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I should have told her. That night, I should have told her.

Maybe I am a coward.

As the feared prince, it might be harder to fix what I’ve done, but it’s easier to force doubt and sorrow out of my head. She’s clutching her hands against her stomach, but I steel my thoughts against her judgmental expression. She can hate me if she wants. I’m used to it.

I move to the chair and my abandoned coat, then pull my pocket watch free. The jeweled face tells me it’s an hour past midnight.

When I open the door, my guards clearly thought I was either asleep or otherwise occupied—because they were leaning close, speaking in low whispers. They snap to attention at once, and they exchange a glance across the hallway.

I’vegiven the entire palace enough gossip to last a week, so I don’t chastise them. “Send for a meal,” I say. “Enough for two.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

The door swings closed. I turn away and rub at my eyes. This day will likely never end. I can’t sleep with her here. I’ll wake up with that chain wrapped around my throat. Or worse, not wake up with that chain wrapped around my throat.

I lower my hands and study her. She still hasn’t said what she was doing in the palace, and there’s a part of me that isn’t sure I want the answer.

Her expression has gone flat, her eyes closed off, and she’s pulled into the narrow space between the hearth and the corner, in the shadows. After so many nights in close proximity, this distance feels unbearably far.

A knock sounds at the door, and I jump. It’s too soon for food. My guard calls, “Master Quint requests an—”

I throw open the door before he can come barreling in here. “Quint. Not now—”

But he’s already stepped past me, all but closing the door on my hand. “The Captain of the Guard said you refused to have a man stationed in your room. Honestly, Corrick, it should be two, at the very least—”

“Quint.”

“Consul Cherry has already drafted a formal complaint. Word will reach the Royal Sector by morning, if it hasn’t already.” He sighs. “They do love a good scandal—”

“Quint.”

“But I need to have some awareness of your intentions here so I can address the inquiries—”

“I hardly have awareness of my intentions.”

“When you have a girl chained in your room, it doesn’t leave very much to the . . .” His voice trails off as his eyes fall on Tessa in the corner, then quickly snap to mine. “She snuck into the palace to kill you and you’ve turned her loose? Are you mad?”

“Very likely.”

He sucks in a breath, and I know he’s about to call for the guards, so I slap a hand over his mouth. “Shut up.”

He shuts up.

I’ve never kept secrets from Quint, and I have no intention of starting now. “Quint.” I lower my hand and sigh. “Allow me to introduce you to Tessa.”