Turning my attention to the nearby shelf, I selected a book. The binding was thick chocolate leather, holding at least a few hundred papers. I flitted through it, seeing information on battle tactics, and sighed.
“I’m here for my father, not for me.” I returned the book to its home. “Ryder—Prince Sutton, is taking me to see my father today, so I’m bringing a few with me to keep him entertained for the next couple of weeks.”
“What does your father enjoy?” He leaned against the shelf lazily.
“Mostly adventure.” I selected another; ugh—a book on swords. Quickly, I re-shelved it and chose the next. I frowned—more swords.
“You’re in the wrong aisle,” Grave muttered.
“What?”
“Adventure is over here,” he said over his shoulder as he walked away.
He moved down the wall, took a sharp left, and continued through an aisle with colorfully dyed leather covers. I followed reluctantly. How he could navigate through the maze with such ease was beyond me, especially when all the aisles looked the same.
“Here.” He stopped and stood in front of a tall bookcase.
“How’d you know where to go?” I asked.
“I read, remember? What type of adventure does he prefer?” Grave ran his fingers over the spines, removing one and handing it to me.
“Exactly this.” I thumbed through the book, a smile creeping across my face. “Sea creatures, pirates, all tales in between. He’s obsessed with the ocean.”
“Sounds gripping,” he mused. “Almost as thrilling as reading about the mortals without magic.”
I scoffed and moved down the shelf. “As if that exists.” I removed a thick book, the spine stiff and unworn:Balthazar and the Great Sea. Perfect.
Grave stepped toward me and plucked another from the shelf, opening it up and letting the pages skip through his fingers. “Worldwalkers write books on the subject plenty.” He shelved the book and plucked the one from my hand, flipping through it slowly. “They’re pretty convincing too. Have you read any? Maybe you’d enjoy one if?—”
His words stalled, and when I looked up to see why, I found his eyes settled on the four small purple blemishes adorning my skin. My face heated. I’d known I should have worn longer sleeves, but this was the only dress I’d received back from the laundry service.
“It’s not a big deal,” I said, dismissing his observation.
“It is.” His voice was low and gritty. “I should’ve ripped his arm from his body and fed it to Zalzre.”
I ignored him and stole the book back, focusing on the first page of the story.
“I’m sorry for not stepping in when I should’ve done something.” He was pensive. “I shouldn’t have let him treat you that way.”
“It wasn’t your place,” I replied, lowering my voice. “I’m not some princess locked in a tower in need of rescue.”
“Not yet,” he said smugly. “Give it a month, a wedding, and then?—”
“Don’t mock me.” The books slipped from my hand, and we both bent down to retrieve them, knocking our heads together in the process. I threw a hand to my forehead and swore under my breath. “You can’t help yourself, can you? I don’t need your assistance.”
“Yeah, you made that pretty clear yesterday.” He gestured to the rogue books sprawled on the floor. “They’re all yours, go ahead.”
“Not that I need to explain anything to you, but he feels awful.”
“Uh-huh.” Grave said. “Ibethe does.”
I plucked the books from the ground. “He apologized, and it will never happen again. ”
“Right,” Grave drawled. “I’ve heard that before, and it never stops.”
“If I hadn’t been there to begin with, the entire situation could’ve been avoided.” I moved down the aisle staying only half a dozen steps in front of him. I didn’t want to talk about Ryder, but I wasn’t ready to end the conversation either. “I don’t really care what you think,” I chirped. “You don’t know me, and you certainly don’t know Prince Sutton.”
“See,that’swhere you’re wrong.” He followed as I turned down another aisle. “I’ve been attending meetings since I wasten. And though I was only around the asshole once or twice a year, I’ve gotten to know him well over the last twenty years. So yes, Audryn, I do know your prince. Yesterday was a small appetizer to the grand entrée of his personality. I hope for your sake you have a hefty appetite.” Grave turned and strode away, disappearing down the closest staircase.
