Page 71 of Bride of the Gilded Prince

He cocked his head. “No, I wished to check on you.”

To see what I was up to.

“I appreciate the sentiment.” I leaned back in my seat. “But I think we both know that there’s more to it than that.”

He sighed, running a hand through his hair. “You are an unknown quantity, princess. I find myself constantly second-guessing your motives.”

I chuckled. “And you think I’m not doing the same?”

He said nothing, and I sighed. “I’m not playing games with you, Prince Maedras. I’m just trying to survive in a world that I don’t understand.”

“And you think I am not doing the same?”

He owed this world. What was he even talking about?

“I don’t know,” I said as I closed my eyes. “All I know is that I’m tired of this dance we’re doing. Maybe it’s time we just stop.”

He was quiet for a long moment and I wondered if I had overstepped my boundaries again. “I think that’s a good idea.”

“Good.” I let out a breath I didn’t know I was holding. “Now, can we please just have a normal conversation?”

He hesitated for a moment. “Yes, I think that would be for the best.”

“Thank you,” I said. “You have all the power in this situation. You and I both know this.”

“Do I?” His expression was carefully blank. “Or do you?”

I raised an eyebrow. “What do you mean?”

“I think,” he drawled. “That you are the one with all the power in this situation.”

“How so?” I asked, genuinely curious.

“I have power, but it’s not absolute,” he said. “You have the power to wield significant influence. You can easily make or break the hope of my people.”

The Elvish fertility issue was a touchy subject, and one I tried to avoid.

“Our people,” I corrected him. “But I have no desire to wield any power you believe I have.”

“And that.” He leaned forward. “My dear wife makes you so dangerous.”

Dangerous? Me? The thought was laughable.

“I’m sorry, my prince, but I don’t understand.”

His eyes softened, and he placed his hand on his face. It made him look more vulnerable. More like a normal person rather than the one everyone looked up to. “I just want what’s best for my people, princess. That’s all I’ve ever wanted.”

My eyes narrowed. “And you think I’m a threat to that?”

“I don’t know,” he admitted. “But I can’t take the chance that you are.”

I leaned forward and lowered my chin. “So ask.”

“I want to know why you are here. What are your goals? What do you want?”

“I want to help my people,” I said. “That’s all.”

“Why?” He frowned. “What do you hope to gain from this?”

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