Cara thought it indecent for me to remain, expecting the kings to celebrate with drink and debauchery over their grand achievements. The woman was practically scandalized when my future father-in-law insisted he and his queen with their strange guards wanted to retire to their chambers.
I wasn’t certain what shocked her more, the alver king’s disregard toward the Dokkalfar king, or the admission as he left that the only person he cared to spend his time with was his wife.
Like she mattered.
It was . . . endearing. Strange, but endearing all the same.
I wish it would be the same for my own vow.
No, my husband was not one who would knock chests with kings at the mere inkling of offense toward his queen. I doubted he would even be irked by the idea.
I took a step back. “You are under no obligation to speak with me.”
“Ah.” The corner of his mouth curved into something beautifully wicked. “If that is an elven custom, it will take me some time to acclimate. Where I am from, those who are vowed speak to each other quite often. In fact, sometimes they even enjoy it.”
Was he . . . teasing me?
What was this? Break down my guard before he struck?
Decisions to trust too easily spoiled my past. Pain always followed. If his plan was to find a crack, to take hold of my confidence, he would be met with formidable resistance.
I steadied my features into the frosty exterior. “I will talk if you ask it of me. Tell me what it is you would like me to say?”
Steady. Calm. Empty. He wanted his levity to be met with a cautious grin? Perhaps a flush of my cheeks, a spark of curiosity.
He would be met with none of it, for how could he break an empty heart?
The prince faced me, one elbow propped on the rail, the last remnants of his grin fading like the retreat of the tide. “What do you want to say? Surely you have a thought or two about this alliance.”
“What are your thoughts?”
“I believe I asked you first.”
“But I only wish to hear yours.”
The prince came closer. My heartbeat quickened. Gods, I prayed he couldn’t make out the thud of my pulse point.
“You’re pretending to be cold, Princess. I’m not certain why?”
Teeth clenched, I fought to keep my face schooled into something so flat not even a twitch of the cheek would be noted. “You have my apologies if I’ve displeased you.”
“And you wish to please me?”
Behind my back, I clasped my wrists, hiding the curl of my fists. “I wish to do my duty.”
“Are those your true thoughts? You’ll do whatever it takes?”
Another step. His shoulder brushed mine. I dug my fingernails into the skin of my palms, battling the urge to shudder from the touch.
His smirk transformed into something sly, a sneer and grin that spoke of a thousand tricks and ploys he was crafting in his mind.
“I have no thoughts.” My voice was low, a soft rasp. “What would be the point?”
The more I tried to be nothing but a shell of a woman, the more the prince seemed drawn to me.
His thumb tilted my chin. The touch was warm, almost gentle, but when my eyes clashed with his, there was a darkness in his stare that lifted the hair on my arms.
“Tell me.” The prince brushed his lips over my ear. “If it pleased me to have you crawl to me, to thank me for saving you from the light elven, would you do it?”
