“It’s just a necklace—” Hells, I should’ve hidden it, but I’m so used to it against my skin I didn’t even think about it.
“It’s not allowed. No jewelry is,” the guard growls.
I freeze up. This necklace is all I have of my father. I’ve worn it every day for seven years. They already took the only thing I had of my brother’s … my culture.
“It … can I just—” I hate that this druid can hear emotion in my voice. I will not break down in front of this asshole—I won’t let them win like that.
“Give it over. Now!” The barked order draws eyes, but I stay frozen, fists clenched. I don’t want to make a scene. They could kill me for this so far as I know. But I don’t want to lose the necklace either.
“What’s going on here?” Prince Draven sidles next to the counter, gaze imperious.
“She won’t hand over a personal item,” the guard tattles. “Tried to sneak in another one in her boot.”
“Wow, I bet you’re fun at parties,” I snarl before turning to Draven. “It’s just a necklace.”
“Then why won’t you give it up?”
“It …” My face heats as I chew my lip, searching for the right words. “My father gave this to me. I will keep it out of sight. I won’t wear it if that’s the issue.”
“Your attachment is the issue.” He says it so matter-of-factly. Silence stretches but I can’t bear to take it off. “What’s your name?”
“What do you care?” I spit back.Monster.
He chuckles, and I simmer in anger. “I’m not a monster.” Draven’s head tilts as I startle, uncertain if he just read my thoughts or can assume them from my glowering. “And we don’t need these here, now that the Selection is over.” The prince reaches up slowly, unclasping his mask. I can’t look at anything else as he lifts it off.
He’s too symmetrical, too pretty, and my attention doesn’t know where to focus first. On those eyes that have shifted once more, sparking violet, or that coy mouth that curls nearly catlike in the corners, his smile just a little sharp. Edged with danger. My cheeks heat as I take in those full lips, his straight nose, the perfect chisel of his chin.
The more I stare at him the broader his grin becomes. He doesn’t have any tattoos on his face, but I can see them peeking along his neck around that armor. I wouldn’t be surprised if he was covered in them.
He’s gorgeous.
But he’s an immortal, I remind myself.
I force my gaze to the slight point of his ears, the black horns that spiral toward the heavens from his full head of dark silken hair, and the wings that tighten a bit closer on his back.
The most beautiful flowers are usually the most poisonous.
“Maybe not a monster. Still an entitled princeling,” I manage, though my voice is embarrassingly quieter than moments ago.
His eyes alight, but otherwise, he remains nonplussed. “Your name?”
I swallow, trying not to be ensnared by his cursed beauty. “Rune.”
“Rune.” His deep voice tastes my name with something like relish, as if by repeating it he’s drawn us unbearably closer, until he’s the only thing in focus. “Give me the necklace.”
Prince Draven’s gaze traps me, forcing blood to rush to my head, leaving me stupid and embarrassed. He holds his hand out for it. Somehow it feels easier to give him something I love so deeply, instead of the soldier.
I shove it into Draven’s palm. Smoke coils around the curves until it’s swallowed by darkness, leaving only my rage.
“Good girl. Now, that wasn’t so hard, was it?” With all the arrogance in the world he turns on his heel, slipping a shining tarot card back into a little box clipped at his hip. Did he just enchant me into giving that up?
I glare as his powerful form cuts back to Commander Soto’s side. The two lead the way out of the entrance hall, out into the open grounds beyond.
“What just happened?” Ember asks me, looking between the prince and me.
“Nothing I can’t handle.” However long it takes, I will make that prick pay for this.
“Come on, Rune.” Morgan snaps me out of my haze as he and Kasper trail the other changelings after the commander and prince. Ember lightly touches my shoulder and my wrath rebels at the sympathy in her eyes, but I follow.
