Page 85 of Tricky Princess

“Regardless, can we please stop with the secrets?” she asked all of them.

“You know we can’t promise that,” Jadis said. “We are old and fickle…I’ve probably forgotten most of the important things. I only get reminded of them when something major happens, like you getting kidnapped or falling in love with a demon prince—”

“We aren’t…” Ellea interrupted before shutting her mouth with a snap.

It was Ros’ turn to flinch; he tried hiding it by looking down into his empty mug and ignoring the stares from the two beasts on the floor. Why would they be in love? They barely knew each other, and he’d been such an ass. This would end eventually, they might as well keep their feelings out of it.

But she’s been calling you her boyfriend.

He shook the thought. This would end eventually.

Are you sure about that? Garm said in his head, reading his thoughts.

Ros stood at the edge of Ellea’s giant bed as she washed up in the joined bathroom. She had given him a quick tour after her grandmother and uncle left, and they’d stopped here. It was nearly midnight, and they both seemed exhausted after the day’s events. He’d had so many plans for after their little moment in the restaurant, but they were all burning in a trashcan somewhere.

“The bed doesn’t bite.” Ellea walked up next to him, and he tried to hide his snarl. Visions of her with other men wouldn’t stop flashing through his mind.

“I don’t think I can sleep in a bed knowing that any of those males…”

He let the statement trail away. What was he saying? Breathing out, he glanced at Ellea, who looked at him with her eyebrow cocked and her fists clenching and unclenching at her side.

Fuck.

“The only one who has ever stayed in this bed has been Billy.” She crossed her arms over her chest. “I’m sorry I didn’t hand you a list of every bed I’ve fucked someone else in. This one isn’t on it.”

She turned and stomped to her closet.

Fuck.

Gods, he was an ass. Ellea stomped right back into the room, wearing an oversized t-shirt. Angrily, she pulled back the blankets and got into bed. He closed his eyes, his lips thinning into a straight line.

She was mad enough to wear something to bed; she never wore anything to bed.

“Princess,” he started. He stopped, unsure of what to say, unsure of which part she was mad at. Was it the bed comment? Or the awkward way the conversation went with her nana and uncle?

Probably both.

“I’m tired, Ros. If you don’t want to sleep in here, you can sleep in any of the guest rooms, but know that they have been slept in before.”

“Ellea, I am not going to bed with you mad,” he said, sitting on her side of the bed, still fully clothed.

“I’m not.” Her eyes were downcast, watching as her fingers toyed with the silky fabric of her comforter.

“I don’t believe you.” He grabbed her hand. “What’s on your mind?”

She looked up at him with big gray eyes, and he felt his chest heave. “Today was a lot. Can we please go to bed?”

“I thought we weren’t keeping secrets anymore.”

“I could tell you the same thing.” She pulled her hand away, and a chill ran up his arm. Without another word or look, she turned away from him and placed her beautiful head on the pillow.

He wasn’t keeping secrets; he was keeping his feelings and fears from her. She didn’t need to bear them on top of everything else weighing on her shoulders.

31

Rosier

Ros turned over, reaching for Ellea, but found her side of the bed empty. Scrambling out of bed, he summoned a dagger out of his shadows.