As a territory archon, he would automatically sit on the king’s council, which meant he was right. He had more authority than Sandus. If Lord Crimsonale ordered me to go with him, I would have to.
A shiver danced down my spine as I nodded in response and brought a fist to my chest, but I was loathed to give him my full name. “How do you do?”
Lord Crimsonale eyed me curiously. “I’m sorry we haven’t become acquainted. I’m sure the king would also be curious why he’s unaware of your stay in his castle.” He cast a shrewd look at Sandus just as the crowd pointed toward the sky. My heartbeat skyrocketed when I spotted the prince and his guards flapping toward us. “But I’m sure he will look forward to introductions at the much-anticipated ball this weekend. Do come, Ilara. After all, once I tell the king of you, that you’re real and of flesh and blood, he’ll insist you attend.”
“The ball?” I asked dumbly.
Before he could clarify, the prince landed right beside me, and positioned himself between me and Lord Crimsonale, as a snarl cut loose from his throat. “What are you doing here?”
“He followed us,” Sandus answered. “He’s curious about Ilara.”
Prince Norivun’s power rumbled the cobblestone street as he took a step closer to the lord.
Lord Crimsonale’s throat bobbed as he took a step back.
The prince’s aura rose as his eyes narrowed to slits. “You followed me?” he asked with barely leashed violence in his voice.
My heart was beating so fast now I gripped Sandus to steady myself.
“I do apologize if I’ve overstepped, my prince.” Lord Crimsonale’s lips thinned. “I was merely acting in the best interest of the court. When it had come to my attention that the king wasn’t aware of a female’s habitation in your wing, I thought it was best to seek clarification, especially considering what’s happening this coming weekend.”
Blue ice shone like fire in the prince’s eyes. “You’ve more than overstepped, and you know it.”
The lord’s eyes shuttered, growing colder than the snow in the Gielis Mountains. “As you wish, my prince. I shall be on my way then.”
Magic swirled around the lord, and then in a wink, he vanished.
Blessed Mother, he can mistphase too.
Prince Norivun’s hands fisted as a tremble shook my frame.
“Why are Drachu and Lord Crimsonale so interested in me?” I whispered. “And why did that lord just invite me to a ball this weekend?”
“Fuck,” the prince whispered under his breath. He pinched the bridge of his nose, and I shivered when a wave of the prince’s frosty magic kissed my skin. “I suppose I cannot hide you any longer, not if council members have taken to following me to get answers.”
The prince’s arms closed around me once more, and then a rush of magic stole over us as I fell into a void of mist and shadows, air and wind. Everything disappeared around us.
The prince mistphased us to the courtyard outside of the Exorbiant Chamber. The second my feet touched solid ground, I stumbled away from him as warmth from the courtyard’s orem and the sweet fragrance of the juniper blossoms filled the air.
Thoughts of Lord Crimsonale and whatever ball was happening in a few days swirled through my mind, but I pushed those aside and focused on the more important matter.
The prince had just murdered dozens of Lochen fae, and nobody had batted an eye.
“How could you?” I said quietly, putting distance between us as soon as I could. “How could you murder all of them like that?”
“Ilara.” He advanced on me, but I widened the distance between us.
“Stay away from me. I want all of you to stay away from me. You! Lord Crimsonale! All of you!” I was sickened by everything that I’d seen and heard tonight. Everything about the Court of Winter was filled with death, malice, games, and political intent.
Prince Norivun hissed and in a flash stood right in front of me, gripping my upper arms. I shrieked and tried to pull away, but he didn’t let go. Dazzling blue eyes flashed fire as he stared at me.
“Everything is not as it seems.” His aura pounded into my frame, and his grip was too strong for me to break free. His jaw pumped as the muscle bulged in the corner. “I didn’t kill those fae.”
My chest rose up and down so fast that I struggled to breathe. “Yes, you did. I saw them floating in the sea. Don’t lie to me. You’re a murderer. A vile, twisted murderer.”
His nostrils flared as his scent clouded around me, drawing me in. Snow and cedar, decadent and alluring, threatened to siphon his ugly affinity and masterful power from my mind. But I couldn’t forget what he was. I wouldn’t.
I tried to wrench away again, but he refused to let go.
“Blessed Mother,” he said on a low growl. “Listen to me! It was an illusion, Ilara. I didn’t kill anyone. I created that illusion to appease the citizens of Barvilum. Drachu and I reached an agreement, so I did not kill any Lochen tonight.”
I flinched. “But the bodies—”
“They weren’t real. It was all an illusion, a trick of the mind. The Lochen are still on their island or in the sea or wherever they’ve chosen to go, but none of them are dead and floating in that harbor.”
My mouth opened, then closed, then opened again. “But it looked so real.”
“Because I’m a master at illusions.”
I paused, taking a moment to consider what he was saying. Not real? Was that possible? I inhaled the sweet scents of the garden’s flowers, letting the warmth and peace of the small, beautiful courtyard soothe my frayed nerves. Shaking my head, I tried to wrap my head around what he was claiming.
His brow furrowed, and he took a deep breath. “Look, let’s just forget about all of this. It’s been a long day. We should both try to sleep.”
He made to turn away, but I called out, “What was Lord Crimsonale talking about this weekend? A ball of some kind?”
He stilled, his entire body going rigid as his wings flexed. “Yes, there’s a ball being held. Unfortunately.”
I frowned. “Why unfortunately?”
But instead of answering, he gestured to my chambers and took a deep breath. “Not now. Sleep, Ilara. I’ll come for you in the morning.” And with that, he was gone.
I slept fitfully, tossing and turning all night. I kept picturing the dead Lochen, the illusion the prince had created, and then the vile curiosity on Lord Crimsonale’s face.
Everything about that encounter had left a sour taste in my mouth that permeated my dreams and made me want to vomit.
Not surprisingly, when I woke the next day I didn’t feel rested. Dark circles lined my lower eyes when the prince came for me just as Daiseeum finished dressing me.
“Thank you,” the prince said to the lady’s servant, dismissing her.
She bobbed a curtsy as the prince frowned, taking in my appearance. “Did you eat?”
“I did. I’m ready to begin working again.”
The prince clasped his hands behind his back, right beneath his wings before strolling toward the courtyard. His aura puffed out of him, bathing my chambers in his strength. “You’re to attend the ball this weekend. My father insists.”