Flames left behind

20{Here We go Again}

    I walked into the drawing room the next morning, purposely being late to make myself noticed. It worked. Again. All eyes were on me, me and my 4-inch heels. 

  Broken silence dawned on the room, but I held my head high. I have to pretend I didn't just have an emotional breakdown yesterday, not at all. Ronin was spread across a chair, one of those lazy, promising smiles that he finished off by running his hand through his already messy hair.

  Only someone who really paid close attention would notice the little shadows under his eyes, the tired draw of his mouth, the way he limply lifted his head in acknowledgement. And I noticed, because I like to notice. I like to people watch. 

    His eyes met mine, and I shivered with the eerie feeling that he knew what I was thinking. That he knew I knew, but I knew he didn't. Did he?

    I willed myself to dislike him, forcing myself to believe it. It wasn't all that hard considering he had this cocky, bad boy aura that surrounded him like a blanket. I didn't try to hide the disgust on my face, mixed with pity. 

  "Pleasant morning, Ambrosia," the deep rumble of his voice brought me back to reality. 

 He had this specific accent, not quite English but not full on British. It was distinctive, the kind of voice that made him mysterious, the kind of voice that made all the girls fawn over him when he passed by. I hated it. 

   I ignored his topic of conversation, grabbing a strawberry off of the bowl in the middle and popping it in my mouth. I looked from my fingers to the man sprawled across the couch, with tousled hair and an arrogant smile. Leaning closer, but not enough for anyone to notice, I took in his smell. He still smelled of pine and lemon, but this time it had a spicy tang to it. Like, a yummy spicy. Focus Ambrosia, focus.

   I ignored him, watching as a few more faeans walked in, Emrick being one of them. Why a meeting this early?

  "Oh, come on Ambrosia, you can't ignore me forever. I practically live with you." It ticked me off that he sounded amused, but I continued to watch Emrick as he sat down, waiting for the others to find rest. 

  "Ambrosia, come on." I could feel the smirk playing on his lips, but he continued, "You will give in, you know. You can't resist me. No one can."

   I didn't look at him, but I entertained him with my own comment.

"Well, this woman can. Now piss off, Emrick has something to say."

  On que, Emrick stood up and clapped his hands, as if the attention wasn't already on him, and I tried not to notice the frown that made its way across Ronins face.

  "Gentleman, Princess," he nodded in my direction, "I have excellent news. I have come to an agreement with the Seelie Queen with the marriage of my son Ronin, and Princess Ambrosia."

  Hands slapped hands, and the clapping grew increasingly louder. Yet, with a wave of his hand, everyone was silenced. Magnus had that same power, and I want it. 

  "Yes yes, good news. Now, originally, we were to wed Ronin and Ambrosia. But after finding the Queens interests were elsewhere, we have decided to marry Ronin to the Queen, and Ambrosia will stay unmarried, perhaps for a better suitor. Quite possibly the queen's white knight."

  I let my jaw drop, and let my glare linger on Ronin, but it softened when I saw he looked as shocked as I did. Did he give thought about marrying the Queen and reject it? I thought back to my reading on faean mating, but blanked.

  Did it say something about being able to sever the bond? I didn't think so. So how was Emrick going to go through with this.

  Zoning back into the room, I realized no one was clapping. It was dead silent, so thick you could take a knife to it and server it like a slice of cake.