Page 18 of A Vow of Embers

His gaze locked on mine and my breath stuttered at his expression. He clenched his teeth together and ground out one word: “Fine.”

I let out a sigh of relief. I had expected him to fight me at every request. This felt a bit too easy, almost unbelievable. Like I was in a dream and some fake version of him was granting me all the desires of my heart. I actually reached up to touch my head to make sure that my hair was still short.

“It’s not as if we make very much money from the blockade anyway,” he muttered. “It costs a fortune to keep the men and ships there.”

My mouth gaped open. How wealthy was Ilion if the strangling tariffs they’d put on Locris contributed so little to their bottom line?

“My father had already planned to end the blockade upon our marriage, so I will agree as it was something he wanted,” the prince announced, as if this had been his magnanimous plan all along.

He was trying to downplay giving in on this point by dismissing the amount of money and claiming it was something his father wished for. I didn’t care what he had to tell himself in order to agree—I only cared that it would be done.

Even if I never found the eye, something I’d had to admit with each passing day was becoming more and more possible, I had still saved Locris. This was going to change everything, being able to trade with other nations again and getting the full value for our stone and salt.

I wanted to collapse in relief. Things were going to be all right. No matter what I had to put up with in the palace, all the sacrifices thatI had made were worth it because my nation would be safe, as would both of my sisters.

He pointed to the contract and then held out his hand. I passed it over to him. I hadn’t wanted him to see it until I had asked for everything on my list first. I didn’t want him skipping ahead and trying to formulate plans on how to deny me.

The prince unfolded the papyrus and then glanced up at me. “This is my sister’s handwriting.”

It was, and I let him sit and soak in that knowledge. So that he would know which side his own sibling had chosen.

If it bothered him, he didn’t show it. He quickly read through the contract, probably to make certain that I hadn’t snuck in anything else, and then looked back up at me.

“Now it’s time for us to talk about my terms, princess.”

The look in his eyes had my heart racing. “I already promised that I’ll go along with your ruse. And that I won’t kill anyone under your protection.”

He gave me an infuriating smile that made my chest ache. It felt like something very bad was about to happen.

Chapter Seven

“We will share a bed, unless you prefer to sleep on the stone floor,” he said. “My bed is very comfortable so I will not be sleeping on the floor, in case that’s what you were hoping for.”

My pulse pounded harder. When he had told Theano that he and I were going to share a bed, I had assumed it was a symbolic statement. I hadn’t realized he’d meant it literally.

I’d never slept on the ground before. I thought I could probably do it. I wasn’t looking forward to it, though.

“It will be especially important the morning after our wedding. We will be awoken by the matron of the palace, and she has to find us in bed together.”

I wondered if I was blushing. My skin certainly felt heated. I nodded to let him know that I accepted.

“And while we’re with the court, we will have to behave like a newly married couple. We will have to be affectionate with one another, especially physically. Kissing will be necessary.”

That was a step too far, even if my body was cheered by the prospect. “You didn’t say anything about that earlier!”

“I suppose we’re both springing surprises on one another.”

Now it was my turn to be grinding out words. “Fine.”

My response seemed to amuse him. “You will not leave Ilion or try to sneak Quynh out until I have secured the throne.”

“What if you aren’t chosen as king?”

“You’d better hope that doesn’t happen.”

It sounded like a threat. But if he wasn’t selected to be king, then I wouldn’t get everything he’d just agreed to. The only way he could do all those things was if he had the crown.

Otherwise he wouldn’t have the power.

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