Page 23 of The Shattered King

After I was excused, I went to the kitchen to eat.

There was no bread left for my meal, but Lonnie overfilled my bowl with stew to make up for it.

I was about halfway through the meal when a footman approached.

The first time he cleared his throat, I thought he might have had a cold.

The second time, I thought perhaps he wanted me to heal it.

However, when I gave him my attention, he said, “You are requested in the east wing.”

Report to my rooms at eight. East wing. Come alone.

My appetite shrunk to nothing.

“It’s past eight,” I offered.

The footman shrugged. “I was sent to collect you personally.”

Frowning, I took my dishes to the sink to wash them. Lonnie was scrubbing a giant pot; I tapped my foot until she looked over. Gestured with a crooked finger. She set down her rags, wiped her hands on her apron, and approached.

“Come with me,” I whispered.

She blinked. “Where?”

“Prince Adrinn’s suite.”

She blanched. “Don’t go there.”

Any bit of courage I had shredded. “Why?”

She blushed. “I mean, unless you want ...” She seemed to notice the footman for the first time. Looked at the clock, then her pot. Untied her apron. “Okay, but I need to be back before Cook notices. We’ll think up an excuse on the way.”

“Miss Tallowax?”

A buzz of annoyance, like a wasp on my neck, shot through me. I clung to it. “I’m in the service of Prince Renn, not Prince Adrinn. Give me a moment.”

The man frowned but said nothing more as I washed my dishes, dried my hands, and approached, Lonnie behind me.

“He requested you be alone,” the footman drawled.

I folded my arms, clinging to the shield of annoyance. The footman sighed and led the way in silence.

After we wound through the east tower and dim hallways, Ursa whispered, “ Are you sure this is wise? ”

“One never knows with nobility,” I murmured.

“I’m pretty sure with Prince Adrinn,” Lonnie said.

I reminded myself about the guards that would be there, and that Adrinn likely had an injury he wished to have treated, privately.

I worried the violet cincture around my waist. When I neared the Noblewight heir’s door, there was, indeed, a guard standing outside it.

The Noblewights were many things, but I did not think they would make any truly criminal moves against me, especially when I was so useful to Prince Renn.

I was expected; the guard noted me, and while he seemed a little afraid of me, of all things, he moved to open the door.

I supposed the rumors of the Rovian healer had not yet been laid to rest. Perhaps that might be to my benefit.

Intimidation was not something I minded having in my personal arsenal.

The guard did, however, put up an open hand to block Lonnie. “Sorry,” he offered, sounding like he knew her. “Only her.”

Lonnie bit her lip. Turning, I told her, “If I’m not back in fifteen minutes, please tell Prince Renn where I am.”

Her expression went slack. “I can’t just go to the prince’s suite!”

“He won’t punish you. Trust me.”

I took comfort in my own words. He will come, if I need him. How odd, that I felt that way. That I felt so certain.

Prince Adrinn’s rooms were near identical to his younger brother’s, though only a few candles lit the central salon, and the air was hazy with incense, which immediately put me on edge.

Another guard stood within, near the bedroom door, looking bored and unconcerned with my arrival.

Light and voices came from the bedroom, and since the guard didn’t stop me, I carefully approached, wondering if Adrinn lay sick abed, or—

Or that.

I wasn’t as much surprised as I was revulsed at the scene before me, and I understood perfectly why Prince Renn did not want me to come.

Prince Adrinn in casual clothes, his drooping shirt open to his navel, three different women around him; one on a footstool at the foot of the bed, one clinging to either side of him.

Whether or not they enjoyed being there, I couldn’t tell from their expressions.

It would be hard to say no to a prince, especially when merits lined his pockets.

The room smelled of smoke and sex and wine, and the exuberance I felt for having this man as Cansere’s next ruler truly could not be measured.

At least I was right. I wouldn’t be left alone with him. Hardly.

He noticed me before I could turn to go. “Ah, healer.” He patted the backside of the woman on his right, and she retreated to the head of the mattress. “I’m glad you made it. You’re a little late.”

“I’m afraid I have other duties, Your Highness.” My tone was flat, but I did not bother trying to press inflection into it. The prince hardly needed my approval.

“Ah yes, my ever-devastated brother.” He grinned and leaned forward, elbows on his knees. “You’ve done remarkably well with him. Another ten years, and perhaps he’ll offer me a challenge in the ring.”

“Are you ill, Your Highness?” I pressed, the smoke and incense cloying. “Have you summoned me to treat a personal infection?” I looked sympathetically at one of his women.

His lip curled into a smile, catlike, devilish. “Only if you plan to give me one.”

“I plan to give you nothing of mine, Your Highness, except my absence.” I turned to leave.

“I could send you to the dungeon,” he played, “for such utter disobedience.”

My attention snapped back to him, and I laughed. “By all means, do so. I’m well acquainted with it.”

That feline smirk did not leave his face. “I told you you’d be more attractive if you put a little effort into it, Nym Tallowax. Come.” He patted the blanket beside him. “I’ve energy left for you.”

A chill coursed up my skin unexpectedly. Not from disgust, but from memory, and I pushed it down as best I could without showing my discomfort. To hide it, I curtsied. “I’d rather sleep with Adoel Nicosia.”

Prince Adrinn barked a laugh. “I would pay to see that.”

“I imagine you would.”

Mirth flicked in his eyes, and while the candlelight warmed their icy depths, I knew the coldness that lurked there. I offered one last shallow curtsy before heading back through the salon.

“You should take me up on it,” he said to my back. “No one else will have you with that tainted lumis of yours.”

Pausing, I glared at him through the shadows. “And what does that say about you?”

The grin remained in place as he finished a bottle of wine. “Oh, I’ve been all sorts of places.”

The conversation was pointless, so I held back a retort and departed. Neither guard stopped me. The air in the corridor, compared to the smokiness in the suite, felt cold. Gooseflesh rose on my arms, but no matter how I rubbed them, I couldn’t convince it to fade.

Lonnie sighed in profound relief. “Everything okay?”

I plastered on a smile. “Just a blister. Nobility is made of such dainty stuff.”

She gaped while simultaneously pinching her lips closed. We walked several steps before she calmed. “You can’t say stuff like that, Nym.”

I shrugged, partially to hide the trembling in my arms. We reached the corridor where we needed to separate; I offered Lonnie a quick thanks and farewell, for half my mind was still back in that suite. Alone, I quickened my stride until I reached my room, then shut the door firmly behind me.

I found myself wishing for the first time that it had a lock.