"Princess Elara," King Lucian's voice resonated with a low, silken timbre, a sound that sent a delicate tremor through her. He bowed his head in a gesture of practiced respect, his dark eyes lingering on hers just a moment too long. Elara responded with a graceful curtsy, her heart pounding against her ribs like a trapped bird.
"How gratifying it is to meet you at last," Lucian continued, his voice a caress. He took her hand, his touch sending a jolt of heat through her gloved fingers, and pressed a light kiss to the delicate fabric. "I must confess, the stories of your beauty are indeed…understated."
Evander, standing a few paces behind her, allowed a flicker of disapproval to cross his features, a subtle tightening of his jaw. He assessed Lucian with a cool, clinical gaze, dismissing the king's overt charm as nothing more than the practiced seduction of a man accustomed to wielding power. No immediate danger, he thought, just a horny king playing his games.
Elara, flustered by Lucian's bold compliment, stifled a giggle, covering her mouth with her free hand. The king's audacity both thrilled and unnerved her.
"Now, now, Lucian," a booming voice echoed through the portico, cutting through the charged atmosphere. King Malakai, Elara's father, descended the steps, his gaze sharp and amused. "I suggest you refrain from such liberties with my daughter. The treaty for peace has not yet been signed." He punctuated his words with a playful chuckle, but his eyes held a warning.
Lucian released Elara's hand, his expression shifting to one of polite deference. "My apologies, Your Majesty. My enthusiasm got the better of me."
Evander bowed his head in the king's presence, a gesture of respect ingrained in his very being. King Malakai acknowledged him with a slight nod, a silent acknowledgment of their shared understanding, though no words were exchanged.
"Let us make our way inside," King Malakai announced, turning towards the palace doors. The assembled courtiers parted like the Red Sea, creating a path for the royal procession. Elara found herself walking just behind Lucian, her senses heightened by his proximity. As he turned his head slightly, he offered her a wink, a silent promise that sent a shiver of anticipation through her. Evander, ever watchful, walked at Elara's side, a silent guardian in a world of veiled.