Page 15 of Bride to the Fiend Prince
“So we’ll share.”
“Not a chance,” I said. “I’ll go first.”
“Be quick then, or I may have to piss into the fireplace.”
“You disgust me.”
“Tell me, do you often cuddle all night with people who disgust you?”
“Despicable monster,” I hissed, wrenching myself away from him. “How many innocent men and women have you killed?”
I lunged out of the bed, not even caring that my makeshift nightshirt was hanging off one shoulder. As I marched around the bed on my way to the bathroom, the Fiend Prince sat up.
“War is a harsh taskmaster, Princess,” he said quietly. “It brings death to the best of warriors.”
“Then why not stop it? Why continue conquering all the lands around your kingdom? Why not be satisfied with what you have?”
“Our resources here in Terelaus are severely depleted.”
I paused in the doorway, startled. “You mentioned a firewood shortage—”
“There’s a shortage ofeverything. We are a nation worn threadbare, skeletal. The wars my father has waged ever since my birth have sapped our strength, reduced us to a war machine whose fuel is now running low. Why do I fight my father’s battles?” He rose from the bed, tall and thin, a shadow of desperation. “I fight to end them, Princess. I keep hoping that with one more conquest we will have what we need, and he will be satisfied, and we can settle into peace and focus on renewing our lands. But he is never satisfied. Not with our conquests, not with his own power, and not with me.”
He stalked to the fireplace, bracing a palm against the mantel. “Get on with your business, Princess.”
I went to the bathroom and took care of my needs as quickly as I could. When I came out again, with much sweeter breath, he took his turn, while I sat in one of the plush chairs and pondered what he had said.
He reappeared, still wearing only the undershorts, and I motioned for him to come over.
“What resources do your people lack?” I asked.
“Everything.” He sank into a nearby chair. “We’ve conscripted nearly every man and woman over fourteen, so there’s no one left to build families. Birth rates have dropped to nearly nothing—we’ll have no next generation at this rate. Our work force is stretched far too thin, and we’ve got no one to run the farms. Our growth season is short as it is, you see, and when we don’t take full advantage of it, the food runs out. Right now all that’s keeping my people alive is the tax of food and goods we collect from the neighboring kingdoms we’ve conquered. But they won’t be able to support us indefinitely.”
“I had no idea,” I said faintly. “Terelaus seems so strong, so powerful. My people in Brintzia think your kingdom is indomitable, irresistible.”
“It’s all a carefully designed shell, crafted to inspire terror. An impressive shell, but it’s only a matter of time before it cracks,” he replied. “And still my father wants to conquer more, and rule more, and still he keeps seeking the—”
He broke off suddenly, looking away from me.
“Keeps seeking what?”
“Nothing.”
“Don’t lie to me. You don’t do it well.”
“That’s a good thing, right? I’m an honest soul.” He smiled brightly.
“You’re not charming your way out of this. What is this resource your father is looking for? I can tell you whether or not my country has any of it. Might save the Dreadlord some time.”
“This is not a question easily answered.” He sighed. “And what he seeks is a secret, closely guarded. I can’t tell you, because you’re not one of us.”
“Thank the stars for that.” I narrowed my eyes, watching him as he got up to stoke the fire.
I’d gotten close to something important; I could feel it. This thing the Dreadlord sought—it was the reason for his rabid efforts to build an empire, to conquer anyone and everyone around Terelaus. What could it be? Gold? Jewels? Some precious mineral?
Maybe it had to do with magic. But no, that didn’t make sense. Terelaus had ample magic, while the surrounding kingdoms had little or none at all.
I had to make the Fiend Prince explain. I had to force him or persuade him to tell me what his father wanted. I could beat it out of him, but that would be difficult to accomplish here, with guards just outside the door and servants liable to pop in at any moment. Besides, I wasn’t sure I had the strength of will to hurt the Prince, even if he was an obnoxious prick.
