Page 149 of Blood of the Fairest

I guess Cinderella's going to change his rule-abiding ways—since as the prince of this kingdom, he must be the guy she ends up with.

I'm not a fan of superficial small talk. A small part of me wants to get some genuine reaction out of this guy besides his perfect prince persona, so I lift my chin.

"The coachmen weren't just attacked. They and several guards were killed by bandits on the Thornpass. No matter how well their families will be compensated for their loss, those men are dead, so it's more than just unpleasant. I'm sure the death toll of my caravan would have been much higher if it wasn't for Wulf here, not to mention Anika and her father, so⁠—"

"Anika?" Prince Leif repeats at once, startled as if I just dumped cold water over his head. He shoots a quick look at the guards before lowering his voice. "Anika Bellevyr?"

I arch a brow. "Yeah, you know her?"

Prince Leif glances at the guards again. Then he reaches for my arm as if ready to escort me away for privacy.

Before the royal can make contact with me, the Huntsman knocks his hand away. He says nothing, but the deathly glare he levels at the prince reminds me this man is sometimes a literal fucking bear.

Immediately, metallic ringing fills the air as the four guards unsheath and ready their swords. They eye the northerner like he's a bomb about to go off.

I hold up my hands. "Whoa, whoa, whoa! Everyone, relax."

"All is well," Prince Leif agrees quickly.

He makes a motion at the guards. They put away their weapons as he looks apologetically at Wulf and me.

"Forgive me, Your Majesty. I did not mean to disrespect you or your Favored. I acted without thinking, but…may we speak privately?"

I start to insist for the millionth time that Wulf isn't my Favored, but I cut off with a sigh because this prince probably doesn't care.

"Wait here for a sec," I tell the Huntsman, giving an actual order for once.

He's not happy about it, but folds his arms to stare down the guards. They continue to eye him nervously in return as I walk several paces away with Prince Leif for a sidebar. Eris follows, of course, and I see him hanging out in the reflection of a nearby sconce.

The prince is far more engaged now than he was before. Even though he keeps his voice low so we won't be overheard, there's no missing the hope in it.

"The Bellevyrs accompanied you? Meaning, Anika is in Aurefeld? She will attend the festival?"

"She sure will."

In three stunning masquerade gowns, if I do say so myself.

Leif exhales sharply before he squares up with me. "Your Majesty, I have a proposition for how we can help one another."

My brows go up. "I'm all ears."

"It is true that your Favored will not be allowed to remain on castle grounds, let alone attend the masquerade."

I bristle. "Seriously? Just because he's a northerner? That's so fucking stupid and⁠—"

Prince Leif lifts a finger to his lips, checking again to make sure we're not being overheard before he looks at me.

"I agree completely, but it's not only because he is from Nordhjem. He has runes on his arms."

Do they not like tattoos in Aurefeld? Is that why that female guard was making that face at him? I can't imagine what she would think of my real body back in my world.

"So?"

"Magic is forbidden in Aurefeld," Eris reminds me. "Or at least, it's heavily controlled by the Church of Thirteen Lights. They allow it only in certain instances and with explicit permission. Any use of magic outside their strict purview is⁠—"

"So," the crown prince says, speaking over poor unseen Eris. "It would be remarkably easy for someone to accuse him of using those runes. Given his proximity to royalty, if he was accused within this castle, he would be sentenced to an immediate death. No trial."

Oh. Shit.