Page 13 of A Dagger in the Ivy (Blade Bound #1)

C Hapter

My pulse races, a surge of adrenaline flooding my veins as my blade pushes against the larynx of the shadowed man.

“So, you are a pirate.” The look in Dante’s eyes is far from welcoming.

His words catch me off guard. “What?”

“You’re Delasurvian. Do you not know the history of your land?”

I’ve still got him cornered with my dagger, but I don’t bother to back away. He’s lucky I’m controlled with my weapon. “What of it?”

“You know, you’ll be hauled away if the guards find you threatening the king’s son.” He says it so casually that I have to blink.

“You were the one who grabbed at me. I’d like to think the prince wouldn’t take kindly to anyone attacking his betrothed.”

“And yet here we are, with your blade a mere inch from ending my life.”

I raise a brow. “If you didn’t expect this outcome, then you underestimated me.”

“You may be right. I should have expected this from a pirate.”

“Stop calling me that. ”

“Were you unaware that Delasurvia served as a port for pirates a century ago? I’m certain most of its citizens have descended from them as a result of them forcing themselves upon the women.” Though there’s a sharp edge to his voice, he seems nonplussed about my refusal to withdraw my blade.

“My mother was fae. Born and raised in Alphemra.”

“And your father?”

“My father was king.”

“And what a good king he was.” He speaks through clenched teeth. “Descended from pirates, no doubt. It explains why Delasurvia is so… primitive in their ways.”

The fury in his glare sends a jolt of alarm through me. But no matter how much I want to counter him, he’s right about one thing. King Silas will have me locked in the dungeons—or executed—if I harm his son, bastard or not.

I pull back but keep my eyes trained on him. His shoulders relax the tiniest bit, but his contempt for me is still apparent. He stretches out his neck, and for a moment, I’m transfixed by the muscles there. Dante is the same height as his brother, but there is a roughness about him that makes it evident he wasn’t brought up pampered in a lavish castle.

A bit like me.

“Are you going to explain what you’re doing here?” Dante’s voice is low but still charged with aggression.

“I could ask you the same thing. Why are you skulking about in the shadows like some kind of phantom?”

His gaze hardens, and I can feel the tension crackling between us like lightning in a storm. “This castle is my home. If you haven’t heard, I go where I please. You, on the other hand, are a guest.”

“I am to be wed to the prince.”

“Until the ceremony takes place, you are a guest. Nothing more.”

My jaw stiffens. “Then I am the prince’s guest, and you should treat me with respect.”

“I’m not the one sneaking around, eavesdropping on private conversations, and sticking my nose where it is not welcome. Let’s not pretend that is something to be respected.”

“I wasn’t eavesdropping,” I shoot back, my tone defiant. “I was looking for Prince Torbin.”

“He’s not in there. That room is restricted, only to be accessed by the queen and her servants. Or were you considering a change in your occupation?”

“I heard crying. I only wanted to check—”

He wraps his hand around my upper arm. “Not your concern!”

“I was using my best judgement,” I snap, frustration bubbling up inside me. “And I don’t appreciate being manhandled by someone who clearly has his own secrets to hide.” I break free from his hold.

His jaw tightens, and for a moment, it seems as though he might say something else. But then, with a sharp exhale, he takes a step back, his gaze unwavering. “Just stay out of things you don’t understand, Highness. It’s for your own good.”

I meet his stare with a defiant glare of my own, refusing to back down. “I’ll decide what’s best for me, thank you very much.”

“Let’s just say I don’t trust your decision-making.”

“What the hell gives you the right to judge me? You don’t even know me.”

“You’re a Delasurvian. That tells me more than I need to know. But of course, no judgement.” He gives me a sarcastic bow. “Welcome to the castle, Highness.”

My jaw drops as he turns and stomps away. It takes me a moment to recover from the encounter, and that’s when I discover that there are no more sounds coming from behind the door. No one is crying, no one is arguing, and no glass is being shattered. A small part of me wonders if I imagined it. My fingers tremble as I bring them to cover my lips.

I remember Bennett thinking he heard voices that weren’t there. It was part of the madness.

I swallow hard and close my eyes. No. There were voices. I couldn’t have imagined it. I refuse to believe that something that sounded so real was a figment of my delusional mind.

But now there is nothing, so I sheathe my dagger and go back the way I came. I still don’t know where Prince Torbin ran off to, but maybe he returned to our spot in the courtyard. I can just imagine his confusion, not finding me there, waiting for him.

I pick up my pace and return to the large, glass doors that lead to the ballroom, but I stop short when I run into Nadya.

She takes my hands, looking over my face. “There you are. Where have you been?”

“I, uh… What’s wrong?”

She leans closer. “I was worried about you. The prince said he couldn’t find you, and I won’t lie, but it crossed my mind that you might have fled.”

“You do know me well,” I murmur. “Where is the prince now?”

As soon as I say it, I spot him headed my way. His gaze darts around my face, a line creasing his forehead. I’m grateful his expression is of concern and not anger.

“Celeste. You disappeared.” Torbin approaches and sets a hand on my arm. “Whatever happened?”

Nadya releases me and steps back. She continues to study me, just to be sure, but I give her a nod to let her know I’m fine.

I turn back to Torbin. I want to throw his question back at him and find out where he’s been. But at the same time, I’m reluctant to be honest with him and tell him I was about to throw open some door to a private room because I thought I heard crying behind it. Crying that might have just been my imagination. Suddenly, I don’t want to play the inquiry game. I guess the prince isn’t the only one hiding things.

“I’m sorry. I got lost.”