Page 26 of Promise of Darkness
Blessed Maia, what if this isn’t the first time the prince has arranged for a ‘political hostage’? He swore not to touch me without my consent, but who knows what he has in mind? There’s a reason he’s isolated me from the rest of his people.
One question, however, haunts me. What happened to the woman who wrote this message?
And what does she mean, by finding out what happened to his wife?
It’s the sort of thing one doesn’t mention to one’s captor, especially when I know my mother played a role in it.
I’m so engrossed in the message that I don’t hear the soft pad of footsteps until it’s too late.
“You’re up early.”
My hand clenches shut around the paper, and I spin to find the prince sauntering down the snowy stairs.
He looks even more dangerous this… morning? The fur hem of his black cloak drags across the snowy steps, and a silver and black tunic glints in the moonlight. There’s no hint of softness in that face. Only sharp edges, and the feral glint of hunger in his eyes as he surveys me.
“Was I not meant to explore?” I reply, hiding my hand behind me like I’ve been caught with my hand in the safe.
“You may do as you like—”
“Except leave.”
“You can try to leave,” he points out, “which means Asturia breaks the treaty. But I won’t stop you.”
It’s not freedom, though he makes me feel as though I have the run of the castle.
“Here,” he says, sweeping aside his cloak and revealing the sword at his hip. He tugs it free of its scabbard and hands it to me, hilt first. “I thought you might enjoy sparring with me.”
“You’re handing me something sharp?”
“It’s less dangerous than your tongue.”
I take the sword, examining its edges. It’s beautiful and perfectly weighted, with a star engraved on its crossguard. It fits my hand as if made for it. A part of me longs for action. Another part rouses competitively at the thought of fighting him. I want to beat him, even as I consider the breadth of his shoulders and the strength in those arms. He’s enormous, but every inch of him is gilded with muscle, and I’ve seen how lightly he can move. “Thank you. But I think I shall have to decline.”
I hand the sword back.
There’s no expression on his face, but I feel his frustration. “I promise I’ll go easy on you.”
“Maybe I don’t want easy?” I stride past, boots crunching on the shards of glass until I reach the center of the ballroom.
Thiago takes two steps after me, then stills. “No. You wouldn’t. You’d never choose the easy path.”
My eyes narrow. It feels like there’s something unspoken in that statement. “I want to be alone.”
“Dismissed, just like that?” His amusement holds an edge of bitterness. “As you wish, Your Highness. You may consider yourself lucky. Business calls me away for several days. Eris will remain here to protect you.”
He turns, sweeping up the stairs.
“Where are you going?” I call after him.
I don’t want to be left behind here in these lonely ruins. Even by him.
His head turns to the side, offering me his profile but no insight. “Ceres.”
“May I come?”
“No.”
My shoulders stiffen. I don’t know why he’s chosen to bring me here when the seat of his power is the golden city of Ceres. It feels as though he’s hiding me away from the world.
