Page 138

“You need to eat,” I told Prisca.

Prisca gave me a look. But her stomach chose that moment to let out a rumble. She glowered down at it as if it had betrayed her.

“I want to take a walk,” Asinia said.

Prisca frowned. “Are you sure? I can come with you.”

“No.” Asinia smiled. “I’m fine, I promise. I just want to stretch my legs, think a little.”

Prisca nodded, and I glanced at Cavis. “I’ll take watch,” he told me.

It was my turn. “Thank you.” I glanced back at Prisca. “Looks like it’s just you and me, wildcat. Take a seat.”

I kept one eye on her while I paid the innkeeper for our stay, sliding the key to our room into my pocket. Prisca didn’t have the best luck in either taverns or inns, and I was taking no chances. The barmaid nodded at me, and I sat, watching as Prisca frowned down at the table.

“What are you thinking?”

“How reliant is the Gromalian king on Regner?”

“In terms of trade, both of them are equally reliant on each other when it comes to food. However, Regner has access to iron deposits, which he trades with Eryndan—not just for construction, but so he can create fae iron.”

Prisca glowered at that. “And just where are these iron deposits?”

The barmaid plunked two plates of food in front of us, along with water and ale.

Prisca surveyed her heaping plate, and my lips twitched. “What is it?”

“Mostly wondering how all this food is going to fit in my stomach. But Galon was right. Look at this.” Prisca rolled up her sleeve and flexed her arm proudly. Her arm was sleek and toned, her biceps clearly gaining in definition. But it was the pride on her face that made me lean forward and kiss the tip of her nose.

“You’re definitely…filling out,” I said, dropping my gaze to her breasts.

She burst out laughing. “I’ll tell Galon you approve of his training and food plan.”

I scowled. “Don’t tell Galon anything about your breasts.”

She shook her head at me, taking a bite. “Are you going to tell me why we stopped here the first time?”

“My spies have been searching for the amulets. I received some news that seemed positive, but Regner has created several guarded residences in various locations to throw us off.”

She nodded, eating some more. I watched her. It probably wasn’t normal that I wished I had access to every single one of her thoughts. But at least I knew her well enough to guess where her mind had gone.

“What are you going to do about your cousin, wildcat?”

Prisca sighed. “I’ve been thinking about it. For now, we need to focus on finding allies. But…it’s pretty likely he will become a threat.” Her lips curved. “You’ve got that look in your eyes.”

“What look?”

“The look that screams ‘murder.’ His parents are the reason our kingdom was invaded. But…even after what he did to that man, some part of me wondered if he could be redeemed somehow. Now that I know he went to the elders, I won’t trust him. But I still wish…” She shook her head. “It’s stupid.”

I sighed. “It’s not stupid. You value family. You wish he could be a part of that family.”

She was quiet. “You were raised with everyone thinking you were a monster.”

“Iama monster.”

She glowered at me. I shrugged.

“You know the difference between right and wrong. Even with all your power, and the loneliness, you never let it make you…evil. How did you…”