Page 17 of The Night Prince

I fight my blush and his grin widens.

“Do you not think I’ve earned my high opinion of myself?”

I bite my bottom lip. “I cannot remember. Perhaps you should remind me.”

He growls, before nipping my ear with his teeth. “Demanding wee creature. Take a bath, then we shall go for a walk outside. I’ve been cooped up inside for days, as have you. The fresh air will do you good.” He kisses my nose, then my forehead, before his expression becomes strained once more. “And for the love ofGhealach, change out of Blake’s clothes, will you? It’s taking all of my restraint not to rip them off you.”

“I won’t stop you.”

He groans and rolls off me. “Bath. Now.”

***

“I’ll be glad to be out of this place.” Callum’s hand is clamped around mine as he leads me through the Lowfell entrance hall, toward the oak door. The area is small, withno decoration, and a stairway leading to another floor. “We’re surrounded by enemies here. I’ve sent word to Highfell, but I can’t imagine my men will arrive until after the full moon. It’s why we’ll wait until after before we make our move.”

“Do you have a big army?”

The door creaks as Callum pushes it open, and the wind sprays rain into my face.

“Big enough to protect Highfell, but not to keep everyone under control when we get to Madadh-allaidh,” says Callum. We walk outside, into a small courtyard. The walls on either side are so close together, it feels oppressive.

“That’s why we need Lochlan,” I say.

Callum nods and pulls me into a tunnel in the castle walls, which offers us a brief respite from the weather. There are tall iron gates at the end, and my lips part as we walk through them and turn.

We are surrounded by water. Mountains slope upward on either side of the dark loch, burnt orange, brown, and golden yellow. Behind us, the castle reaches up to the grey sky. It’s smaller than Madadh-allaidh, but it’s similarly austere in design—with angular stone walls, dark windows, and a rectangular tower.

The rain patters as it hits the loch, and the air smells like mud and wet leaves. Our boots squelch in the grass, and Callum tips back his head and sighs as we stop beneath a couple of trees at the water’s edge. Rain rolls down his face and lips. He seems as in awe of the surrounding beauty as I am.

“Have you been to Lowfell before?” I ask. Blake was part of his father’s wolf alliance, so it’s feasible that Callum may have visited.

“No. I knew it was something of a fortress. Until I saw it the other night, I’d not realized how impenetrable it truly was.” He tugs my hand, and we walk along the side of the loch. The water is the color of rust, and its waves lap over stones by our feet. “There’s a strip of land that connects it to the rest of the Northlands around the back but it’s only revealed at low tide. The only other way to approach is via the water.”

“We’re close to the Borderlands here, aren’t we?” I say, thinking about the map in Blake’s council chambers.

“Aye. Lowfell used to raid a lot of the Borderlands villages—plus some of the wolf territories as well—but no one could ever seize it. It’s why my father was keen to get the former alpha on side for a while.”

“Bruce?”

“He was a very unpleasant male. James would make a point of taking me out hunting when...” Callum shuts his mouth, his eyes darkening at the mention of his brother. “One day, my father completely cut ties with him. They almost went to war.”

“What happened?”

“I think Bruce made a pass at my mother.” Callum’s gaze is focused on the woodland ahead. “My father was a jealous man, and that kind of insult would not have gone down well. Everyone thought Bruce would challenge my father for the throne—but then we got word he’d been killed and there was a new alpha of Lowfell.”

“Blake.”

“Aye.” Callum chuckles darkly. “I don’t know how that devious shite did it. This castle is near impenetrable, and Brucehad a particularly bloodthirsty clan. From what I’ve seen over the past day, it seems like Blake disposed of them as well.”

I nod. “It’s quiet here. There don’t seem to be many people living in the castle.”

“No.”

“That troubles you.” Ash trees sway around us as we enter the woods, and I almost slip on the wet fallen leaves on the ground. Callum grabs my arm, supporting me, and I wince as the bite mark in my side aches. Callum’s jaw tightens, but I pull away and start walking before he can comment. “Are you worried his clan won’t be useful in the fight against your brother?”

Callum’s breath mists in front of his face as he falls into step beside me. “There were always questions about whether Blake was truly an alpha, but he managed to make people believe he had forces that supported him back home.” Callum gestures around him. “Does he, though? Are the people at Lowfell right now the extent of his clan, or are there more hidden away somewhere?”

“Either way, he’s good at hiding things,” I say.

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