Larexa seemed to respond to him normally, so he was probably still charming. And he hadn’t actually attached a timeline to this particular venture, he’d just been undeservedly cocky. Nothing had gone disastrously wrong yet.
Besides, anything was better than Terila. He thought again of the chill when they’d Tendrilled. It was like his insides had been trying to squirm away, and the sense of wrongness had been absolute.
There was no way he could bond with her. And since Varex didn’t listen when Tor talked anymore, this was the best plan Tor could come up with. And really, none of the best plans survived implementation unscathed. Being a guard had taught him that he needed to learn to adapt. It was early days yet.
He finished his tea with the King and the two siblings he wasn’t supposed to be seducing, and then he pleaded tiredness from his journey and took his leave.
A servant guided him back to his room, and he found that he’d only mentally missed one turn. At leastthatwas going right.
Another servant was waiting for him, and Torex thanked him and assured the man that he would be fine for the night.
“I can take your clothes, Your Highness,” the man suggested deferentially.
Given his limited wardrobe, Tor supposed it made sense for each item to be cared for regularly. This didn’t look to be a location where his clothing was going to be tossed carelessly to the floor because he had something more entertaining to do.
Tor changed into a nightshirt, and the servant bore off his discarded clothes with a bow and a wish for him to sleep well.
Tor sucked in a breath and flopped onto the bed, then slowly exhaled.
This hadn’t been quite the progress that he’d hoped to make, but there was still plenty of time to make up for lost ground. This was one campaign that had been lost, that was all. There was still the entire war to be won. Tor would be more prepared in the future.
Then he laughed at himself. He could only imagine how Rin would have mocked him mercilessly for what had unquestionably been the biggest bungle that he’d ever made while trying to seduce someone.
Chapter Eight
Pel
Pel would never have imagined that the High Prince was going to show up in Tond. Even in that unlikely event, however, Pel couldn’t envision that there would be much impact on Pel’s life. Prince Torex had never paid attention to Pel up to this point, so why would he start now?
The day after the High Prince arrived, Pel did everything as normal. He remembered about the man partway through getting dressed, and he snorted derisively. Prince Torex thought far too highly of himself.
Pel wouldn’t be at all surprised if both Bavil and Larexa were ordered to try to catch the High Prince, but it wouldn’t so much as cross his father’s mind that Pel could do such a thing—thank goodness! It would surely appeal to Larexa given how she’d gone on and on about how she needed someone who was Extraordinary and could match her abilities. Not only was Torex Extraordinary, he was the High Prince. It would be impossible to come up with someone that their father would think better suited, at least now that High King Varex was married.
Maybe their father wouldn’t push Bavil to pursue a man when he’d always been interested in women, but tying the High Prince to Forex’s heir… It might be enough to make Forex ignore Bavil’s preferences.
Their father was probably already imagining wedding bells, but Pel couldn’t imagine that the High Prince would be at all interested in allying himself with Tond. He was an arrogant ass, but he was also unreasonably handsome andthe High Prince. He could have practically anyone, so setting his sights on the smallest and furthest away realm made no sense.
Perhaps he wanted a break? He could still be surrounded by royals, as that seemed to be weirdly important to many people of their station, but he didn’t have to worry about them. If he didn’t outright outrank King Forex, it was a near thing.
Pel’s lip curled up. Yes, he could see Prince Torex coming here to get away from the High Court but still get fawned over. Maybe he’d wanted to see how ridiculously they’d behave when the High Prince deigned to visit them all the way up here.
Well, there would be at least one person who wasnotinterested in him—though with Bavil and Larexa around, Pel didn’t imagine anyone would notice the difference.
Business as usual.
Pel grabbed breakfast from the kitchens, where he found to his displeasure—but not surprise—that there was an awful lot of talk about Prince Torex.
Weirdly, it seemed to be positive. And sure, the man was handsome and the High Prince, but given how he’d treated Pel? He’d thought there might be a little more grumbling amongst the staff. It wasn’t liketheyhad a chance at marrying him.
But they probably hadn’t spent much time with him. Maybe they hadn’t yet had the opportunity to see all the ways that he was obnoxious and instead had only seen him wink and smile and charm.
Pel put up with the chatter, was as noncommittal as possible, and then thankfully escaped out to the stable so that he could go on his rounds.
He suffered an immediate check because the stables were occupied.
Well, the stables were always occupied, but—
It wasmorning. Pel hadn’t imagined he would see the High Prince anytime soon. But here he was, in the stables at the same time that Pel was.
