Asher grimaced as he turned it over in his hands.
‘From your father, Captain,’ the guard said, giving him a salute before she marched away.
Asher clenched the envelope tightly. I furrowed my brows as Skye paled and turned away from the captain. She went to the table across from Asher, unrolling another map.
Asher opened the letter, studying it, his mouth turning into a thin line, before he closed his eyes and crumpled it in his fist.
‘How is your father?’ An unusual coldness had seeped into Skye’s tone. Looking from one to the other, I wondered why a letter from Asher’s father chilled their playful relationship.
Asher’s nostrils flared, before he started towards the door. ‘You’ll find out later. He’s visiting for a few days. According to the letter, he wants to offer his king all the help he can. I need to prepare. I’ll see you later, my queen. Princess.’
With a stiff incline of his chin, Asher swept from the room; his footsteps pounded down the corridor. Skye rubbed her cheeks, sniffing, and I narrowed my gaze. There was some history here I knew nothing about.
‘Am I right in assuming Asher and his father don’t have the best relationship?’ I asked, wishing I could make out her features.
Skye grabbed the map and rolled it so carelessly I winced.
‘Not at all,’ she said, her tone clipped. ‘If you must know, Asher has nothing but respect for the man. He’d do anything for him. Sacrifice everything.’
She slammed down another, priceless, irreplaceable map. Why would the appearance of Asher’s father cause such anger – and carelessness? I couldn’t risk her ripping those maps. It was hard enough for me to read them as it was.
‘Let me look,’ I said gently, prising it away from her.
Pablo jumped as Skye flung it at me. I bit my cheek as my fingers curled around the thick paper. If there was one person in this palace I never thought I’d argue with, it was Skye. I exhaled hard before speaking.
‘What’s going on with you and Asher? Even I can see there’s something between the two of you.’
Skye stilled, fixing me with an icy glare. ‘What do you mean by that? We’re friends. Just friends.’ She grabbed the bridge of her nose. ‘Though sometimes I wonder if we’re even that.’
I crossed my arms. Surely she could see how Asher lit up whenever she was near? ‘He clearly likes you, Skye. Have you seen how he looks at you? It’s obvious he?—’
‘And have you cared to notice how Matthias looks atyou?’
I blinked, and a tightness grasped my chest. ‘Sorry?’
Ice spread across Skye’s features as she came closer. ‘Give me one reason why I should take advice on matters of the heart from you. The woman who’s married my brother and hasn’t shown him a single shred of love despite how he?—’
‘Love?’ I didn’t like how my voice pitched. How dare she analyse my marriage? ‘Did you miss the part where I was denied the chance to choose my husband?’ Her harsh vitriol threw me and a hot rash tore through my blood. ‘We’ve agreed it’s a marriage in name only. It’s what Matthias wants.’
‘Really?’
‘Yes, really.’
Danger flared behind her green eyes. Even as my cheeks warmed, I wondered if I believed my own words. She forced a smile on her face then turned towards the table, leaving mestaring into the back of her head as I clenched my fists. Cruel, harsh words demanded I speak them, but I knew once I did, whatever fragile friendship we had would be destroyed for good. Calling Pablo, I left the library before I said something we’d both regret.
The door opened as I approached, and Skye called after me, her voice breaking. I refused to stop.
‘Sorrow, please. I’m so sorry.’
Stomping down the corridor, I ignored her. I’d allowed myself to get too close, despite knowing Evella had no intention of blessing me with a happy ending. If I truly liked Skye, then I should widen this rift. Use this tiff to force her away. It was the only way to save the princess from my poison. My fingers dug into Pab’s fur so tightly he whined, and I muttered an apology to him.
I wasted the afternoon pacing my room. The wolf wandered off, as though he recognised my need for space, only to return as the sky beyond my windows darkened.
The letter’s arrival, Asher’s clenched fists, was clearly inextricably painful for Skye and perhaps I shouldn’t have pushed. I was already regretting our harsh words, and although I wanted to protect her, a part of me ached for her smile.
Maybe I’d go see her later.
Or more likely tomorrow.
