Page 34 of Of Rime and Ruin (Sirens of Adria #2)

Chapter thirty-two

Aethan

It’s late by the time I leave the throne room and make my way to the parlor.

The castle is quiet and dark, the loudest sound the soft crackling of torches and the distant creaking of ice floes on the Rime.

I massage the tension from my jaw. My throat is parched from speaking all day, and my body aches for the soft relief of my furs.

How do I expect to fare on a hunt? Sitting in a saddle in the cold wind, or giving speeches to boost morale? Fuck. What if the ice cracks and I fall in—my secret exposed by beastly rampage? A chill runs up my spine.

It’s not possible. The Frosted Plains stretch across a meters-thick crust of ice that never melts, even in the warm season. The hunters will be safe from me. I’ll ride my own mount away from the others, so that way if…

My thoughts scramble as I reach the stairway, my scales rising with intuition—I’m no longer alone.

A shadowed female figure stands at the top of the steps, the white of her night-robe shimmering in the darkness.

Silk, likely. She tiptoes, peering over the railing in the other direction from me.

Her dark curls hang loosely down her back and brush the top of her shapely rear end, which the hem barely covers.

I pause.

She takes a few steps down, then leans over the rail, as if straining to see something in the near-darkness. The hem lifts. Black lace clings to the curves of her ass cheeks, delicate and much too scant. My breath catches and warmth floods my face. Who gave her such things to wear in public?

A quick scan of the parlor proves we’re alone, to my twisted satisfaction. There are no watchful eyes on her. Only mine.

I clear my throat, and the princess whirls around, letting out a muffled gasp.

“You shouldn’t be here,” I say.

Her startled expression changes swiftly into annoyance. “And why not?”

“It’s late.” I step onto the bottom stair and grasp the railing. “You don’t know what could be lurking in the shadows.”

“Is that supposed to scare me?” She glances over the railing again, and I track her gaze. The door to the servant quarters is closed, and it’s past the time Deirdre and Lucas turn in for the night. What could she want down there?

“If you need a cup of tea, I’m sure Deirdre would be more than happy to serve you. In your room .”

“No, thank you.”

“You expect me to believe Your Highness is wandering the halls at night, not in search of tea, after you’ve already had a tour of the castle grounds. How curious.” I step up again, closing the gap between us. “You see why I must assume you’re up to no good.”

“Certainly not.” She lifts her chin defiantly. Cute. But if she wants to intimidate me, she should try being less adorable.

“Then what are you up to?”

Her fingers trail along the banister as she steps down. I catch a whiff of her scent on the air, sweet vanilla and sunlight. For a moment, my eyelids flutter closed, and when I catch her eye again, she smirks. Looks at me from beneath her lashes.

“Nothing good,” she says. She takes a few more steps, and she glances around me, as if meaning to pass. A bold choice.

Annoyance blooms in my chest, and I grip the railing tighter. It was a mistake to bring her inside. I should have known she’d get under my scales. Guests always do, but this one is doing it on purpose.

“Have you always been this much trouble?”

“Oh yes. Winona was sick of me.”

“Is that why she abandoned you here?” I snap, stepping into her path. She frowns and tries to skirt around me. I move to block her again, and we’re face to face. The princess, still two steps up, meets my eye level. Large, brown eyes, sparkling with mischief.

“Abandoned me ?” She scoffs. “No, that’s why she wanted to ship me off…

” Her face contorts. “I don’t have to explain myself to you, Peppermint Breath.

If it weren’t for your obsession with imprisoning passersby, I would be out of your hair by now.

” She jabs her finger at my chest, and I catch it, holding it there.

We both stare at our hands, her small fist curled up in mine. Her skin is soft and the tip of her finger is warm where she touches the thin fabric of my shirt.

“Peppermint Breath?” I echo.

Her throat bobs as she swallows. “I could be in the Coral Kingdom by now, getting married on a beach. Somewhere warm and sunny, two things you’d never understand.” She tugs against my grasp, and I release her hand as the weight of her suggestion lands.

