Page 10 of Glass Hearts

The Duchess is tricky to find. I would rather her moaning in ecstasy beneath me right now, but this little game will have to do for now.

She is a mystery I am enjoying unraveling.

I can’t wait to smell her sugary vanilla and cinnamon scent again.

Just thinking about it makes my dick hard.

I lick my lips and adjust myself in my pants.

Not that my brothers off to the side would care.

It has been a few days since the ball. All we have found is her cute little thief’s name, The Shadow.

She steals jewels and coins from the rich.

Is that why she wore such a delectable ensemble at the ball?

I should have had that dress pooled on my floor that night. I wonder how one would steal a dress…

Reports say she hangs around Harsekeep after her little missions.

So that’s where I’m going tonight. Hidden, of course.

I made the executive decision to also not bring my brothers or tell them of my search.

They are all a little mad at our thief. I would rather imprison her in my room, not the dungeon, as Sylas and Archer would like.

As for Koi, I am not sure what that brute is thinking.

I could tell he was as turned on by her at the ball.

Yet since her little game, he has been pretty quiet.

Which isn’t normal for the lovable golden prince in our group.

Like me, he likes to bed a variety of women and dash as soon as they asked about ‘relationships.’ It’s easy for me to brush them off, but something about the happy, golden demeanour of my half-brother makes females even more heartbroken when he lightly lets them down.

“I have narrowed down the list. We have to accept the Baudelaire sisters, then there is Winona White. Cla-” He goes on listing random names. I tune Sylas out; none are my duchess, so I don’t care.

I wonder if she has ever had to kill someone when she steals?

She could probably stab me—as long as I could see her face—and I would thank her.

Where does one also learn slight of hand like she had?

Sure she could easily steal from me; but how did she successfully steal from the ever-observant Sylas and Archer?

“Grayer, pay attention. Is there any other woman from the ball that caught your eye to be a potential bride? The little thief is not an option.”

“Sylas, she is mine, so there is no need for that stupid list for me. I just need to find the little shadow.”

He shakes his head. He thinks I am not serious, but I have never been more serious.

Obviously, her beauty had drawn me, even with that mask upon her face.

Yet, I can’t seem to get her out of my head for different reasons.

She was ballsy and didn’t fling herself at me, instead opting to volley back my crude words with wickedly sinful promises.

I want to verbally spar with her more, especially knowing she has a bit of a dark side, too.

The audacity to steal from four princes? Sign me up for her kind of fun!

“You really should have just fucked her at the ball; maybe then you would have gotten her out of your system. This is all this is an obsession with the unknown. She turned you down, so she is something you can’t have.

And it’s for the best; she is no good, brother.

I think Winona White may be good for you.

She seemed to have that dangerous edge about her you like.

” Sylas is such a good liar to himself. I saw how much his eyes heated after saying I should have just fucked her, the subtle hint of jealously permeating the air.

“Nah, I think I will stick with the little shadow.” Before he can lay into me again about duty, honour, and blah blah blah—I slink out of the room. They didn’t even question why I was wearing my black tactical gear. My brothers are all distracted. Not me. I know exactly what I need to do.

As I go down the long hallway to leave, a small hand wraps around my bicep, pulling me to a stop.

Adrianna. We shared her once, and since then, she has been a nuisance.

She is just as obsessed with my brothers; I was the fool to have gone back to her bed for seconds on a rather low night of my life.

Her father is Councilman Paul Clarsef, an expert in portal magic.

If I had known both times I slept with her that her father was a councilman, I would never have crossed that line. We all didn’t know.

“The list hasn’t gone out, my prince. Can I expect my name on there?

Or should I go to Daddy and inform him how you stole my innocence without a ring upon my hand?

” She was far from a virgin when we met her, but her father thinks she is an innocent angel.

He would believe her before us, naturally.

After all, who believes the crazy womanizer prince?

Or that all four princes would be willing to share one woman in bed?

“Adrianna,” I droll, as I remove her hand from my arm, “talk to Sylas. He is in control of the list. You will not be my bride, no matter how much you whine to daddy dearest. I have found my future wife. Maybe my brothers would entertain your manipulations.”

