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“Maybe he’s just tricked you into believing that. Maybe all those people are taking double doses when you aren’t looking, just to give you yourproof.” He studies me. “He certainly tricked you into believing you werehelping. The poor, tortured prince who just couldn’t help himself. And you lapped it up, didn’t you?”

My chest is tight, and I’m dangerously afraid I might cry.

“I’m telling you to keep your eyes open,” he says. “I’m telling you what it looks like from here. If you’re not sharing his bed, someoneis. He’s the brother to the king. As soon as you don’t suit his needs, you’ll be at the end of the rope, too.”

“You’re wrong,” I whisper, but there’s a part of his words that are pricking at my thoughts, sowing doubt in a way I wish I could shove aside.

He must see it in my expression. “Don’t you realize,” he says dangerously, “that you could disappear tonight and literallyeverythingwould go right back to the way it was?”

Fear seems to pierce my heart from both directions. “Is that supposed to be a warning or a threat?”

Lochlan smirks. “Maybe you shouldn’t have walked out of the palace without guards,” he says.

“Maybe she shouldn’t have,” says a voice behind me, “but I brought more than enough.”

My heart kicks to hear Corrick’s voice. Lochlan snaps back. I’m suddenly aware of the tense silence in the shop, how we are all the center of attention. I wonder how much everyone heard. I wonder how muchCorrickheard.

If you’re not sharing his bed, someone is. He’s the brother to the king.

He must not have heard that part. If he did, I can’t imagine Lochlan would still be on his feet.

The people behind the counter are peering between towers of wrapped candies and tiny trinkets, and there’s an older woman a few tables over who’s openly gawking at the prince—who truly does have half a dozen guards behind him.

Lochlan’s eyes have darkened with hatred, but he takes in the guards who have filled the space behind the prince. “The girls were just having fun together,” Lochlan says. He pauses, then grinds out, “Your Highness.”

Corrick’s eyes shift to me. I watch his gaze sweep over my form, taking stock of me. “Exceptional.” His voice is rather cordial, almost warm, but I know better. “Are you having fun, Tessa?”

No. Definitely not.

But I can’t say that, because no matter what I think of Lochlan, I really don’t want to stoke the tension between them. “Karri sent me a note after our meeting,” I say. “We were just having a sweet drink.” I force a smile onto my face. “Like old times.”

Karri looks hesitant again, the way she was in the palace. She glances between me and Corrick and has to clear her throat. “Yes. I did. We were. Your Highness.”

Corrick’s eyes return to mine, and I give him a tiny nod.

“Very well,” he says. “I’ll leave you to your friendly chat. Please forgive the interruption.” His eyes cool as he looks to Lochlan again, but his voice is just as cordial. “Thank you for the wise recommendation. I’ll have the guards remain.” He glances at the table. “Perhaps I’ll have a drink while I wait.”

Karri looks to me, and her hands flutter. She abruptly stands, her chair scraping harshly along the tile floor. “No need, Your Highness. We were just about to leave. You—you can have mine. I haven’t even taken a sip.”

I stand to stop her. “Karri,” I say softly.

She hesitates, then leans over to kiss me on the cheek. “He’s still terrifying,” she whispers in my ear before drawing back. “And—for what it’s worth, I agree with Lochlan.”

I don’t know what to say to that. I don’t have time, anyway. She grabs Lochlan’s hand, and they’re gone.

CHAPTER SIX

Tessa

I fully expect Corrick to offer me his arm and lead me to his carriage, but he extends a hand toward my seat and gives me an expectant look. “Shall we?”

I don’t know what to say. A few of the guards have fallen back to stand along the wall, with one to stand guard outside, while two stand near enough to the table that we’re still the center of attention. I don’t want to gape at the prince like half the people in the shop, so I clamp my lips shut. I’ve taken enough etiquette lessons at this point that I can avoid falling all over myself when it comes to royal protocol in public.

I take hold of my skirts and drop into a slight curtsy. “Certainly. Thank you, Your Highness.” I ease into the chair.

His expression doesn’t change, but a light sparks in his eyes like he’s amused. He settles into the chair across from me, then turns the handle of Karri’s mug in his direction.

“You look so surprised,” he says.