The prince was masculinity incarnate, a beautiful sculpture of death that would delight any female in the throes of her demise. It took everything in me not to throw a dagger at him—if I had a dagger, that was.
Cool air brushed over my skin as we made the final turn to my room. Since I didn’t have wings, the slits in the back of the robe allowed a breeze to flow freely across my backside. I just hoped that my bottom wasn’t on display. Normally, I had to buy my clothing from the youth vendor booths in Firlim’s market. Since pre-pubescent fae didn’t have wing buds, their clothing was still complete in the back, which meant that it kept my bare back covered, unlike adult fae clothes.
“Do you have your key?” the prince asked when he reached my door. He faced me, which put his firm chest in my line of sight.
I craned my head up. “Yes, my prince.” I held it up, then tucked my dirty clothes under my arm and went to insert it into the lock.
“Allow me.” He took the key in a large, calloused palm.
“Such a gentlefae, my prince.”
He gave me a side-eye, and in turn I provided a saccharine smile.
With my door open, I expected him to step aside and return to wherever he was residing, but instead he crossed the threshold, and the hum of the protection wards surrounding the room vibrated against my skin.
Bristling, I followed him, then crossed my arms as he surveyed the room. “My prince, aren’t you returning to your chambers?”
He fixed his piercing blue eyes on me, and I was once again confronted with the planes and angles of his sculpted features. “This is my chambers.”
My eyebrows knit together as a thrum of confusion pulsed through me. I ran a fluttering hand through my hair. “There must have been a mix-up. I thought they told me this was my room. Which bedroom chambers do I reside in?” An image of a frozen barn came to mind. Blessed Mother, hopefully it won’t be that bad.
“There hasn’t been a mistake. You’re staying with me.”
My hand fell. “What?”
“I said that you’re staying with—”
“I know what you said, but why am I staying with you?”
He cocked an eyebrow. “Do you always ask such asinine questions?”
My nostrils flared as I pumped my hands into fists. “Only when encountered with ridiculous fae.”
“Are you calling me, your prince, ridiculous?”
“Oh, no, of course not. I’m sure that would be considered treason, my prince.”
His eyes lost their luster as they turned into chips of ice. “You’re right, so I’m glad you’re not that foolish.”
Fuming, all I could do was watch as he prowled around the room, testing the doors and windows and sending out pulses of his magic to gauge the protection wards. When he finished his perimeter inspection, he nodded toward a pile of clothes lying at the end of the bed. “I see Milis did as I asked.”
I planted my hands on my hips. “You’re seriously staying here with me?”
“I believe it’s actually you who’s staying here with me. This is my chambers after all.”
Tapping a foot, I replied, “Which again, begs the question, why am I staying with you? Surely you can at least explain that even though you claim it’s an asinine thing to wonder?”
He straightened more, and his shoulders seemed to stretch across the room as a dark cloud fell over his features. I took a step back, not even realizing I was doing it until I ran into the doorframe.
“Did you not hear the villagers’ comments?” he asked in a deceptively quiet voice.
“Of course, I did.”
“Then you know that some wish me, and by extension you, harm.”
My throat turned dry when I forced a swallow. “Do you really think they would try to break in here and hurt me?”
He shrugged. “It’s hard to say, but it could happen. Many attempts have been made on my life.”
Too bad none of them were successful . . . “Then why doesn’t one of your guards stay with me in another room that has two beds?”
The corner of his mouth kicked up. “Are you scared of staying with the Bringer of Darkness?”
Scorching hot anger abruptly raged through me, like an uncontrolled wildfire engulfing the mountainside. It came from out of nowhere, but that cocky smile ignited what had been simmering within me all day—fury over what this male had done to me.
“Is everything a joke to you?” I snapped.
“Hardly.”
“Then why do I have to stay with you?”
He stepped closer, with lightning-fast speed, until we stood toe to toe. My breath sucked in, and I stumbled back until my spine was plastered against the door. Instinctively, I gripped the firm edges for support.
“Be careful, Ilara Seary, daughter of Mervalee Territory. I might be offended by how much you despise me.”
Forcing myself to raise my chin, I met his cold gaze. “One would think you would be used to it by now. Doesn’t everyone hate you, my prince?”
His eyes shuttered. For a moment, he didn’t say anything at all, but then that frostiness returned to his expression, and he said in a menacing whisper, “And pray tell, why would someone, such as yourself, have reason to hate me? A simple farm girl from some unknown village on our vast continent, who’s never once encountered me before today. Tell me, why do you hate me so?”
Because you murdered my parents and brother when Tormesh had done nothing other than report his concerns of the dying crops to the court, and my parents’ only crime was asking the court what had become of him.
That bold statement was on the tip of my tongue when a knock came on the door.
I jumped just as the prince’s head lifted, his nostrils flaring. “It’s just Nish.” He reached past me, his thick forearm brushing my side when he gripped the door handle and pulled.
“How do you know—” But I didn’t bother finishing my question. Nish stood in the hallway.
The guard ignored me as he addressed the prince. “I’m first watch tonight. Just thought I’d let you know I was here.”
Prince Norivun gave a curt nod.
“After me, it’ll be Sandus, then Ryder, and Haxil’s taking the last shift.”
The prince inclined his head again. “Thank you.”
“My pleasure, Nori.” Nish gave us his back, and the two swords tucked in sheathes beneath his wings glinted in the hallway light.
The prince shut the door and began walking toward the latrine. “I suggest you try to sleep tonight. It’ll be another long day’s flight tomorrow.”
“But—” I hurried after him, at which he promptly closed the latrine door in my face. An enraged howl worked up my throat, and I was two seconds away from pounding my fist on the door when he opened it again, except this time he was dressed in sleeping shorts that clung to his toned waist.
The scent of fresh magic surrounded him, and I knew he’d probably cleansed his teeth with it since a slight puff of peppermint lingered on his breath.
“Did you need something?” he asked, not even a flicker of guilt in his gaze.
I stared at his firm chest, akin to a solid wall. Smooth, slightly golden skin spanned his entire upper half. Not one flaw or birthmark covered him, but he did have a long scar running along his side.