Page 3 of Lady of the Lake

“Not when the prince isn’t actually in love with me.”

His gaze flickers into a dark expression I can’t quite read. Then the composed mask slides back into place. “Love? Nia, I don’t need love to claim something as mine.”

A knock sounds at the door, interrupting us.

“Come in,” Talan calls.

Jasper sweeps into the torchlit room. His two assistants, Ranae and Tilly, trail in behind him, moving together with a sort of nervous excitement, their eyes on Talan. Given the way the women treat me with utter contempt, I’m fairly certain Talan had them both at some point, perhaps at the same time. They glare at me, their lips pressed into fine lines, until Jasper snaps his fingers at them. “Come on, come on ladies. Let’s focus.” With a grin, he flutters his hand at Talan and bows. “We are here for you, Your Highness.”

Talan gives them a short nod.

Jasper turns to me, his jaw dropping in horror at my disheveled state. “Oh, dear.” He frowns at me. “Apologies, Your Highness. I was not expecting guests. Are you…whatareyou wearing?”

Ranae mutters, “Plucked from the onion farm like a rotten vegetable from the earth.”

I fold my arms. “I was traveling.”

Jasper frowns. “Through a war zone? You look like a mud-spattered fugitive.” He shudders visibly. “It’s a trend now in the Gilded House, this rough sort of look. They’ll let anyone in there these days. It’s not thesameanymore. It used to be exclusive.”

“Well, I do like to follow the trends.”

“I’m a classics man.” He snaps his fingers. “Ranae, burn those rags. Take them somewhere far away from the prince and light them on fire. They could be flea-infested, and we must not let the prince catch it. Our crown prince is marrying soon, and we don’t need him passing them to the countess on their wedding day.”

Talan pulls on a moonlight-blue jacket. “Jasper, I need you to focus. We need a wedding dress.”

“Of course. I made it the moment your father asked. Countess Arwenna will be dressed in the finest dewdrop gossamer. She looksstunningin my creation, naturally. An absolute dream.”

Talan picks up a wine glass, his silver rings flaring with gold in the candlelight, and looks vaguely bored at having to explain himself. “You misunderstand. I don’t want a wedding gown for Arwenna. I want one for Nia. I’m going to marry her. Further, you will stop calling her a farm girl and insulting her. OnlyIhave that privilege. From now on, I will tolerate nothing but respect from those who address her. She will be a princess.”

Jasper blanches. “That…that cannot…”

The expression on the prince’s beautiful face is one of utter disdain. “You will design a dress for Nia, and then my guards will escort you to your quarters, where you will remain with your assistants.” He quirked a brow. “I’m afraid you’ve taken ill with the mongrel flu, and you could be infectious. You won’t be able to even talk, I’m afraid. If youwereable to talk, Jasper, it would be very bad for your health. Speaking might result in your head tumbling away from your body, a dreadful symptom of the mongrel flu. Do you understand?”

Jasper’s eyes widen. “How long am I to be…quarantined?”

“Two days,” Talan says. “And then you will be able to step out with the most exciting tale.”

Jasper’s throat bobs. “And what might King Auberon do to me if I tell that tale? The one where I defied his orders?”

Talan takes a step closer, a predatory gleam in his eyes. “Tell me, Jasper, who do you fear more? The king or me?”

Jasper’s mouth opens and closes soundlessly.

Talan frowns and scrubs a hand over his mouth, his rings gleaming in the candlelight. “Let’s ask a simpler question. Have you heard what I do to people who displease me?”

Jasper nods, his face pale. “Yes, Your Highness.”

“List them for me.”

“You…uh…peel their skin off. You carve poetry in their flesh.” Jasper swallows. “After the civil war, you unleashed your dragons on the traitors. You pulled their organs from their bodies while they were still alive. You ripped them apart with horses and?—”

Talan holds up a hand. “Good, I see you get the point. Now, you simply need to tell the truth. The drunken and sadistic prince forced you to make a dress against your will. The Dream Stalker threatened not only your life, but those of Ranae and Tilly, the innocent maidens you courageously wanted to protect. Let Father’s rage fall on me. I’m used to it. Embellish the storyall you like. I tortured you. I ripped out your fingernails and broke your bones on the rack, and all the while, I was drinking champagne and laughing. Everyone knows that’s how I like to spend my evenings. Isn’t that right, Nia?”

“So I’ve heard,” I say dryly.

Talan takes a step closer, towering over Jasper. “So, you can tell Auberon I tormented you, body and mind, forcing you into a nightmare so horrific that you no longer knew what was real, only that you wanted the pain to stop. Then I twisted your thoughts and made you believe that Nia was Arwenna. I can actuallydo those things, if it helps.” He shrugs, and a dark smile ghosts over his lips. “Or you could simply do as I’m commanding and save yourself the agony. I know which option I’d choose if I were in your position.”

Jasper nods. “Right. And you think Auberon might let me live…”

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