Pharis’ eyes narrowed to slits.
“They’re notdirty,”he growled. “They’re by Oriana Lagamore. She’s a prominent Fae author of romantic fiction.”
“Forgive me then. I found your ‘romantic’ books. I must admit, I’m surprised to learn your reading taste leans to romance,” I said.
Pharis shot me a squinting fake smile. “That’s what passes for my love life these days, as circumstances have curtailed myactivitieswith real women. Now what are you really doing in here?”
He began to stalk toward me, a dangerous smile developing. “Unless you broke into my bedroom becauseyouwanted to entertain me in that manner? I’ve never kept a retinue here at Stormcrest, but if you’re volunteering…”
He was being deliberately crude, trying to intimidate me—or perhaps taunting me as payback for teasing him.
But I couldn’t besurehe’d said it in jest. There was a gleam in his eyes that flooded me with warmth and raised gooseflesh on my skin.
“No. I… that’s not why I came in here. I was just curious.”
Skirting around Pharis, I ran to the other side of the bed, putting it between us.
Suddenly his expression changed. Instead of the cocky grin he’d been wearing, he now looked nervous himself.
His eyes darted to the nightstand beside me.
I turned to it, and something caught my eye. Something familiar and yet wholly unexpected in this setting.
One of Stellon’s drawings.
When I reached for it, Pharis yelled, “Stop,” and rushed around the bed to physically stop me.
But it was too late. I’d already picked it up and seen the subject of the sketch.
He tried to snatch the paper from me, but I held out a hand, the one that had just grasped fireweed minutes ago.
Pharis must have realized it because he froze mid-motion. His voice sounded pained.
“I told you to stop,” he ground out between clenched teeth. “It’s private.”
I dragged my eyes away from my shocking discovery to meet his hard gaze.
“It’s me,” I whispered.
It was a drawing of me… that I’d found in his room… on his bedside table.
What in the world?
He must have stolen it from Stellon’s sketchbook back at Castle Seaspire. I doubted the Crown Prince would have given it to him.
But why had he taken it?
Why keep it out where he’d see it every morning and night?
Pharis offered no explanation. He just stood there, staring daggers through me.
“You shouldn’t have come in here. You had no right.”
I ignored his admonitions. The fact was Ihadcome in here, and I’d foundthis.
What could it mean?
Pharis had claimed not to care about me, to only be interested in keeping me around because of my “valuable” glamour gift. He’d made me promise to stay and help him in exchange for keeping my family safe.
