“As you should. This is all made in good faith. We all benefit from this alliance.”
I cracked one knuckle, then another. “Agreed. So, I assure you, I will do all in my power to keep your granddaughter satisfied.”
The king barked a laugh. “Good man. I warn you, there is more to Skadinia than you might see now. I wish you the best of luck. The Ljosalfar are my kin, so I would be required to side with them should my granddaughterreturn.”
There was a veiled threat in his levity. When I clasped his forearm, I gave him a tight nod, a show I understood his meaning entirely.
Sander folded his arms over his chest once the king left. “What do you plan to do with all that, Jo?”
What did I plan to do? I cast a glance toward the doors where the princess was taken away. “I suppose I will need to be friendly with my future wife.”
Sander chuckled. “Maybe you ought to do more. I hear a lot of men love their wives.”
I backed away, my comfortable, unbothered smile in place. “Ah, unfortunately, brother, hearts were never part of this deal.”
Chapter 5
The Mist Thief
There wassomething peaceful about the coves surrounding the sea fae palace.
Wind kissed my cheeks. I closed my eyes, breathing in the warm scents of honey blooms, like a baked sweet with an undertone of salt and rain.
It reminded me of Natthaven. Sea winds were cooler on the isle, but the towering trees caught the breeze and rained clean, spicy air across the knolls and village.
The fading isle could be summoned. It was the skill of elven folk—summoning.
My gift of darkness that could take was a mistake to many. Too much dangerous power for one soul.
I never wanted power. I still didn’t.
“Am I intruding?”
A shiver danced down my spine, stiffening my body. His voice held a strange power—it chilled me from within, rendering me unmovable.
I glanced over my shoulder. There, the nightmare prince stood, engulfed by the dim lantern light spilling from the open door of the palace. From this angle, his eyes were shadowed, resembling the empty black they’d been the night we met.
I turned back to face the sea. “It is not my place to say if you are intruding or not.”
My right to protest was signed away moments ago.
His slow steps scuffed over the sandy cobbles until he settled next to my shoulder. “King Eldirard is arranging for ferries to the elven isle after he draws it nearer. It’s strange how it can move about.”
“Hmm,” was all I said. I cast a look at the prince. Tall, strong, an enemy. Why was he here?
A slice of fear cut through my middle. There was violence under the surface of this man, and once he had wanted to kill me.
“You seem afraid of me.” He spoke without looking away from the sea.
“Should I be?” I wasn’t certain he even heard, my voice came so soft, so distant.
The prince opened his arms and twisted side to side. “I am unarmed, Princess.”
“Blades are not the only weapons.”
“True.” The prince hooked his thumbs into his thick leather belt. “I meant to speak to you after the alliance, but you were taken away by your lady’s maid.”
I didn’t respond with anything more than a nod.
