Free A Royal Heartbreak by Marian Tee

dance, Misty? For old time’s sake?” Before Misty could answer, Domenico was already at her side, pulling her away and leading her to the dance floor.
     
    Feeling all eyes on her, Misty knew struggling away from Domenico would cause a scandal. “I don’t want to dance with you,” she hissed under her breath.
     
    “Too bad,” he answered readily, pulling her tightly against his hard body, causing her to gasp silently because of his heat – and the unmistakable evidence of his arousal. As they started to twirl around the dance floor, Domenico easily taking the lead, he murmured against her cheek, “Do you like him?”
     
    She didn’t bother pretending not knowing who he was talking about since that had never been her style. “No.”
     
    He was quiet for a long time, making Misty oddly restless. She almost jumped when he turned to face her, his lips grazing her cheeks. “You could have lied.”
     
    “I know.” She remembered his letter – the words he gave her, and try as she might Misty couldn’t keep tears from pricking her eyes. “But I don’t want to…I’m not sure I can but if I could---”
     
    Domenico couldn’t help tensing. “What?”
     
    “I don’t want to risk hurting you,” she whispered.
     
    He lost his step.
     
    Never ever in his life had he done something so ungraceful, something so alien to who and what he was. But right now, he couldn’t even feel the need to be embarrassed of tripping on his own fucking feet in the middle of the dance floor, in front of thousands of Faeries no doubt keen to judge him at every turn.
     
    Domenico was unable to breathe at Misty’s words. After everything that had happened, how could be she so goddamn selfless and still worry about hurting him? Perhaps the right thing was to give her up. God knew he didn’t deserve her – but he couldn’t. He just damn couldn’t.
     
    He loved her too much.
     
    Domenico roughly pulled her back to his arms, just to keep her close, not even bothering this time to pretend they were dancing. “Misty---even if you did have feelings for him, it wouldn’t stop me. You’re mine. Just like I’m---”
     
    Those last words she couldn’t bear to hear, and she pulled away, tears making her gray eyes shine like silver. That he said she was his, Misty could bear hearing. Because it was true – and she feared it always would be true. But those last words?
     
    Misty had a feeling they would always be a lie.
     
    “I don’t understand what you want from me, Domenico, but I want you to stop it. I’ve given you everything so please---please stop this.” And just like before, she ran away from all the prying gazes of other guests at the ball, feeling humiliated once more.  
     
    Outside, Ivory listened patiently for Misty’s footfall. She had a pretty good idea that something big would happen tonight---it was impossible that nothing would happen with the way Lysander Allard seemed intent to bait the Moretti prince.
     
    Her hunch paid off when she saw Misty walk so swiftly past her the other woman probably didn’t even see her. Seizing her chance, she looked at her companion meaningfully before saying out loud, “The prince told me in no uncertain terms that he would do everything to get the human girl back.”
     
    Misty faltered in her steps.
     
    “He wants to mate with her this time?” Ivory’s lady-in-waiting asked.
     
    “Oh no. He just wants her to win leadership of the Lyccan Council,” Ivory drawled, savoring every word that dropped from her lips, knowing that it would draw blood. “Even if it means lying and fooling her again.”
     

Chapter Six
     
    Someone was knocking on her door---in the middle of the night. She had been unable to sleep the whole night, unable to forget Ivory’s words. Once she had ignored such warnings and where had that gotten her? She had trusted in Domenico completely, and that only ended up breaking her heart.
     
    The knock became more insistent. Fearing it was