Page 15

TAELYN

Prince Ruarok remains on his knees, waiting for me to tell him to rise, perhaps? I discover I prefer having him there, at least for the moment.

I can’t get the image of Ruarok’s erection out of my mind. It’s the first and only one I’ve ever seen. Of course, I always knew they were supposed to get bigger and harder, but that big? I don’t think it was even fully erect yet. How is something like that supposed to fit inside a woman?

A tingling, tightening sensation warms between my thighs, and I squirm at the thought. I know things are supposed to stretch down there—how else would we birth babies?—but even so…

The image of me lying on my back, my thighs spread, while that huge cock pushes inside of me bursts into my head. By the gods, where are these thoughts coming from?

This man is my stepbrother, and having such thoughts about him is both immoral and wrong. And that’s before I even get into the whole ‘and he planned to have you and your mother killed’ part, though I’m still unsure if that is the truth about what happened.

“Are my rooms still mine?” he asks.

“As far as I’m aware. No one has moved into them.”

He lowers his head farther. “It would be best for me to make my way there, then. Perhaps some of my clothing will remain.”

Is that laughter or amusement in his tone? I understand he’s happy to be free, but considering everything that has happened, I don’t believe he should be quite so jovial.

It suddenly hits me that he doesn’t know. How could he? He’s been shut away down here all this time. He’d have no idea that his father is dead.

I clear my throat. “There is something I need to tell you. It’s not good news.”

It occurs to me that it might be good news to him.

He fixes those dark, dark eyes on mine. “Tell me.”

“Your father, the king, is dead, as is my mother.”

His brow furrows. “I won’t pretend I’ll grieve for him, but I’m sorry about your mother. How did it happen?”

“The rot is in Highdrift, perhaps even in the whole of Askos. It toppled the King’s Tower while the king and queen were sleeping. It only happened tonight—a matter of hours ago, in fact.”

Saying it out loud feels unreal. So much has happened in that short space of time. It feels as though an entire lifetime has passed me by since I went to bed last night.

“Who is ruling the kingdom now?”

I straighten my shoulders and lift my chin. “I am.”

“I see. So, you are not Princess Taelyn. You are Queen Taelyn now? ”

I shake my head. “Not yet. There’s been no time for a coronation, and it would be wrong to conduct it before the official seven days of mourning is over.”

I brace myself for a glitter of hope in his eyes, but instead he lowers his head again.

“You are my queen, coronation or not,” he says.

His declaration surprises me.

“Thank you, brother.” I put out my hand to help him up. “Rise now.”

He reaches up and takes my hand. The contact is like a lightning bolt to my heart, fizzing through my veins.

I swear it stops for a moment. Despite what he’s been through, his grip is strong, his fingers dry and warm.

I find myself not wanting to let go, and though he stands, we remain this way for a heartbeat too long, our fingers entwined, our palms pressed together.

I remember myself and snatch my hand away. He is on his feet now but is still naked under that cloak. To touch him in such a way, especially with no one else around, is inappropriate, especially for a woman of my standing.

He is your brother, a little voice says in my head. Why would it be inappropriate to touch his hand?

But I know exactly why. This energy between us is like nothing else I’ve experienced before.

No, that’s wrong. I have experienced it—once, in the Great Hall, on the day I arrived at the castle, when I was dancing with him. There had been a charge between us, even then. Had he felt it, too? I can’t help but wonder.

“Let’s leave this place.” I spin on my heels, eager to be out of here. “I’m sure you’ve seen quite enough of it.”

“Enough to last a lifetime.” He falls into step beside me.

“I’ll have someone stoke the fire in your room for you, and bring you fresh bedding and towels, and food as well, of course.”

“You’re too kind, Princess.”

How am I going to break the news to the rest of court that Prince Ruarok is back with us? I feel like I should be announcing his return, but truthfully, he hasn’t been anywhere. He’s been in the castle all these years.

Together, we walk through the door and out into the long, damp corridor I’d found my way through only a matter of minutes ago.

Once more I marvel at how a matter of minutes can change everything.