Page 33 of The Night Prince

“Blake is your brother?”

I’m not sure why I’m surprised. I take in her dark hair, sharp jaw, sensual mouth, and slightly bad attitude. I can almost see it. It explains her lack of deference to him, too, as well as the slight yearning I’ve felt when they interacted. I wonder if they have a difficult relationship.

“Half-brother. We share a father.” Her nose turns up with distaste. “Bruce. He was alpha of this place before Blake got rid of him. He didn’t tell you?”

“No.” I align this with what I know. Blake told me once that he killed his father, and Jack told us Blake took a particular dislike to the alpha of Lowfell. I shake my head, my thoughts snagging on something else Elsie said. “And Blake doesn’t like me.”

“He’s going to war over you, isn’t he?”

“He’s going to war for himself.”

She shrugs. “If you say so.” She slides a book from the shelf. “The night he arrived at Lowfell and found me in the chapel, bound and beaten, Night’s mark on my wrist... I’ve never seen anything like it. It was like witnessing the wrath of the dark god himself. My brother is dangerous, make no mistake, but sometimes it doesn’t hurt to have someone like him on your side.” She passes me the book she’s holding, and I frown as I take it. “If you like stories, you should read this one.” I thinkI catch a hint of mischief in her otherwise serious expression. “Read it. It’s enlightening.”

Skirts brushing over the dusty floorboards, she heads to the exit of the library. “Come on, Alfie. Time to go.”

The little boy grabs a book, hurtles through the mess he has made, and pushes past her to the stairway. Elsie pauses, and looks me up and down. “Hmm,” she says.

“What?”

“Blake is hosting a feast tomorrow night so he and Callum can persuade Lochlan to join their cause. What are you going to wear?”

“I. . . I don’t know?”

She nods, solemn, as if she’s deciding something. “If you like, you can meet me outside after breakfast. Alfie and I are heading to the village. You can pick something out there.”

“I... okay.” Her footsteps fade as she descends the staircase.

I release a half-laugh. Perhaps I can make a friend in Elsie, after all.

Curiosity swells inside me as I look down at the small book she gave me. It’s well read, and the spine is broken.The Alpha and the Kitchen Maidis written across the front in black ink. A story, perhaps?

The scent of cooked fish drifts into the library, and my stomach grumbles. Blake’s clan don’t usually adhere to formal meal times, but with Lochlan’s clan arriving, Blake must be putting on a breakfast. I place Elsie’s book on top of my pile, scoop them up, and head to the staircase.

I’ve been aimlessly reading for days, and have got no further to an answer. I know Callum wants me to stay out of Blake’s way, but I have a better idea.

Plus, Blake didn’t inform either of us that he intended to entertain Lochlan this morning. One of us should be present to keep an eye on him.

Chapter Thirteen

There are male voices in the corridor ahead, and I duck into an alcove on the way to the Great Hall, holding the pile of books close to my chest. There are five in total, all of different sizes, and one of them almost slips from my grasp.

“Is it under control, though, Blake?” A low, smooth voice. Jack. “You look like shit.”

I peer around the wall. Jack has his hand on Blake’s arm, and the two stand near the oak doors that lead into the hall. Despite my dislike of the alpha, I would not go as far as to say he looks bad. Blake’s hair is messier than usual, and his skin looks a little pale, but he’s still handsome, in his obnoxious way.

“How kind of you to say.” Blake rolls his eyes. “I didn’t sleep well.”

“I wonder why.” Jack’s tone is steeped in sarcasm. “Have you spoken to Arran?”

“On an almost daily basis, funnily enough.”

“Don’t be a prick. I meant about—”

“I know what you meant.”

“He might be able to help you manage things.”

Blake sighs, and I feel a pulse of his weariness—sadness, even. “Please. Arran is barely managing.”

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