Princess Nymeria's Arc

Chapter 26 of 32

The dance ended, but Valor did not let go of her hand. Nymeria studied his face. He smiled at her, easy and warm, and that was the problem. She had seen men smile at her before. Their eyes always went empty first. His did not. But she could not trust that. Her charm bent people without their knowing. Kind words meant nothing if her magic had spoken them for her. "Walk with me," Valor said. He led her out past the tall doors, into a courtyard under the silver towers of the keep. Water fell somewhere nearby. The music faded behind them. "You should be inside," Nymeria said. "Your mother wants you to choose a bride tonight." "I know what she wants." Valor leaned against a cold stone rail. "I want to know why you keep looking at me like I might bite you." Nymeria decided to test him. She would have her answer, even if it broke this. "Do you feel anything strange near me? A pull. Like you want to please me?" Valor frowned. "No. Should I?" "Most men do." Her voice shook. "I am a succubus. My blood carries a charm. Men lose themselves around me. They say what they think I want." She braced for him to step back. He did not move. "So you think I am charmed," he said slowly. "You think this is your magic talking to me and not me." "I don't know. That is the curse of it. I never know." Valor was quiet. Then he laughed, short and surprised. "Elves can't be charmed. Ask my sister." Nymeria's heart caught. Lyra had told her the same. Lyra was immune. But she had never dared to hope it stretched to him. "You're certain?" "Lyra teases me every day of my life. If magic could sway an elf, she'd have made me her servant years ago." He stepped closer. "Whatever you feel from me, you didn't put it there. It's mine." The courtyard door opened. Lyra strolled out, a cup in her hand, still in her green ball gown. She looked at the two of them and grinned. "So this is where you both hid," Lyra said. "Mother's inside pairing me with a duke's son. Meanwhile my brother's out here whispering to a demon princess." She sipped her drink. "He can't be charmed, if that's what you're worried about. Trust me. I've tried worse." Nymeria let out a breath she had held for what felt like hours. It was true. She had her answer. Valor's interest was real. Not her charm. Not a spell. Him. But relief did not stay clean. If his feeling was real, then hers might be too. And Queen Celeste wanted her son married to an elf tonight, not a hunted daughter of a demon king. "Then I have a problem," Nymeria said quietly. "Because I think I want it to be real too."