Page 145 of Fall of Ruin and Wrath

Neither of us moved, though. Not for several moments. Then he lowered his head. My eyes drifted shut. His lips didn’t touch mine. They brushed over my brow, and for some reason, that sweet, chaste kiss . . . it undid me.

“I’ll return to you as soon as I can,” Prince Thorne said. “I promise.”

Eyes remaining closed, because I was afraid that if they opened they would start watering, I nodded.

“Go back to sleep,na’laa.” He tugged the sheet up over my arm. His touch lingered at my shoulder. “Till later.”

“Till later,” I whispered hoarsely.

Prince Thorne stood, and though he moved so quietly, I knew the exact moment he’d left the chamber. I opened damp eyes.

Do you like him?

That was what Grady had asked.

Gods.

I thought I did.

I found Claude in his study that afternoon, alone as he sat behind his desk. He looked up as I entered, his smile a little off.

“Do you have a moment?” I asked.

“Always for you.” He folded a piece of parchment and set it aside. I glanced at the ever-increasing stack of letters. “I’m glad you’ve come by. I’ve been wondering if the arrangement between you and the Prince has fared well or if you’re glad for the momentary reprieve.”

My cheeks warmed as I thought of last night. “Surprisingly well.”

“I can see,” he chuckled, leaning back as he crossed one leg over the other. “So, you’re not so against this arrangement now?”

I lifted a shoulder, having not come to talk about the Prince. I sat in one of the chairs before his desk. “He told me that you were with the people of Archwood yesterday.”

“I was.” He brushed a lock of dark hair back from his face, his pale cheeks turning pink. “I thought it would be wise that I see what is being done. That I be seen.” He cleared his throat. “I was there this morning for a little bit.”

“I think it’s a good idea.” I smiled at him. “Hopefully it will inspire others to take part.”

“Hopefully,” he murmured, lowering a hand to the arm of his chair. “We shall see, I suppose.”

I nodded, taking a deep breath. “I actually had something I wanted to talk to you about.” I twisted my fingers together, unsure of why I was so nervous. Actually, that wasn’t true. I was worried I was going to prove myself a naive fool today. “It’s about your other cousin.”

“Is it?” He glanced at the closed door.

I opened my senses, letting that connection forge between us. I saw the gray wall. “Does he . . . does he have abilities like me?”

His brows knitted as his head tilted. “Are you trying to read me, Lis?”

I stiffened. “Can you tell?”

He laughed roughly. “Only because I’ve known you long enough to recognize when you’re reading someone. Your stare becomes rather intense and you don’t blink.”

“Oh.” I squirmed a little in my chair.

“He does,” he answered.

I stopped fidgeting. Everything stopped.

“That’s how I knew what you said when we first met could be true. He had the same knack for knowing. He had other . . . knacks.” His shoulders rose with a deep breath. “And if you’re wondering why I didn’t tell you, it was because by the time I met you, Vayne was already committing acts of treason. I thought that if I told you that there was another like you, you would want to meet them, and meeting him would endanger you.”

I was still connected to him, and his thoughts reflected what he said, but he knew I was in his mind. Hearing thoughts didn’t mean I couldn’t be fooled. “Then you know what I . . . I am?” I whispered.