Page 30 of Court of Winter

He hadn’t used one of the lodge’s robes. Instead, a simple towel was looped around his waist, which only amplified his toned abdomen. Wings tucked in tight to his back were like a narrow slit down his spine. Muscles bunched and moved in his shoulders, and ridges that I had no business seeing seemed to beckon my attention as he dipped around corners.

The prince was masculinity incarnate, a beautiful sculpture of death that would delight any female in the throes of her demise. It took everything in me not to throw a dagger at him—if I had a dagger, that was.

Cool air brushed over my skin as we made the final turn to my room. Since I didn’t have wings, the slits in the back of the robe allowed a breeze to flow freely across my backside. I just hoped that my bottom wasn’t on display. Normally, I had to buy my clothing from the youth vendor booths in Firlim’s market. Since pre-pubescent fae didn’t have wing buds, their clothing was still complete in the back, which meant that it kept my bare back covered, unlike adult fae clothes.

“Do you have your key?” the prince asked when he reached my door. He faced me, which put his firm chest in my line of sight.

I craned my head up. “Yes, my prince.” I held it up, then tucked my dirty clothes under my arm and went to insert it into the lock.

“Allow me.” He took the key in a large, calloused palm.

“Such a gentlefae, my prince.”

He gave me a side-eye, and in turn I provided a saccharine smile.

With my door open, I expected him to step aside and return to wherever he was residing, but instead he crossed the threshold, and the hum of the protection wards surrounding the room vibrated against my skin.

Bristling, I followed him, then crossed my arms as he surveyed the room. “My prince, aren’t you returning to your chambers?”

He fixed his piercing blue eyes on me, and I was once again confronted with the planes and angles of his sculpted features. “This is my chambers.”

My eyebrows knit together as a thrum of confusion pulsed through me. I ran a fluttering hand through my hair. “There must have been a mix-up. I thought they told me this was my room. Which bedroom chambers do I reside in?” An image of a frozen barn came to mind.Blessed Mother, hopefully it won’t be that bad.

“There hasn’t been a mistake. You’re staying with me.”

My hand fell. “What?”

“I said that you’re staying with—”

“I know what you said, but why am I staying withyou?”

He cocked an eyebrow. “Do you always ask such asinine questions?”

My nostrils flared as I pumped my hands into fists. “Only when encountered with ridiculous fae.”

“Are you calling me, your prince, ridiculous?”

“Oh, no, of course not. I’m sure that would be considered treason, my prince.”

His eyes lost their luster as they turned into chips of ice. “You’re right, so I’m glad you’re not that foolish.”

Fuming, all I could do was watch as he prowled around the room, testing the doors and windows and sending out pulses of his magic to gauge the protection wards. When he finished his perimeter inspection, he nodded toward a pile of clothes lying at the end of the bed. “I see Milis did as I asked.”

I planted my hands on my hips. “You’re seriously staying here with me?”

“I believe it’s actuallyyouwho’s staying here withme. This is my chambers after all.”

Tapping a foot, I replied, “Which again, begs the question, why am I staying with you? Surely you can at least explain that even though you claim it’s anasininething to wonder?”

He straightened more, and his shoulders seemed to stretch across the room as a dark cloud fell over his features. I took a step back, not even realizing I was doing it until I ran into the doorframe.

“Did you not hear the villagers’ comments?” he asked in a deceptively quiet voice.

“Of course, I did.”

“Then you know that some wish me, and by extensionyou, harm.”

My throat turned dry when I forced a swallow. “Do you really think they would try to break in here and hurt me?”

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