Prince Roshan raises an imperious brow. In hindsight, I don’t know how I managed to assume he was a gardener. Even his expressions are pretentious. “Did I, though? You believed what you chose to believe.”
“And your remarks about the queen?”
He smiles. “Oh, that’s true. She hates me. And no, I don’t live in the maze, though I do pass many peaceful hours here in this spot.” The prince’s face softens. “Both my parents treasured it. My father”—his face tightens with a strange mix of anger and sorrow—“used to come here, too, but not since he became ill.”
I’m still cross about the fact that he duped me, but I can’t help reacting to the unguarded, vulnerable look on his face. “Are you and your father close?”
His throat works. “We were...are... it’s complicated.” He lifts a hand to his hair, raking it through the dark strands. “He always wanted better for Oryndhr, and I fear...”
I wait, but he doesn’t say any more, though his fists clench at his sides. “You fear?” I prod.
He shakes his head and lets out a sigh. “Ignore me, I’m in a strange mood. This glade always makes me sentimental. Where were you going in such a hurry before?” he asks, changing the subject.
“To find the forge,” I reply honestly. No harm in telling him the truth. His eyes widen in surprise.
“You like... bladework?”
I raise a brow. “Does that shock your princely sensibilities? That a woman like me can hammer a sword?”
“I’m impressed, actually. But more importantly, I had the measure of you in the courtyard, admit it.”
I almost laugh at the ego on him. “You said I was the daughter of a blacksmith. I’m the daughter of a tavern owner.”
“I deserve the glory and you know it, don’t be stingy.”
I do grin then, but only because he’s disarmingly charming.
“Look at that, you can smile!”
It drops immediately. “Don’t get used to it.”
“Now that sounds like a challenge, Lady Suraya.” His amused gold-flecked gaze travels my entire body, from the collar of my tunicto the burn marks on my hands to the tips of my boots, where his eyes light with curiosity. “One of yours? May I see it?”
Following his stare, I blanch at the sight of my very visible dagger. Stars above, I must not have secured it properly! Would he recognize the jadu? Of course he would. He’s a prince who probably has a thousand element-imbued blades of his own.
I think about refusing, but that would only make things worse. What are the odds I’ll be thrown into the palace dungeons for possession of a forbidden blade?
Torn between taking my chances and running away, I reluctantly pull the dagger from its sheath. He stares at it for a long time but doesn’t move to touch it.Strange.In trepidation, I peer up at him, but his face is sphinxlike. “Nice work,” he murmurs.
“Nice work?” I echo in disbelief. “That’s all you have to say?”
“What would you like me to say? It’s a beautiful dagger. The craftsmanship of the simurgh on the pommel is exceptional.”
My eyes widen. Doesn’t he notice the craftsmanship of thebladeor the forbidden runes etched there? My brows slam together as I replace the blade in my boot, securing it so it’s no longer visible. “It’s illegal.”
The smirk that appears on his face should also be illegal, and I fight the sudden breath-stealing tightness in my chest. “Would you like me to arrest you, my lady? I do enjoy seeing a feisty woman in restraints from time to time.”
At his provocative tone, deep down, a flicker of interest pulses to life, and I draw back in instant alarm.No, no, no,this cannot be happening.Not forhim!
By the maker, get ahold of yourself, Suraya!
“Are you trying to shock me, Your Highness?” I ask with a haughty tilt of my chin, keeping my voice even and squashing my suddenly too-interested libido.
He studies me. “I get the feeling it would take quite a lot to shock you.”
“I work in a tavern.” My brows lift. “That’s not a huge leap of imagination.”
The prince laughs, and the warm tenor of it takes me by surprise. “What if I say it was flirting?”
