Page 25 of Betraying Korth

“No one else is here,” Curdy said, still pouting, but lowered his voice to a stealthy whisper. “I’ve been here long enough to know. You could have come down early to talk to me.”

I matched his hushed volume. “First of all, I didn’t even know you’d be here. Secondly, I thought you would be watching Odette.”

“Garrik has her in the evenings. I had her all day and I’m due for a break.”

“Any difficulties?”

“Mostly a lot of complaining about the wind tangling her hair, but she hasn’t tried to run away or anything. She’s too stupid to try.”

“She isn’t stupid,” I contradicted. “Mean, entitled, and selfish, yes. But she isn’t stupid. Don’t underestimate her.”

“Sure, sure,” Curdy grumbled, rolling his eyes. “So, how is it going with Prince Perfect? I saw you two today.”

“It’s going splendidly. He’ll be head over heels in love with me by the time the first letter from mydearfather, King Raquel, arrives.” I smirked. “Then he’ll do anything to defend me.”

“Just as well. The sooner we can get this over with, the better,” Curdy grouched.

“Don’t like tending geese, do you?”

“I don’t like tending Odette,” he corrected. “And I don’t particularly care for seeing you looking all cozy with that pompous prince, either.”

I frowned. “That’s the entire reason we came here. You should be glad to see that it’s working.”

As we approached the side door, I paused to allow Curdy to open it, but he stopped just behind me. “What are you waiting for?” He snorted, then his eyes widened as realization dawned. “You expect me to open doors for you now?”

Furious with myself, I stretched my hand out, but Curdy beat me to it. “No, no. Allow me, Your Majesty. Clearly you expect royal treatment now; who am I to deny you?”

“It’s not like that,” I said angrily. “I just?—”

“You just got used to living in the lap of luxury? You’ll never have to touch a door again. No wonder you go doe-eyed around your prince all the time. Who knew the price for your affection was a few opened doors and hot meals?”

“Shut your mouth.” I made no further attempt at conversation.

A little grey cloud of doom hovered over Curdy as we left the castle and made our way over to the grove of trees beside the lake. I knew he was waiting for me to say something to alleviate his moodiness, but I felt no need to do so. If he couldn’tmanage his own emotions, that was his business, not mine. I’d been very clear from the beginning that I wasn’t interested in Curdy as anything more than a fellow rebellion member plotting to overthrow a kingdom. There was no room for jealousy in this already dangerous mix.

The moon’s silvery reflection shimmered in the water, casting just enough light into the air that I could see several dark shapes moving among the trees. I hesitated, squinting to ensure that it was my fellow rebels and not some nocturnal animal with sharp teeth. Curdy stopped too, staying a step behind me.

Irritation tugged at me. If Korth had seen something shift in the shadows, I had no doubt he would immediately place himself between me and the threat, but Curdy hung back.

“Are you sure it’s safe?” I asked.

He shrugged. “I’m sure you’d be able to handle it if it wasn’t.”

His attitude dug under my skin and I couldn’t resist goading him a little. “Korth would go first if there was even a question of it being unsafe.”

“And that is where I differ from him.Isee women as equally capable. He clearly doesn’t if he can’t even trust them to take care of themselves.” The smug satisfaction in his voice dug the barbs of his condescension deeper.

My jaw locked as I stalked toward the trees, glad to see that the dark shapes formed into the silhouettes of people I knew, but even gladder not be alone with Curdy’s sulky gloom anymore.

“Ah, Dahlia.” It was Thad, the large, heavyset man who was one of my father’s oldest friends. “Now we can begin.”

The meeting proceeded, with each member giving reports on what they’d discovered about Haven Harbor’s resources compared to Ebora’s, the strength of the armada and how well trained the soldiers were, and how the general population felt about Ebora and their prince’s engagement to a foreign princess, which was favorable.

“What about you?” Thad asked gruffly, nodding at me. “How are things with the prince?”

“As well as can be hoped,” I reported. “He doesn’t seem to be a particularly physically affectionate person?—”

From where he was leaning against a tree, Curdy let out an exclamation of disgust, which I ignored.

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