In three strides I had her pressed against me again. “You are my wife.”
“And you do not want me!” Skadi shirked me off. “Notme. Yes, we are vowed. Yes, I have a woman’s body. Yes, I am here with the title of your wife. But do not pretend all that automatically brings true affection for the heart. You said so yourself, hearts are not part of the alliance. So do not pretend there is any care to know the tale behind a scar.”
“You don’t?—”
“No!” Tears glazed her eyes. “I don’t want this.”
“Don’t want what?”
“Whatever happened here.” Her hand gestured between us. “I won’t.”
“Why? What if this doesn’t need to be nothing?”
“Itmust. I have no desire to draw close to you.” Her voice cracked. “Don’t pretend you do. I beg of you to respect me enough not to play games.”
“I am not playing.”
“You are born of thieves; tricks and games make up your people by your own word.” She retreated again, eyes dull, intentionally shutting me out. “All I am to you is a dark, dangerous elf you were forced to muzzle for the sake of all fae folk.”
Her voice was raised, almost frantic, but there was a brokenness to it.
“That’s all you see with me? That’s all you want?” I asked, voice sharp. “To be indifferent strangers who are vowed?”
Skadi sighed. “It is always the same, Prince. Intrigue, maybe a bit of attraction, until the truth of the brutality within is seen and cannot be unseen. Save yourself some time and live your life as if I were not here. That is how I will live mine. We should do our duty, nothing more.”
It stung, more than I anticipated. What she meant was she did not want to grow closer with me. Odd how positions had shifted. I went into these vows without much thought on connection or emotions. Now, she rejected mine, and I felt the scar of it in my chest.
I flourished my hand in a mock sort of bow, and stepped for the door. “As you wish,Wife. Should I return to take you to the hall, or would my presence be too disconcerting?”
Her face pinched, her voice softened. “If it is all right, perhaps I should not attend tonight. Unless you command it.”
“I think I’ll put my tyranny to rest for the night. Do as you please.” I wrenched the door open in time to catch sight of Frigg’s long braid and Sander’s messy hair fade around the corner, their voices hissing and screeching like two hogs caught out of their pen.
How much had they heard? Asses.
I slammed the door to Skadi’s room the same moment Dorsan emerged in his finely spun elven tunic and blade. The only hint of emotion came when he lifted his brows.
“Your lady has chosen not to attend the feast. Remain here should she need you.” I said nothing more before storming into my own chamber, locking the door at my back.
Chapter 18
The Mist Thief
Something struck my door,rattling the hinges. I jolted up in my bed, positioned to reach for the small paring knife I’d taken from one of the meal trays sent to my room. To remain unarmed as I slept never settled well. Even back home, I kept a blade nearby.
The door didn’t rattle again, but raised voices filled the corridor.
Outside was still lost to the satin black of night. I blinked through the lingering fatigue and slipped a woolen cloak over my shoulders, peeking out into the corridor.
Jonas was strapping a dagger to his belt, but had a hooded cloak over his shoulders, speaking frantically to Sander and Von as they left the prince’s side of the chamber.
My husband glanced toward my door, catching my gaze. “Stay put,” he said.
“What’s going on?” I hugged the edge of the door. There was pain in their features.
With the way I shouted at him earlier and demanded he leave, the prince did not need to speak to me, but he strode to my side.
“Something has happened at the home of one of the guards of the palace. Some sort of illness has taken to him and his wife and causedviolent delirium. We’re going to help if we can, even if it’s tending to his littles.”
