Timothy appears through the foliage, his brows drawn down and a scowl marring his face.
I sigh, standing. “Hi, Timothy. What took you so long?”
“You should not run off.”
A smile breaks across my face. “I would have done it sooner if I knew that’s all it took to hear your voice. Besides…” I lift a shoulder. “I’m not a child and I don’t appreciate everyone pretending I am.”
His jaw tenses before his gaze moves to Simon and Tristan, his back straightening. “Your Royal Highness.” He bows.
Tristan’s features harden into stone as he stands, and I swear the air grows cold as he morphs from the man he just was into what everyone else gets to see.
The scarred prince.
He doesn’t speak, but as he moves to walk by me, his hand brushes against mine, our fingers tangling for the smallest moment. And the way it makes my heart stutter out of rhythm should be the biggest warning I’ve ever had.
But like I’ve done with almost every emotion that concerns the prince, I ignore it.
CHAPTER 18
Tristan
The upstairs of The Elephant Bones Tavern has a narrow hallway with a small bathroom and two bedrooms flanking either side, one of which is kept clean for whenever I choose to stay. Which, I’ll admit, has been sparse as of late. I’ve been spending more of my time at the castle, both because Lady Beatreaux fascinates me, and also because I like to be available when Simon needs to slip away.
But Edward tells me that morale is down since I haven’t been making as many appearances, so tonight, I’m here to remedy that. Apparently, burning the body of the king’s commander wasn’t enough to prove I’m still focused on the cause.
I walk up the stairs and down the hall to the room, confusion lancing through me when I hear muffled noises from behind the door.
My brows draw in and I twist the handle, the air whipping across my face as the door swings open, smacking against the wall. It cracks as if it might shatter from the impact, and it’s enough to startle the two people naked and in the bed.
They jump up, scrambling. The woman squeals when the man moves off her, and she grapples for the sheets, drawing them up around her chest, her eyes growing wide as she takes me in.
I tilt my head, cataloging her features, rage burning through me when I note her frizzy blonde hair and freckles.
Little doe’s lady-in-waiting. Rosy-cheeked and freshly fucked by my most trusted soldier.
Edward.
How dare he bring her here.
My fists clench at my sides, my gaze swinging to him as he pulls on his garments. “Your Highness, I—”
I raise a hand, cutting him off mid-sentence, my eyes trailing along the form of the girl as she curls in on herself. “Did you bring me a gift, Edward?”
He swallows as he finishes buttoning up his trousers, running his hand through his disheveled hair.
“So thoughtful of you,” I continue.
The girl scoots farther back on the bed, presumably to put more distance between us. I walk toward her until I’m standing at the side of the small mattress, and I reach out, grasping her naked arm, pulling her from the spot before shoving her onto the wood floor.
She makes a screeching noise, and the sound of her fear sends adrenaline coursing through my veins. This seems to snap Edward out of whatever daze he was in, and he moves forward, grabbing the woman’s clothes and walking to stand next to me as he thrusts them at her.
I chuckle. “A bit late for modesty, don’t you think?”
Her cheeks heat, and I wave my hand in a placating motion through the air. “By all means, sweetheart. Get dressed.”
She pulls her garments closer to her chest, but she doesn’t make another move. Irritation vibrates through my bones. “I don’t like to repeat myself.”
“Sheina, please,” Edward pleads. “Do as he says.”
“I don’t want him to see me,” she whispers at the ground.
“I tell you what. You take a few minutes, Sheina. Get yourself together.” Stepping in closer, I reach down, running my hand over her tousled hair. “And then come downstairs where we can figure out just what to do about this… situation.”
“She knows nothing,” Edward whispers.
Anger makes my tongue sharp. “She knows enough.”
He presses his lips together, and for the slightest moment, I think maybe he’ll fight for her. But he simply drops his head and nods.
“Ten minutes,” I say, turning to the door and heading to the staircase.
My shoulders tighten, my mind racing, warring between disbelief and disappointment. I’ve never once questioned Edward’s loyalty. But then again, he’s never given me reason to.