Page 71

Wren scowled. “I happen to like the queen. It has nothing to do with you.”

His smile melted away. “Be careful who you bestow your friendship upon.”

She studied him. “Do I have cause to be wary of the queen?”

Arrik held her gaze. “You need to be wary of everyone. No one here is your friend.”

“No one?”

“No one,” he repeated.

“She seems nice.”

“Looks are deceiving.”

“Should I not associate with her?” she questioned. Had she gotten the woman all wrong?

“You cannot escape it.”

“Then why say anything?”

“Because you’re too trusting.”

She blanched. “How would you know?”

“You haven’t tried to kill me yet, despite the fork you have stashed between your breasts.”

“How the devil did you know that?” she demanded.

“I am a tall elf, you are a petite human, and that Verlanti dress doesn’t leave much to the imagination.”

Wren gasped and covered her chest. “Stop looking. I picked the most modest one.”

“So I noticed.” He gestured to the door. “Shall we?”

She looked over her shoulder at the bay, wishing that she could escape now. This place was confusing. No one was who they said they were.

“Your expressions, wife. I can read your thoughts.”

Wren smoothed out her expression. She really needed to work on that. Wearing her heart on her sleeve was a danger while living with the enemy. To survive, she needed to do better. She needed to thrive. That started with pretending to become one of them. She’d cooperate with the prince and gain his trust bit by bit, but then when the time came, she’d pull the rug from beneath him.

“What am I thinking now?” she asked, batting her lashes.

“Something devious, I’m sure,” was his dry reply.

Wren pressed her lips together to stop herself from grinning. He wasn’t wrong.

All she needed was a way out of the palace and some jewels with which to barter for everything that she would need to get home.

26

Wren

From that day on, Arrik returned to his chambers but slept in his chair each night. Or at least she thought he slept there. She always managed to fall asleep before the prince did despite how he trussed her up.

It was a game of sorts. They ate dinner quietly together and then when it was time for bed, the predator in him came out.

The bloody man didn’t chain her to his bed but no matter how much she fought, grappled, and cursed, he somehow cocooned her in his blankets to the point where she couldn’t move. Then he left her there to fall asleep.