I closed my eyes against the sudden, foolish rush of tears as it became so quiet in the hall that I would’ve thought Claude had left.
The Baron hadn’t. “This is a good thing, Lis. I hope you come to understand that,” he told me. “Because the Prince of Vytrus will be able to provide you with what I cannot.”
“And what is that?”
“Everything.”
Wiping my palms under my eyes, I twisted toward the door. “What . . . ?”
The space there was empty. The Baron was gone.
CHAPTER 24
“I can’t even imagine it,” Naomi whispered from where she stood, staring out the window of my antechamber, her arms wrapped tightly around her waist. “The idea of there being a siege— a war.”
Part of me thought that maybe I shouldn’t have told Naomi what I’d learned about the Westlands army when I’d crossed paths with her upon leaving the dining hall. It wasn’t because I feared that she would then go and tell others, possibly causing a panic. I knew she wouldn’t. I just hated seeing her concerned— afraid.
“You know when I said that I’d hoped there’d be lords here in time for the Feasts?” Naomi looked over her shoulder at me, the pale lavender of her gown standing out starkly against the night sky beyond the window. “I didn’t mean an army of them.”
“I know,” I said from where I sat on the settee, my legs tucked underneath me. Thoughts heavy, I fiddled with one of the laces on my gown.
“Have you told Grady yet?” she asked.
I shook my head. I wanted to, but seeing Grady right now meant that I would also have to tell him about this new arrangement— something I knew he wouldn’t respond well to. I would somehow need to convince him that I had agreed to keeping the Prince company, but apparently, I wasn’t all that convincing when it came to my emotions. I still couldn’t believe that Claude had known why I stayed in Archwood— that he had always known. I didn’t know how to feel about it. I didn’t know why that made me . . . sad. I couldn’t even begin to figure that out when I had this to deal with.
Pulling my gaze from where I’d placed the ruby headpiece on a small table, I glanced at the door. The hour was almost upon me. My stomach dipped. “When Claude summoned me last night, he sent me to one of the Hyhborn who’d arrived ahead of the regiment. Claude hadn’t known why the Hyhborn were here yet and he’d wanted me to find out why.”
Naomi turned from the window, the delicate arches of her brows rising. “My gods, you’re just now telling me about this?” she asked. “I would’ve expected you to have been at my chamber doors first thing in the morning. I’m so disappointed in you.”
Unfurling my legs, I scooted to the edge of the settee. “Don’t be disappointed. There wasn’t much to tell.”
“Don’t bullshit me, Lis. There has to be a whole lot to tell.” Her eyes widened as she stepped forward. “Unless you used the Long Night last night? On a Hyhborn lord?”
“I didn’t try. I wasn’t sure if it would work and I didn’t risk it,” I told her. “And it wasn’t a lord. It was the Prince.”
“The Prince?” she repeated, lips parting. “The Prince of Vytrus?”
I nodded.
“Holy shit. I need a moment to process this— Wait.” Her eyes bravely met mine. “Did . . . did something happen when you were with the Prince?” Everything about Naomi changed in an instant. Gone was the teasing seductress, and in her place was an alert tigress. “What happened last night, Lis?”
“Nothing I didn’t allow to happen— nothing that I didn’t want,” I assured her. “He was— I don’t know.” I shook my head. “Not as I expected.”
“He’s said to be— ”
“A monster. I know, but he’s . . .” Prince Thorne was a lot of things— infuriating and entitled, demanding and annoying— but he wasn’t a monster. “I don’t think a lot of what has been said about him is the truth.”
“For real?”
“Yes. I promise.”
“Good.” She relaxed, unfolding her arms. “I would’ve hated having to get myself killed in the process of chopping off a Hyhborn prince’s dick.”
A loud laugh burst out of me.
Naomi crossed her arms. “You think I’m lying?”
“I don’t. That’s why I find it funny.”