pull away from him, but he held me tighter against him. “He’s a part of your father’s court.”

“I don’t give a damn if it was my father himself, princess. No one will hurt you and not see the end of my blade.”

I was shocked by his words, but when I looked up at him, he was staring down at me with nothing but truth in his gaze. I wanted Evren desperately, but he was still my enemy. The blood that ran through his veins was the very blood that was trapping me here, but he was also something more.