Page 59 of Song of the Shadow Prince
As I pulled away, my hands pressing into the soft earth to steady myself, I realized how close we were—his presence surrounding, almost overwhelming. His scent was a mix of earth and something sweetly floral, as natural and heady as the forest itself.
His lips twitched into a slight, knowing smile, as if he was accustomed to such reactions and perhaps even amused by them. “No deals?” he queried, his voice a smooth, deep timbre that resonated each of my nerve endings.
“No deals,” I repeated, slightly out of breath. My heart pumped a bit too fast for my liking. “There’s a song… abouttravelers that come to Elaria from a different world. Do you know it?”
He tilted his head and smirked. “Possibly.”
“I’m told the song originates from your people… and that you may know more about these…travelers,” I inquired. “Could you tell me more?”
He arched a pale brow. “Now why would I tellyou, little human? What do I get in return?”
I gulped. “You’d be doing a good deed,” I mumbled. “And, I mean, your people need all the good PR they can get. I’ve been out in these streets and the things they be saying about y’all… Well, let’s just say a few good deeds might go a long way,” I remarked casually.
“PR?” he parroted the foreign word.
“Yes, as in public relations,” I said slowly. “You could use some.”
“You’re an odd one, little human.” He stood and held out a hand to help me stand.
I wasn’t sure if taking his hand would indebt me to him or not, so I ignored it and quickly stood on my own. Dusting the soil from the back of my dress, I placed some much-needed distance between us.
His hypnotic eyes stared deeply into mine. “What is your name?” he asked curiously.
“Cat,” I answered. “And yours?”
“Klaus.” He smirked and held out a hand for me to shake. “A pleasure.”
I looked down at his delicate, slender hand and shook my head. “Um…” I stepped backwards, away from his hand. “So… Klaus, do you know anything about the song I mentioned?”
He bit back a smile and shrugged, dropping his hand to his side. “Possibly. We fae love music. We’re constantly coming up with songs that tell tales,” he sighed dramatically. “I just don’tknow what couldpossiblyjog my memory about your particular song.”
I narrowed my eyes. He was toying with me. He knew exactly what I was looking for and what I wanted, but he wanted something in return. Maeve was right. The fae were tricky. I was about to apologize when I remembered Garrick’s advice and bit my tongue. “There’s nothing I can offer you,” I said carefully. “I don’t have much.”
In the blink of an eye, he took two long strides toward me until we were mere inches away from one another. Klaus wrapped an arm around my waist and brought me flush against him. My palms fell onto his chest as I pushed away and gaped up at him in shock. The fae brought his face to the crook of my neck and shoulder and inhaled deeply in a super invasive, creepy way.
“What the hell are you doing?” I stood stock still, trying not to make any sudden moves.
“You smell of… the Shadow Prince,” he murmured into the crook of my neck.
His breath sent goosebumps skittering down my body. “The who?” I gasped in mild horror.
“The Shadow Prince,” he repeated, then pulled back and looked down at me with a grin. “I see you two are close.”
The Shadow Prince, the Shadow Prince, the Shadow Prince,I repeated in my head, trying to place who the hell he was talking about. With a start, I realized he was talking about Damien. How the hell could he smell him on me? I’d bathed since the last time I saw him. There was no way I could still have his scent on me! This was beyond weird.
“I-I don’t know who that is,” I fibbed.
Klaus chuckled. “You’re a horrible liar, kitty cat.”
I would have kneed him in the balls if I wasn’t so afraid of him. From everything Maeve had told me about the fae, I didn’t want to risk my life any more than I already had since steppingfoot into this cursed forest. I offered an awkward chuckle. “Yeah, well, it takes one to know one, I guess,” I mumbled under my breath.
He frowned and his eyes sharpened. “Did you just call me a liar?”
“What?” I gasped. “Me? No way! I would never!”
He tightened his hold around my waist and I flinched. “I’ve eaten humans for less,” he growled in my ear.
The sound sent a shiver down my spine. “Duly noted.”
