Page 29 of Thief of Dreams
She smiles. "I do. I didn't think I'd like anyone here, but you remind me of myself. I've been so alone for so long now, that I didn't think I missed having a friend." She steps forward and impulsively hugs me. "Be careful. The other girls think you're the competition."
And I don't want to end up like poor Narcissa or Altrea.
"I will be," I promise as she steps back. "If Ismena plans to come after me, then she'd better bring her best knives." I flash a smile. "I'm no easy target."
9
Iplead a headache the next day as the prince and his cohort of ass-kissers ride out for another afternoon of bride hunting. After last night, I don't have the stomach for it.
He doesn't quite look disappointed when I say I'm staying, though he does smile and murmur, "Avoiding me again?"
To which I roll my eyes. "Only you would think I've feigned a headache to avoid your company."
"I don't knowwhatgives me that idea."
Caught.
"If you're feeling better tonight, perhaps you might care to play a game of Redcap with me in my rooms?"
It's the perfect opportunity. I don't know why I hesitate. "Perhaps. If I feel better."
He nods and mounts up, but his hot eyes watch me as he wheels his black stallion out the gate.
I waste no time. Despite the invitation—or perhaps because of it—I decide it's my only chance to search the prince's rooms. He doesn't always wear the claw, though try as I might, I couldn't see whether he was wearing it beneath his shirt when he left.
Afternoon sunlight is when I'm at my worst, but it's a simple matter to Sift into his bedchambers.
Not quite so simple to find what I'm looking for.
There's no sign of the relic. He must be wearing it, which means I must face him again.
Tonight.
I glance at his bed. I joked about it with Soraya, but the idea of stealing a kiss from the prince just so I can slip the relic from around his throat makes my stomach roil. We've barely had any time together—Ihavebeen avoiding him of late—but I know his thoughts on betrayal.
And worse, I know the feel of it.
I don't want to do this.
It was one thing to filch Angmar's precious trident. The king is Blessed through and through and makes Ismena look like a kindly soul. I enjoyed stealing it, truth be told.
But Prince Keir has been kind. He's solicitous, charming, protective... and while he's making a pretense of playing the game, I know the deaths of the two princesses have bothered him greatly.
I won't pretend he's not dangerous. It's there in every step he takes, every flicker of those hot gold eyes. The man's a predator who exists at the top of the food chain. Cross him, and I'm sure he'll rain his wrath down upon you.
But he's not cruel.
And he doesn't deserve this.
Think of the soul-trap. Think of freedom. Think of everything you can do when you're no longer beholden to the Wraith King.
It doesn't help.
Because once I'm free, what then?
I have nowhere to go. I have no one to go to.
And every time I look in the mirror, I'll know my freedom came at the cost of his trust.
