The prince exhaled a long sigh and stared at me imploringly. “He listened.”
I’d already gathered that his mother and elder brother were fond of giving orders but were ill-equipped to handle Cedrych’s defiance. What would it take to channel that passionate spirittoward something more productive? Hadn’t I faltered when confronted with his rebellious streak myself?
“Did you feel as thoughyoucould control him?” I asked.
“In a way, yes. Not his mind, but his body. He would do anything I asked, and I mean,anything.”
He leveled his gaze at me, perhaps expecting me to be impressed by his sexual prowess or demand details. I suspected Cedrych had only scratched the surface when it came to sexual gratification, but I wasn’t going to belittle him or offer any comment. I recalled a few of the photographs I’d seen of Cedrych and his commoner in the daily scrolls. It had always struck me as two boys acting out, Cedrych testing the boundaries of his princedom and provoking his mother for the thrill of it. Perhaps there was some true affection there.
“Do you feel like you lack control of your life, Cedrych?” I asked.
He tensed as if just realizing how personal our conversation had become. The glare he gave me was hostile. “Why do you care?”
“I don’t wish to use this information against you, if that’s what you’re worried about. I simply desire to understand you better.”
“You’ll tell my mother,” he challenged.
“I won’t. I’ll keep everything you tell me in confidence.” I touched my heart to reassure him, but he only huffed out a bullish sigh.
“People have said that before, but they always bend to her will. She’s their sovereign.”
“But she’s not mine,” I reminded him. Generations ago, it may have been true, but the elvish had been granted full independence for their contribution to defeating the humans during the War of the Realms. The only reason my parents had been titled as lord and lady rather than king and queen was dueto a draconian law that we’d yet to abolish because we didn’t want to sour our relationship with the fae. As the reigning lord of the elvish, I had my own lands, my own loyal subjects, and an army to command, as well as the resources to wage war on the fae realm, if I must.
“Then she’ll bribe you for the information. She always gets her way,” Cedrych said, already defeated.
I nodded, realizing the degree of his mistrust, however justified. This sort of rapport would not happen overnight, but I could be patient. “Then how about you tell me only what you’d be comfortable with her knowing?”
He stared at me for a long moment, his suspicion evident, but at last he said, “Nothing is in my control at the palace, not since my father died. My entire life is run by my mother. I thought becoming captain of the royal guard would give me some standing of my own, but they report to her, not me, and she goes above my head so often that they don’t respect me as they should. I feel as though I’m only play-acting at being a soldier and it’s… humiliating.”
The hand on his lap balled into a fist, and his brow was hooded and dark. He was putting up walls, so I merely nodded and said, “I see.”
“How could you?” he demanded. “As far as I can tell you’ve been in control of your own destiny for many, many years.”
It was true that when my parents died, I quickly assumed their duties, which displeased my vampyric relations greatly, namely my Aunt Catrin and cousin Sinclair, who’d had designs on absorbing my lands into their own by taking advantage of my parents’ sudden death. It was why I still suspected them as the architects behind my parents’ assassination and had spies scattered throughout their realm to collect evidence, though none had been conclusive. The betrayal was an ongoing feud between us and a constant headache besides.
“I had to grow up quickly,” I admitted, “but you’re right, I have had the privilege of being my own master for many years.” The downside was a loneliness that felt at times like being swallowed by an endless abyss. My sense of trust had been shattered by my parents’ poisoning. To think that anyone at any moment in your inner circle could betray you like that was a disheartening thought indeed.
“You rule your kingdom with an iron fist. At least, that’s what my mother always says,” the prince remarked.
I couldn’t tell if it was admiration or criticism underlying his words. “I’ve also been alone for a long time.” I didn’t keep a court, too worried about another attempt on my life, and I seldom joined Queen Gwyneth’s fae court because I couldn’t be away from my lands for a significant amount of time, lest a coup be orchestrated by one of the powerful trade guilds or my own kin. I had a select group of advisers whom I mostly trusted, but even they couldn’t be considered friends. “The truth is, I’m looking forward to having your company,” I admitted.
His blue eyes narrowed in suspicion. “You are?”
“Despite our antagonism, I feel as though you’re one of the few people I can trust. Unless your mother has arranged this betrothal so that you might murder me in my sleep?” The suspicion had crossed my mind once or twice.
He chuckled heartily, and I rather liked the sound of it. “Not as far as I know, but if that was her plan, she probably wouldn’t tell me anyway.”
I smiled at his cynicism. “Perhaps you could warn me if the plan changes?”
“Perhaps,” he said cryptically.
I liked this playful, teasing side of him. I wanted more of it.
“But in order for this to work, I think we need to have an honest conversation about what we both expect. Our rules of engagement, if you will,” I suggested.
He sat up a little straighter. “I’m listening.”
“Before I make any demands, I want you to know that I will be honest and direct with you at all times. Contrary to what you may believe, I do not seek to manipulate or coerce you into anything. However, if there is an attempt to control you, I can assure you that it is not for diplomatic reasons or anything having to do with your mother.”
