"You can get up now, Lady Kara," Acheron said, his tone oozing with condescension. "Crawling in the dirt is unbecoming of a lady such as yourself. I hate to imagine what people will think if you were to be seen in such a position. My, they might think his majesty is mistreating you."

Kara's gaze locked onto Eerik, who seemed to avoid looking at her at all costs, his shifty eyes betraying his discomfort. As she stared into his eyes, that nagging feeling she had earlier ...