Page 76 of The Crimson Princess
“Hunting. That’s what I do.” At this point I’ve closed the space between us and claim the seat to his left.
His eyes narrow on me and I will my heart to remain steady, for fear he will know otherwise. “Why do you seem different?”
He might as well have just punched me in the chest, but I’m ready for this. I expected this. “How would you know what is different about me after a night of hunting? You don’t know me at all.”
He grits his teeth as if I’ve hit a nerve and picks up his fork. “Do you want a plate?”
Relief washes over me at his change of topic, but I need some distance from him. Now. “I need rest more than food. The werewolves are spread throughout the villages to the east of the forest. I took out a nest in Essex. We’ll need to send in teams to handle the rest.”
“Idris will handle it.”
“Good. I’ll let him.”
“Let him?” His brow inches upward. “Youwill let him?”
“Yes. I will let him.” And on that note, I think it’s my turn to grit my teeth. Running out of here just to get away from him isn’t a luxury I have at present. “I know there are things going on that make you feel you must join with the druids, but—”
“No but. It’s done. I am one with the Book of Life. We will not cede power to the druids.”
“And yet, we invited Toren to the Challenge. Why? To defeat his brother if he shows up?”
My father sets his fork down. “Who told you that?”
“I’m my mother’s daughter. I watch. I learn. I see. It’s pretty obvious.”
“If his brother shows up, we’ll kill them both and be done with those bottom feeders forever.”
Exactly what Toren thought. “The druids just want the book. They will use you and me to get to it.”
“Keep the prince so well pleasured he doesn’t want to betray us.”
Just that easily, I’m seething. “So I’m your whore now? I told you I will not marry him. And we both know you’re worried aboutthe portal on Challenge Day. I’ll act loved up with Bellar until then. After that, you better have a new plan.”
“You marry him or you lose your crown.”
The threat hurts despite it being expected. “If I marry him, I will lose my crown. I don’t have anything to lose, now do I?”
“Check yourself.”
“You’re afraid of Toren,” I say softly, leaning in closer. “I can read you. I can read the fear. It’s like a stench and it’s driving you to make a wrong decision. If Toren wanted your crown and the book, I’d read that from him, too, but I don’t. I read it from Bellar. Rethink your next move or I predict Ravengale will be lost forever.” I push to my feet. “Just to repeat and be clear. I’ll play nice with Bellar at the party tonight and at the Challenge. After that my whore duties are over.” I turn to walk away, and he captures me in his magic, refusing to let me walk away.
In utter frustration, I rotate to face him. “Is that necessary?”
“Just reminding you who’s in charge.”
“I am well aware of your role as my king.”
“And your father.”
He hits so many nerves with that response, that he destroys any filter I might still possess after losing my mother and feeling as if I’m about to lose my entire world, quite literally. “I’m sure you have plenty of bastard children who can fill my seat. The problem for you is will the gales accept them as their future leader?”
“I don’t plan on dying anytime soon.”
“No one ever does. Your queen certainly did not.”
He pushes to his feet, a scowl etched in his brow. “You’re acting like a brat.”
“You’re acting like the kind of dictator that gets overthrown.”
