Page 22 of To Wake a Kingdom

Inside my head, I was screaming so loud blood vessels popped in bright crimson bombs of apprehension. These men were dangerous. They belonged to the king who had stolen my kingdom. To the man buried deep in the forest, a wound from my dagger in his neck. If they knew what I’d done, everything I was holding would dissolve between my fingers. My plans were as fragile as a tower of champagne flutes. One wrong move, and the entire thing would topple and shatter.

“She called you ‘Your Highness’,” Noah said, pointing to Kianna as though he’d solved a great riddle. He took a small step back as I glared at him with the heat of a thousand bonfires.

With a turn on my heel, I headed for the kitchens. The sound of boots on stone followed me as my ardent wish for them all to dissipate into a puff of smoke failed to materialize.

Inside the warm, bright space, they all started pulling stools around the large central table. Ronan glanced at one of the kitchen staff asleep in the corner and raised that soul-destroying eyebrow again. Wisely, he said nothing.

“Would we not be more comfortable in the dining room?” Kianna asked, but the acrimonious look I gave her silenced any further comments on the matter.

“This will do,” said the older man, Gideon. He started digging into our stores, pulling down bags of flour and butter as he grabbed a large bowl and an array of cooking utensils.

“What is he doing?” I whispered to Kianna.

Gideon must have been some kind of manservant who traveled with the prince and his companions. Ronan hadn’t introduced himself as a prince, though, only as a commander.

As I was about to comment on how they couldn’t travel without help—who was I to talk?—the rest of them got up and started pitching in, too.

Noah poured wine for me and Kianna while Em found jugs of ale, passing glasses around. Ronan brought over a stack of plates, laying them out on the table. It was a sight filled with warmth. One borne of countless nights and days spent in each other’s company, the banter teasing and comfortable.

Ronan sat down across from where I stood. “Your Highness, please sit. You seem tense.”

“I don’t need an invitation to sit at my own table.”

Ronan’s answering grin was full of wry amusement that lit up his face like he was a gift from the sun.

What was so damn funny?

Still, I couldn’t fault the artfully cut platter of cheese and cured meats Gideon had placed between us. It looked delicious, and I was starving. Trying to make it seem like it was my idea, I slid onto a stool while Kianna parked herself next to me.

“Kianna, was it?” Ronan gestured to her. “I haven’t met many winged Faeries. The tales of your beauty are vastly underestimated.”

She blushed with a coquettish giggle, and I rolled my eyes.

“And what may I call you, Your Highness?” Ronan looked between us. I considered the request and couldn’t think of any good reason not to tell him my name. Other than I didn’t want to.

“‘Your Highness’ is fine.” I picked up a cube of cheese and popped it in my mouth, daring him to argue.

“She is Princess Thorne,” Kianna piped in, followed by a squeak as my boot connected with her shin. She glowered at me, and I returned the look with amplified intensity.

“Thorne?” Ronan said, his expression somehow becoming even more entertained.

While I was losing myself in a haze of useless emotions, he apparently found me as hilarious as a court jester. Noah snorted, choking on his ale, and I noticed Em cover her mouth and look down as if trying to hide her smile.

“A fitting name for another beautiful woman.” Ronan smiled again, and now I was positively sure he was mocking me.

Before long, the smells of spice and roasting meat filled the air. Gideon placed a tureen with poached fish swimming in a creamy sauce on the table alongside a tray of glistening roasted chicken legs and rounds of fresh, unleavened bread.

“Where did you find all this?” I stared at the bounty before me.

“In the cellar, Your Highness.” Gideon sat down as everyone doled food onto their plates.

I’d never even thought to look for a cellar. Of course, there was more food. This castle was home to almost two hundred people. I was such a fool, but everything smelled amazing, so I stashed away yet another blunder and focused on the feast.

As I took a bite of the fish, I realized all my mistakes in the kitchen. A lack of seasoning, and I overcooked everything. Idly, I wondered if Gideon could teach me a few tricks, except these soldiers were leaving as soon as they were finished with supper.

But it was at that moment the wind picked up, howling so loud it whistled through the walls. Snow battered the glass like handfuls of gravel. I groaned as Gideon pressed his palms to the table.

“I’ll see to the horses?” He hesitated, his eyes going between me and Ronan.

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