“In that case—” He started to hold out his arm, but I held up a hand.
“Wait. I’d also like to be allowed to come and go from my room freely. I don’t want to ever be locked in the Exorbiant Chamber or any chamber, room, cage, lodge, or confinement ever again. And I want to see my sister.”
His lips twitched. “Have you bargained before?”
“No.”
“You should consider joining the courts as a magistrate.”
I rolled my eyes but couldn’t stop my reluctant smile. “You’re very funny.”
“Am I?” The corner of his mouth kicked up. “I don’t often get told that.”
“And sarcastic.”
“Now, that, I’ve been told a time or two.”
“You’re stalling.”
“I’m not. I’m merely considering what you’re requesting.”
“They’re not requests. They’re demands.”
“Everything with me is a request. You cannot make demands of your crown prince.”
“Really? Because I think I just did.”
He sighed. “I’ve killed fae for such insolence before.”
Since his tone was teasing, I didn’t know if he was serious or not, but I still replied, “I’m sure you have.”
“Yet you don’t even flinch when you make such remarks.”
“Maybe I’m not as weak as everyone thinks I am.”
He studied me quietly. “I think you’re right. In fact, I don’t think you’re weak at all.” Before I could really contemplate that response, he added, “But I can’t agree to you leaving your chambers freely. It would be too dangerous considering the unrest that’s currently taking place within the court.”
I shivered. Given the rumblings I’d heard, he wasn’t wrong. “Then assign me a guard.”
He grunted. “I don’t trust any of the guards enough to entrust them with your life.”
“Then assign me one of your personal guards. You seem to trust them.”
“True.” He tilted his head. “All right, fine. I’ll assign Nish to you.”
I scoffed. “You must hate me if you’re going to force Nish on me. How about Haxil?”
His eyes shuttered. “No.”
“Why not? I like Haxil.”
The muscle in his jaw ticked. “As I’m aware, but my answer remains. No.”
I blew forcefully through my nose. “Then Sandus or Ryder?”
“Fine. Sandus.”
“Do we have a deal then?”
He shook his head in amusement or annoyance, I couldn’t tell. “You drive a hard bargain.”
“Is that so? Do you make bargains often?”
“No, in fact, I try to avoid them, and come to think of it, you’re the first female I’ve ever done this with.”
“Are you saying I’m deflowering you?”
His eyes twinkled. “You are.”
My cheeks reddened, and I cursed the alcohol for loosening my tongue and making me say such brazen things. Flustered, I held out my arm so we could seal our bargain, but he didn’t take it. “Why do I get the impression again that you’re stalling?”
“Because I am.”
I waved my arm at him. “Quit stalling. I won’t save the continent until you agree to this.”
His curved lips turned into a grin. “Why, Ilara Seary, you’re positively turning me on. I’ve never had a female speak so plainly with me before, and I have to say, it’s quite arousing.”
My eyes bugged out. I couldn’t tell if he was messing with me or not. My heart beat harder, and I wasn’t sure I wanted to know.
His strong fingers finally wrapped around my forearm, his large hand completely encircling my elbow. I did the same to him, or tried to, but his forearm was so thick with muscle that I could only get my fingers around half of it.
A spark of pleasure spiraled up my arm when our contact sealed. I tried not to flinch. What in the realm was that? I knew bargains elicited our realm’s magic, but I’d never heard of them feeling palpable before any words had been uttered.
The prince’s brow furrowed, and I couldn’t help but wonder if he’d felt it too.
Raising his eyes to mine, he said, “Ilara Seary, daughter of Mervalee Territory, I hereby agree to a bargain that ensures you’re returned to your home to live in peace after you replenish the Solis continent’s dying orem, and while you’re staying under my care at the Court of Winter, you shall be allowed to leave your chambers and all other chambers, freely as you wish under the accompaniment of one of the guards of my choosing, and your sister shall also be allowed to visit you while you’re replenishing our continent’s orem. I hereby end the terms of our agreement. Do you accept this bargain?”
I licked my lips, my heart still pounding. “Prince Norivun Deema Melustral Achul, first son of the king, Bringer of Darkness, Death Master of the continent, son of Prinavee Territory, and crown prince and heir to the Winter Court’s throne, I hereby accept your bargain.”
A clash of magic billowed around us, and I hissed when the bargain’s mark seared into my skin like a hot brand before it abruptly released.
I pulled free of the prince’s arm and rolled up my sleeve to see a single petal glowing on my skin before it disappeared. The prince rolled up his own sleeve. A shattering heart shone before it vanished.
I frowned. “That was an interesting mark.”
His brow furrowed as he quickly rolled his sleeve back down. “The gods have a wicked sense of humor.”
My frown grew, but then I smoothed my expression and remembered I’d had too much to drink, and that could be the cause of my confusion. And, Blessed Mother. I’d just made a sealed fairy bargain while drunk. With the crown prince of the Winter Court nonetheless. And if I failed to uphold the bargain, I would be subject to the gods’ wrath, whatever hellish consequences those tricky bastards chose to bestow upon me. A horrified laugh bubbled out of me. Cailis would give me a tongue-lashing if she knew what I’d just done.
“Is something funny?” the prince asked.
“No, not at all.” I poured myself another cup of leminai and ruminated over our bargain as I downed it.
I was fairly certain I’d covered all of the important bits, which meant the sooner I got my end of our bargain completed, the better. My head spun slightly as the leminai settled in my belly.
I gripped the bar top, then asked, “So now what, my prince? What do we do from here?”
“From here”—he gave my glass a pointed look—“you stop drinking and go to bed so you can begin training tomorrow.”
“I don’t think I’m ready for that yet.” I poured another glass of alcohol and drank half of it in one swallow, suddenly needing it as the impossibility of fulfilling our bargain hit me. I had to replace our continent’s orem. Every square millee of it. Blessed Mother, what have I done?
I finished the glass, and the room spun even more. I lifted the bottle of leminai for a second time. “Just one more drink. Or two. Or maybe three. Yes, definitely three.”
Prince Norivun crossed his arms, but I didn’t let him deter me. I drank another glass and then another. The room began swaying in earnest, but a blessedly numb feeling swept through me.