The prince’s face became stone. But he didn’t say a word.
She spoke softly. “I can feel it, you know. Hear it too, sometimes. It sounds like it will bleed you dry.”
His eyes shot to hers, wild and electric at what she knew. Fingers flexing by his side, he gritted out his reply. “You don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Her own anger melted into a deep sadness. She shook her head, feeling the fight drain out of her. She spoke quietly again. “You stand in front of me tangled in years of secrets, lies, and omission, and you want me to trust you? I know secrets better than anyone, and you? You’re made of them.”
She studied him. The man who was once familiar was now strange.
“I won’t make you say it aloud. But we both know what’s at the heart of it.”
His mouth was a thin line, body tense at what she was implying, but he didn’t stop her, so she kept talking. Made sure her voice was gentle and true.
“Death, grief, rage. That’s what lives inside your chest.” She paused. “Losing your sister changed you, didn’t it? More than you ever let on.”
The prince took a half step back as if the weight of her words had knocked the rugged arrogance clean out of him. His mouth hung open as if to reply, but a furious pounding against the door tore the moment away.
Elysia stared at him tiredly. “If you have any self-preservation, then I would recommend the window as a means of exit.”
He glanced over to her in question, but didn’t move, seemingly unable to process their interaction.
She shrugged and walked over to the door. “Don’t say I didn’t warn you.”
The door kicked open before Elysia could reach it, and in strode the eldest Parker. Each and every confident step exuded a very specific type of elder sister bossiness. For some reason that Elysia couldn’t quite put her finger on, the sight didn’t bother her as it once had. It might have even made her smile just a little.
Beatriz stopped cold when she saw the prince. She looked like she’d stepped in shit and could smell it under her sharp, thin nose. “I don’t recall anyone inviting a fucking Blatz to this party.”
Her eyes went to Elysia. “He looks like you kicked his puppy. Tell me you kicked his puppy.”
The prince seemed to shake himself free of his constraints, a mocking smile returning to his face. Rolling his broad shoulders, he cracked his neck.
“Business take a turn lately, Beatriz? You seem more agitated than usual. Or is that just the drugs just wearing off?”
She shot him a dangerous look. “The House is as it always is.”
Elysia watched their standoff and felt her usual irritation with her sister spring right back.
“What business, Beatriz?” Her voice sounded a little too shrill, and she knew she shouldn’t have asked. She’d very purposely never pried or sought after her sister’s secrets. If her father ever came asking, she didn’t want to know the truth of it.
Jessa swung the door shut, strolling over to lounge beside Elysia. She silently eyed the prince, her shrewd cat eyes going up, then back down. It was an obvious evaluation. Something the Crown Prince was not often subjected to—at least not by tavern owners who kept nail-studded planks behind their bar. Jessa frowned like there was something she didn’t understand, as if perhaps she found him lacking. But her face smoothed and she turned away, leaving the prince looking disgruntled.
Beatriz looked on laughingly. In a voice more prim than Elysia had ever heard her speak, she asked, “Yes, Jessa? Your verdict?”
“It’s just…” She looked at Elysia, speaking slowly as if she were working out her thoughts. “We might have our issues, but you’re smart, educated, one of the few women who works for the Crown, and you’re even pretty when you’re not getting people killed.” Her eyes cut back to the prince, confusion rippling her forehead. “You know what, I date women. I’m sure you’re just fine.”
She patted the prince on his generous bicep. Stunned into silence, he blinked—his head swiveling between all three women.
Beatriz snickered, then became falsely serious. “While I have enjoyed my time with the men of this fine land, and they may even draw my eye… Thank the gods for the House.” She gave a wicked grin.
Elysia rolled her eyes. “Yes, yes, I’m an uncouth, unfortunate soul who has been twice cursed. Once with undead gifts and twice with falling for this creature, but he was just leaving.” She leveled the prince with a withering glare.
The corner of his mouth hitched up a notch. “Knew you still loved me.”
Elysia felt the honest happiness beneath his words like a sharp kick to the ribs. Did she?
She rubbed at her arms, trying to push away the uncomfortable sensation. “Can you please leave already?”
He relaxed back into one of her prized stolen arm chairs. “I think not. You all look far too irritated by my presence, which means you are obviously up to no good and I’d be stupid to leave.”
