Page 176 of Blood of the Fairest

Isenmerian or Aurefeldan, I don't give a damn—if someone unworthy overheard her pleasure, I won't need to get Wulf. I'll snap their fucking neck myself.

I'm already storming toward the door. "Conceal yourself, Fairest."

Scooping my trousers from the ground, I pull them on. Verena moves to the left of the doorway so she'll be hidden by the large door when it opens.

She grins mischievously at me as she begins taking out the remaining pins in her hair that didn't slide out during our lovemaking.

I open the door, already deciding I'll simply accept her disapproval if it's someone who has to die for overhearing her.

Instead, it's the knight Verena nearly fed on yesterday, dressed in surprising luxury. He must have just left the festival, but it seems he's all alone. No guards wait near these doors.

The knight is surprised to see me—yet there is an odd note of recognition in his gaze that I dislike as he looks me over, clearly understanding what I was just doing.

Who I was just doing, rather.

"The queen is occupied and shall be all night," I inform him, not bothering to hide my smugness.

To the left of the door, Verena smiles, rolls her eyes at my gutsy proclamation, and starts finger-combing her dark red locks.

The knight confirms my suspicion that he's an utterly arrogant, debauched scoundrel when, instead of looking upset or jealous, he just leans against the doorway and tilts his head.

"I see. You must be one of her Favored, too. Put in a good word for me with her, would you?"

Verena's face is so priceless behind the door that it takes effort not to laugh out loud.

Though I don't expect she'll be practical and accept the knight's offer of his blood, I can't resist using this moment to tease her.

"I most certainly shall, if you leave a name."

Verena throws a small hairpin at me. It misses by a mile, but the knight's attention drifts to where it fell.

He fights a smile and tips his head toward the door as if to ask whether she's on the other side. I shrug, neither confirming nor denying.

He grins. "Konrad. What's yours?"

Konrad…

Ah. No wonder he's dressed so well.

So, the knight Verena is determined to resist is really the same spare prince whom Reinhilde was so determined to add to her Favored. I would almost find it ironic, but I don't trust coincidences.

Instead of answering his question, I narrow my eyes at him. "Why exactly are you so interested in the queen?"

Prince Konrad rolls his eyes, glancing meaningfully at the door hiding Verena.

"No need for suspicion. I don't care if she's Isenmere's queen or someone else entirely. Whoever she is, I'm smitten, and I intend to fall more deeply in love with her, if she'll let me. So, Ruby, if you do change your mind about my blood⁠—"

"Oh my god," Verena groans, shutting the door in his face.

43

Eris

Vaguely, I'm aware that the prince is laughing on the other side before he leaves.

But I'm distracted by his reminder of what Verena really needs.

Blood.