Read Online Cage of Deceit (Reign of Secrets Book 1) by Jennifer Anne Davis - Free Book Online Page B

seated between her father and Neco to show she was valuable, watched, and guarded. She was thankful she wasn’t forced to sit next to the prince.
    When supper was over, everyone went to the adjoining room for dancing. It, too, was extravagantly decorated with hundreds of lit candles and flowers hanging from the ceiling. A large group of musicians played a lively tune. Darmik claimed Allyssa for the first song. With so many nobles present, she was going to have to stay later than she usually did. She sighed. It was going to be a long night. 
    As Darmik spun her around the dance floor, she caught a glimpse of her mother dancing with Prince Odar.
    “Smile,” Darmik murmured as he dipped his daughter.
    “I’m trying,” she replied through gritted teeth, forcing herself to grin.
    He chuckled. “Come on,” he said. “This isn’t so bad. You act like we’re torturing you.”
    She looked pointedly at him.
    “Prince Odar is by no means ugly, and all accounts claim he is an intelligent man. At least give him a chance. He might surprise you.”
    “The only thing that would surprise me would be if he actually turned out to be intelligent.”
    “Allyssa, watch your tongue.”
    She laughed. “You can’t tell me someone who looks like that has a genuine thought in his head.”
    Darmik squeezed her hand. “You can’t tell me my daughter is so conceited and haughty to not even give him the benefit of the doubt.” He spun her around again. “All I’m asking is that you make an attempt to speak with him a couple of times. That way you can acquire a feel for his disposition.”
    She stared into her father’s warm brown eyes. He’d never asked her to become acquainted with a man before. She had known this day would come; yet, she wasn’t ready for it. Responsibility, duty to her kingdom, money—it was all overrated. Still, she loved her family, loved Emperion, and was in a position of power. She needed to take it seriously.
    Darmik leaned closer, speaking into her ear. “Prince Odar has requested the next dance.”
    She’d figured as much. “I would be honored to dance with someone so handsome and charming.”
    He kissed her cheek. “Try not to overdo it—it’s not very becoming.”
    Allyssa chuckled. For her father, she would be the perfect princess and speak cordially to the pretty prince. If only she could be herself, if only she could say what she wanted to instead of what she should, if only. … She sighed.
    The prince bowed next to her, a pleasant smile on his face. Darmik handed her over to the prince like a piece of property, and she tried not to cringe. She was a princess, elegant, refined, and all that the position implied. At least, that was what she kept telling herself. Because, truth be told, she hated being stuck in this castle, playing this game.
    Prince Odar took her hand and placed his free one on her lower back. A new song began, and they moved together to the beat. She kindly smiled, not in the mood to make pointless conversation. She was certain the prince was an expert in that area and didn’t need to practice with her.
    After a few moments, Prince Odar broke the silence. “Your castle is lovely,” he commented, his eyes sparkling in amusement.
    “Isn’t it?” Allyssa crooned. “I simply adore this home. We have several, all larger than this one. But I’m sure you already knew that.”
    He blinked several times before replying. “Yes, I did know that.”
    He spun her around, and she glimpsed several female courtiers staring at Prince Odar. They all batted their eyelashes at the young prince, hoping to entice him with their beauty, money, or position. But none of them came close to offering the prince what Allyssa did, and so his focus remained solely on her. Whoever she married would become emperor to this great kingdom, and thereby, the most powerful man on the mainland.
    “Is something the matter?” he asked.
    Shaking her head, she wanted to kick herself for her own stupidity.