‘I have a feeling you secretly have a death wish, boy.’ My teeth flashed in a calculated smile that promised danger. The shadows that desperately wanted out pooled in my eyes as I observed him.
It was a self-defence trick meant to creep strangers out. Made dark fae look dangerous even when we had no plan of attacking. I awaited his reaction on the edge of my seat.
‘I like your red eyes more,’ he said, shrugging. ‘These make you look too normal.’
The man’s brain was a mystery. Did he even have any? ‘Eyes black as coal with swirling darkness make me look normal?’
He nodded and clicked his tongue as if it were me that annoyed him.
‘Just drive.’ The ashy hills stretched for an eternity. ‘But hang on, didn’t you say it’d be a short drive?’
Once more he took his eyes off the road to stare at me. Fool. I could jump, he would die. ‘Why do I sense that you dislike Betty?’
‘Why do I sense that you’re winding me up on purpose?’
He shot me an exaggerated smirk. ‘Is it working, darkling?’
‘Are you like this with everyone, or is this special treatment reserved only for me?’
‘Why?’ Michael smiled. ‘Are you jealous?’
I massaged my temples before releasing a couple of calming breaths. Patience wasn’t a virtue I ever thought I lacked; he was proving me wrong. ‘Listen to me, boy. I am an engaged woman. Your insinuations are inappropriate.’
‘Engaged, huh? That’s funny.’
‘What’sso funny about it?’ My words rang out more hostile than I intended.
‘Nothing other than the fact you don’t even smell like him.’ Michael’s fingers curled around the steering wheel. ‘Do you even spend any time together? I mean, you smell more like me than your fiancé, that should show you—’
‘Show me what exactly?’ I snapped. ‘And why do you think you get to have an opinion about my love life?’
‘Didn’t you say it yourself that it’s a marriage of convenience? Doesn’t seem like either of you is harbouring much love for one another.’
Not this again.
‘You all lack the capacity to understand that people have goals that differ from your own.' I looked away while my cheeks burned. ‘Just because I want a simple life, it doesn’t make it any less valuable than what you all have planned.’
‘I never said that, Miriam,’ he said, his eyes darting to me, but I ignored him. ‘I like the idea of a simple life too.’
‘Then I don’t understand why you keep belittling my choices.’
His voice a little hoarser, he looked nervous as he explained, ‘Because you’re sacrificing everything good in life for a chance at something that should come naturally with the right partner.’
It seemed I kept having the same conversation over and over with different people. ‘What exactly am I sacrificing?’
‘Love. Companionship. Surely, you have considered it once or twice.’
For a fleeting moment, I hesitated.
‘Love?’ I chuckled until my throat itched. ‘Love’s good in books. It’s a concept we’ve manufactured to make ourselves feel better about our most primal needs.’
The prince appeared to flinch. ‘That’s just sad. You don’t really think that.’
People’s response to my cynical approach was almost funny to watch. Usually. The dejection in his eyes made me regret sharing my opinion. ‘It’s the truth.’
‘Love isn’t the fairytale you read about, but it’s real.' He stood firm in his beliefs.
‘And how would you know? You’re not mated nor married.’