With that, I brush past her and make way for the exit. I nod in greeting to the driver. Harsekeep is far, and this carriage will attract unwanted attention. I will have to get Wallace to drop me off on the outskirts.

He raises a questioning eyebrow when I make my request. But the good man just shakes his head and turns to drive as I enter the carriage.

All I can think about are blue eyes that spoke in promises of mischief and games as we make our journey southward.

“Here you go, sir. I will wait at that cafe right there for your return.”

I give Wallace my thanks as I make my way out on foot towards the crumbling city and pull up my hood.

Even though I am mostly hidden, I still seem to catch attention.

It’s as though people instinctively can feel when a dangerous predator is within their midst, or at least someone who has the power to turn about their lives.

Which may be a problem if I am trying to find the little thief.

I desire to continue walking around until I find her, curious looks be damned. But a logical person on a mission would realize that people talk with booze flowing. In my desperation to find her, logic wins. I stopped at a few taverns with no luck.

Until I see The Lucky Barn.

Here is hoping this establishment lives up to its name.

Maybe my duchess is even there with a glass of wine waiting for me.

But as I enter, I realize my dream will remain just a dream.

Mostly, many rough-looking men fill the tavern.

A few drunkards and men from high society are making shady deals.

I go up to the bar where a large ogre pours a few ales for the gentlemen on the other side of the bar.

“One minute,” he gruffs.

“I think you will give me more than one minute, I am in a bit of a hurry.” He meets my eyes, his eyes widening in shock.

“My prince—”

“Shh. I don’t want others to know I am here.

My search is for a young woman. I do not want trouble” I raise my hand and call to my flame and put it out before anyone else notices, “so please be of assistance so I don’t have to burn your whole tavern down with your patrons inside.

I am not a very patient man right now.” Without my fire-glass heart, a meagre coin-sized flame is all I can produce, but he doesn’t need to know that.

He gulps and nods. Walking over to hand the ales to the two men, who scamper off to a dark corner before turning back to me. It’s just the two of us.

“How can I be of service, my prince?”

“Do you know of The Shadow?” He tries to hide it, but I see the recognition in his eyes as they slightly widen. He knows her. Of that, I am certain. “Ah, it appears you do.” I smile, Bingo.

“Look, she is a good girl.” He lowers his head in resignation. “She is just a little lost.”

“What’s her name?”

“I do not know. Our community only knows her as The Shadow. I know she doesn’t live here in the slums, probably on the outskirts of the suburbs. But again, my prince, I beg you not to imprison her. She is like a daughter to me.”

“Ogre, you silly fool, I wouldn’t imprison my future wife.” This has his eyes widen comically, even more in shock than initially seeing my face. Why is it so surprising that I would want the little mystery!? “Now, where is my little shadow thief?”

The ogre doesn’t reply, thinking of how to answer. He is hesitant to disclose the whereabouts of my duchess. I appreciate how protective he seems to be of her. For that, I won’t kill him and burn down his bar… yet.

“I will not hurt her, Ogre. But I need to see her. And I won’t stop until I find her. My brothers may be honourable, but like I said, I am an impatient man and will burn Eldor to find her. Starting with this bar.”

This seems to be exactly what he needed to hear. He sighs and replies, “She is doing a job in the Pleasure District, right on the other side of Harsekeep. Her mark this evening always leaves the gambling den at 11 pm. I bet she is currently waiting.”

“Thank you, good sir.” With that, I plop down a bag of gold coins. I didn’t order a drink, but with such grand news, I am feeling quite generous. “I hope for your sake this isn’t a false lead.”

I turn to head towards the Pleasure District, but I catch him saying under his breath as I leave, “What has that foolish girl gotten herself into now?”

* * *

The Pleasure District is exactly what you would imagine it to be.

Brothels, gambling dens, fighting clubs, taverns, and more fill the area.

In my desperation for release, I have even explored the offerings.

As a prince, I don’t have to pay for sex.

But there is something about hiring a professional who won’t try to pin you down so they can be a queen.