Page 42 of The Broken Prince

The pain in my neck was unbearable. Heat seared my flesh as if the flames were still there, burning deeper and deeper. It was hard to look in the mirror, to see the horrible scars I would carry for the rest of my life. But I was still here…still breathing…and that made the suffering tolerable.

“You should rest, baby.” His voice was quiet, broken. “I’ll stay with him until he wakes.”

The guard brought me a chair, and I took a seat.

Huntley wouldn’t meet my look. “I spoke to the maiden outside. She said the infection was defeated and his wounds are healing nicely. It sounds like he’ll be okay… His body is just tired.”

Huntley didn’t move.

“Delacroix needs its king, Huntley.”

A dark chuckle escaped his lips. “Look elsewhere—because there’s no king here.”

I closed my eyes in pain. “This isn’t your fault—”

“I traveled to their lands to discover what they are, but what use is that when they were here murdering my family?” He spoke quietly, like if he raised his voice, it would wake our son, who was utterly indisposed.

“Our family lives.”

He dropped his voice even more, bringing it to a whisper. “I can’t even look at you…” He closed his eyes, breathed hard, and when he opened them again, new tears appeared.

My eyes watered at his pain. “I’m alive, Huntley—”

“And forever maimed. You think that would have happened if I were here? You had to lead our people into a battle, had to defend our daughter, when I should have been the one standing guard while you fled.”

“You know I wouldn’t have fled—”

“Taking care of our children is not a surrender. It’s a duty.” He finally looked at me, his eyes vicious. “And you would have done it.”

Now I was the one to look away. “These monsters…they’re unlike anything I’ve ever seen. I think the only reason Aurelias survived is because he’s not human. They killed our best soldiers in less than thirty seconds—”

“They’re lesser men than me—and so is that vampire.”

I looked at him again, seeing his eyes on our son. “That vampire is the reason I’m sitting next to you.”

He ignored me.

“You could have at least thanked him—”

“Thanked him for doing what I should have done? Thanked him for protecting my family when it should have been me? I’d rather die, Ivory. I’m not thanking the man who took my daughter—”

“He loves your daughter.”

He inhaled a deep breath, a painful one.

“And I think the feeling is mutual…”

He continued to look away, continued to pretend I didn’t say what he didn’t want to hear.

“You weren’t here because you were serving your kingdom the best you knew how at the time. None of this is your fault—and I can speak for all of us when I say we don’t blame you. There’s nothing to forgive, but please forgive yourself.”

He breathed harder, his eyes watering.

“Let it go.”

More tears fell down his cheeks. “When my father was slain, it was just us. My mother was raped…she was powerless…and we struggled to survive a world so fucking cruel. I vowed that would never happen to my family, that my wife would never know such struggles… And I failed. My kingdom was attacked in my absence, and my family suffered.”

I reached my hand out to his arm, letting my fingers rest against his armor even though he couldn’t feel my touch. “Your mother wasn’t powerless. She became the greatest queen I’ve ever known and raised two powerful sons who took back what’s rightfully theirs—and she’ll probably outlive us both.”