So, in the end, she relented to the gnawing in her stomach and began eating.
She watched the trees swaying in the courtyard outside as she grazed on unfamiliar foods that had only been brought to Lorne in the height of summer. Strawberries and honey, with thin, toasted slices of bread slathered in butter. A crystalline jug of apple juice was particularly delicious.
All of it was beautiful. The scenery, the food, the clothes.
But it wasn’t home.
A lump formed in her belly as grief struck her heart, and she realized in horror that she was about to cry. But she did not want to risk anyone seeing her do so—least of all Arrik, if he were to return—so she gulped down another glass of apple juice until the tears subsided.
She’d never been much of a crier before, but it seemed like she was seconds from bursting out in tears at all times now. It was bothersome and it made her feel weak.
When Wren was finished, she tucked a silver fork into her corset and began to pace around the room. The sun rose higher in the sky and she felt like she was being baked in an oven. It was so bloody hot. The breeze picked up and she stepped out into the courtyard. Wren paced the circular edge until she arrived back at the prince’s room. The courtyard was entirely private, with only the open wall from Arrik’s chambers being the entrance and exit.
Next, she pushed through the huge leafy plants, searching for the source of the water. A true smile came to her face as she discovered it. A large round pool sat in the center of the courtyard. A ledge ran around the edge of the pool to form a circular shelve to sit upon. Wren turned her face up to the sun and sighed, appreciating the moment of peace.
She dipped her left foot into the water and shivered as the cool liquid lapped at her ankle. A swim would be so nice but too dangerous. Wren gave the pool one last longing look before padding down a winding path with stepping stones that led back to the prince’s chamber. She glanced around.
It was gorgeous, but it was still a prison she could not escape from.
Or could she?
Her attention moved to the door. Time to find out.
Wren strode forward and tried the door, not expecting it to be unlocked.
The door clicked open.
Freedom.
She popped her head outside the door, spotting three guards. None of them said a word as she stepped barefoot from the room and closed the door behind her. Keeping her head high, Wren forged ahead when two of the guards peeled away from the wall and followed behind her. Were they there to protect her, or to make sure she didn’t do something stupid? Why had she been given free rein in the palace? Sure, she’d married the prince, but she was still the enemy. Anyone who attended the wedding knew she didn’t want to be here.
Stop questioning it. You’re not constrained.
Something held her back. None of this felt right.
Just what was stopping her from escaping? She could sneak away from the guards if she wanted to.
For several hours, she wandered aimlessly. Wren stumbled across courtiers from time to time, but they only stared and whispered to each other. They never approached her. Perhaps it was her wild unbrushed hair or the glares she tossed their way, but it worked for her. She didn’t wish to speak with anyone, and if they started rumors about how savage she was, it worked in her favor.
Eventually, she found her way onto a wide balcony overlooking the front of the palace grounds. The bay was right there in her line of sight, the path between the palace and the water tantalizingly short. If she reached the water and secured a boat, she could make her way back to Lorne on her own.
“Wife,” a deep voice said behind her.
Wren spun around, her silk dress flaring around her feet. The prince stepped onto the balcony. His silver hair was pulled back from his face, making his jawline and cheekbones appear sharper. His pointed ears were longer than her mothers had been. Was it because he was male? Or just because of his bloodline?
“I can see your thoughts.” She shuttered her gaze and he nodded. “That’s better.”
“You want me to hide things from you?” Wren asked slowly.
He smiled and glanced toward the bay, giving her the perfect view of his profile. Blast him. He was gorgeous. Too bad his soul didn’t match his exterior.
“I want you to protect your secrets. That is the currency here. You need to guard ours.”
Ours. She shivered at the use of the word.
“Do we have secrets?” she murmured.
“We do, and we will.” He focused his piercing blue eyes back on her. “Come, wife. There is much to be done this day and you’ve slept much of it away.”
“What would you have me do?” she asked hesitantly. What was the captive wife of a beast supposed to do?
His smile turned wicked. “Please me, of course.” She stiffened and he rolled his eyes. “The queen requests your presence.”
She pushed away from the banister and walked to his side. He stared down at her like he was trying to figure her out, a small smile lingering on his lips.
“What?” Wren demanded.
“You didn’t fight me.”
Wren scowled. “I happen to like the queen. It has nothing to do with you.”
His smile melted away. “Be careful who you bestow your friendship upon.”
She studied him. “Do I have cause to be wary of the queen?”
Arrik held her gaze. “You need to be wary of everyone. No one here is your friend.”
“No one?”
“No one,” he repeated.
“She seems nice.”
“Looks are deceiving.”
“Should I not associate with her?” she questioned. Had she gotten the woman all wrong?
“You cannot escape it.”
“Then why say anything?”
“Because you’re too trusting.”
She blanched. “How would you know?”
“You haven’t tried to kill me yet, despite the fork you have stashed between your breasts.”
“How the devil did you know that?” she demanded.
“I am a tall elf, you are a petite human, and that Verlanti dress doesn’t leave much to the imagination.”
Wren gasped and covered her chest. “Stop looking. I picked the most modest one.”
“So I noticed.” He gestured to the door. “Shall we?”
She looked over her shoulder at the bay, wishing that she could escape now. This place was confusing. No one was who they said they were.
“Your expressions, wife. I can read your thoughts.”
Wren smoothed out her expression. She really needed to work on that. Wearing her heart on her sleeve was a danger while living with the enemy. To survive, she needed to do better. She needed to thrive. That started with pretending to become one of them. She’d cooperate with the prince and gain his trust bit by bit, but then when the time came, she’d pull the rug from beneath him.
“What am I thinking now?” she asked, batting her lashes.
“Something devious, I’m sure,” was his dry reply.
Wren pressed her lips together to stop herself from grinning. He wasn’t wrong.
All she needed was a way out of the palace and some jewels with which to barter for everything that she would need to get home.
26
Wren
From that day on, Arrik returned to his chambers but slept in his chair each night. Or at least she thought he slept there. She always managed to fall asleep before the prince did despite how he trussed her up.
It was a game of sorts. They ate dinner quietly together and then when it was time for bed, the predator in him came out.
The bloody man didn’t chain her to his bed but no matter how much she fought, grappled, and cursed, he somehow cocooned her in his blankets to the point where she couldn’t move. Then he left her there to fall asleep.
“Is this really necessary?” she complained at the end of the week. She was sweaty and sticky.
“It’s for your safety and mine.”
“How so?”
He hadn’t responded.
Time passed in a blur of exploring, luncheons with the queen, and a complete lack of contact with the rest of the court. She hadn’t seen Soren or his other sons in over three weeks and Wren found herself comfortable in Arrik’s quiet presence.