We walk to the castle in silence. Each step feels like I’m trudging through mud.
How am I going to do this? How am I going to fake this if he starts expecting me to do more?
Then I remember that he’s not worried that I might kill him in his sleep. The absolute perfect time to stab him. If anything, I should encourage him. Taking him into my bed would get me closer but I’m not sure I can bring myself to do it.
When I agreed to this, I made peace with death. I thought I’d get close to a selfish, cold prince who had a whole corral of lovers to distract him from me. I did not account for a prince who might actually fall for me.
Thirteen
“Good morning, Princess.”Brevan is outside my room when I open the door.
“Good morning,” I reply as I turn down the hall.
He walks alongside me. “And where are you heading?”
“I was told I was free to leave my rooms once I met the court,” I say. “I met the court last night, so I will go where I please.”
He’s silent as he continues alongside me. I look over my shoulder and see that two legionnaires still stand in front of my door. I suppose they’ll tell Marian where I went when she wakes.
After my walk with Caiden last night, she was waiting in my room. She helped me out of my dress, then slept in the small bed to be near me. I wondered if Caiden made her stay.
After last night, I’m even more eager to find out about the emperor so I can leave. There’s a time limit on how long I can delay the prince’s advances and I’m not sure exactly what it is. The sooner I finish here, the better.
“I’m just going for a walk around my new home,” I tell Brevan. “I don’t need an escort.”
“There have already been rebels inside this castle twice since you arrived,” he says.
“It’s not my fault you have terrible security,” I tell him. “Besides, they’re not after me. They’re after something in the library or the vault, correct?”
“How did you know that?”
“Caiden told me.”
“You two are getting close.”
“Was that judgement in your tone?” I glance over at him.
“Of course not.”
“Why does he have you following me around?” I stop at a staircase and contemplate which way to go.
“Library is upstairs,” he says.
“What makes you think that’s what I’d like to see?” I ask.
“Because that’s what the rebels are always after.”
I blink a few times and stare at him, hoping he can’t hear the pounding of my heart or the rushing sound filling my ears. “What does that have to do with anything?”
“Because you’re curious and I’m sure your father wants you to find things out while you’re here. You won’t discover anything that will be useful to him, but we all expected you to have ulterior motives.”
“Is that why I was trapped in my room?” I ask.
“Probably.”
“What about the vault?”
He chuckles. “I can show you where it is, but I can’t let you inside. Even I don’t have the key.”