“You’re engaged to the Coral Prince, and you didn’t think to mention it?” I rake my hand through my hair. If that cocky prince learns I’ve held his betrothed hostage, I’m fucked. The Coral Kingdom has wealth, influence, and assuming he’s already planned her rescue, the element of surprise.

“It never came up.” She blushes and avoids my gaze, twisting her hands together. I glance at her fingers. No ring. Odd.

“You are betrothed?”

She bites her lip. “That’s right.”

She’s lying.

“My condolences to the happy couple.”

Her jaw drops, and the fire returns to her gaze. “What does that mean?”

“Have you met the prince?”

“Well, no.”

“You won’t like him. He’s too cocky.”

“And you’re any better?” She raises her finger to jab me again but seems to think twice about it. Smart girl.

She crosses her arms beneath her breasts instead, and I struggle to keep my gaze on her face. A gentleman would keep his eyes steady. Or stare at the ceiling.

Not me.

I risk one quick glance, and my mouth goes dry. Her nipples are hard through the silk. Goddess above , they’re perfect. My ears burn as I force myself to look away.

She must be cold, wearing that thin little thing at night. It has nothing to do with me.

“If anything, I suffer from the opposite problem,” I grunt. The Coral Prince could learn a lesson or two from me in self-loathing.

“I’m sorry to hear about the size of your package, Sergeant Smalls. You know there’s a tonic for that.” Nahlani wrinkles her nose and flicks her gaze to my crotch. “Now if you’ll excuse me—”

She tries to step around me, and I snare her waist. My hands slide on the silk of her robe as I twist her into the railing. I frame her with my hands, caging her where she can’t escape me. Her scent floods my nose, intoxicatingly sweet.

She stares at me with wide, wild eyes. Her lips part, glistening and pink, as her breath brushes my neck.

Kiss her , says the Beast. See if she tastes like the sun.

I shake my head. Where is he getting this from? I pound my fist into the railing to dispel the intrusive thought. “Are you engaged to him?” I demand.

“That’s my personal business, Your Majesty.”

Infuriating, stubborn female. I inhale and try to steady my tone.

“I need to know if I should expect his goddessdamn army on my doorstep, so tell me now, Nahlani. Does he have a claim on you?” My voice booms with an edge of hysteria. So much for steady.

She flinches, shrinking into the railing.

Fuck.

With a growl, I tear myself away from her, putting distance between us before I can do physical harm. Ice burns in my veins, power churning beneath the surface.

Inhale. Exhale. Count to ten.

She watches me with a guarded gaze but does not turn to leave. We stare at each other for a long moment, and my panicked breathing fills the silence as I wrestle for control. Dizziness darkens my vision, narrowing my tunnel of view until all that’s left is her face.

“Are you okay, Your Majesty?” she whispers. Pity flashes across her features as she softens. Her brows knit, and she steps tentatively forward. Like I’m the one in danger of her .

I clench my teeth. “Answer my question, please.”

“I didn’t accept the engagement. I…” She shakes her head. “I ran away.”

“So no one’s coming to look for you, Princess?”

“Probably not.”

I pinch the bridge of my nose and close my eyes as relief washes over me. She is unclaimed. Not a spy. Not a death-dealer. Not betrothed to a foreign prince. Just a lost troublemaker, far from home. I sway on my feet, weariness hitting me as my feelings settle and the ice retreats from my veins.

When I open my eyes, she’s still there, fiddling nervously with the ties of her robe. Her shoulders slump in defeat. How brave, to admit the truth. She’s all alone with no one to look out for her. No one to save her from me.

“Then you are mine to protect,” I grunt. Mine , the Beast purrs with approval. He likes the way she smiles in return, and the blush that creeps over her cheeks.

I like it, too.

“Good luck,” she says; that sparkle of mischief flashing anew.

“That doesn’t mean you can wander around my castle,” I warn. “My rules still stand. Go back to your room.”

She glances one more time toward the servant quarters, then turns away. “Fine.” Her fingers slide over the railing as she ascends, a slight sway in her hips.

A smile tugs my lips. “Good night.”