Fall of Ruin and Wrath (Awakening, #1)

“Because I do,” he said. “He’s a prince. If anyone would know, it would be him.”

I wasn’t sure if that made a difference or not. Nibbling on my lower lip, I struggled to beat back the rising tide of frustration. “I don’t even know why he wants this.”

“I can think of a couple of reasons,” Claude remarked dryly.

I was sure he could. Staring at the arched ceiling and its gold veining, I shook my head again. Several moments passed. I looked over at Claude.

He was staring into his almost empty glass. “Do you really not want to go to him?”

I opened my mouth.

“Honestly?” he insisted. “I want an honest answer, Lis.”

Snapping my jaw shut, I gave my head another shake. I didn’t know how to answer that. There was nothing but confusing thoughts and feelings if I spared one thought for the Prince— for my Hyhborn prince. “If he simply asked me if I would like to keep him company while here, I could answer that question for you, but he didn’t ask, so I can’t.”

“And if he had, you would’ve said . . . yes?”

I kept my mouth shut.

Claude raised his brows. “He’s a prince, Lis. Their concept of asking is pretty much what you just witnessed.”

“So?”

“Most lords wouldn’t have even gone so far as to ask, let alone a prince. Hell, most Hyhborn wouldn’t have even thought twice. They would’ve simply compelled you, then taken you.”

Lowering my chin, I pinned him with a glare. “So?”

“You’re losing time, pet.” Grabbing the oval-shaped bottle of brandy, he rose. “Ready yourself.”

I didn’t move.

Claude sighed heavily as he crossed the chamber, stopping short of opening the door. “Grady will be fine while you’re with the Prince. I promise you that.”

I closed my eyes against the sudden, foolish rush of tears as it became so quiet in the hall that I would’ve thought Claude had left.

The Baron hadn’t. “This is a good thing, Lis. I hope you come to understand that,” he told me. “Because the Prince of Vytrus will be able to provide you with what I cannot.”

“And what is that?”

“Everything.”

Wiping my palms under my eyes, I twisted toward the door. “What . . . ?”

The space there was empty. The Baron was gone.





CHAPTER 24


“I can’t even imagine it,” Naomi whispered from where she stood, staring out the window of my antechamber, her arms wrapped tightly around her waist. “The idea of there being a siege— a war.”

Part of me thought that maybe I shouldn’t have told Naomi what I’d learned about the Westlands army when I’d crossed paths with her upon leaving the dining hall. It wasn’t because I feared that she would then go and tell others, possibly causing a panic. I knew she wouldn’t. I just hated seeing her concerned— afraid.

“You know when I said that I’d hoped there’d be lords here in time for the Feasts?” Naomi looked over her shoulder at me, the pale lavender of her gown standing out starkly against the night sky beyond the window. “I didn’t mean an army of them.”

“I know,” I said from where I sat on the settee, my legs tucked underneath me. Thoughts heavy, I fiddled with one of the laces on my gown.

“Have you told Grady yet?” she asked.

I shook my head. I wanted to, but seeing Grady right now meant that I would also have to tell him about this new arrangement— something I knew he wouldn’t respond well to. I would somehow need to convince him that I had agreed to keeping the Prince company, but apparently, I wasn’t all that convincing when it came to my emotions. I still couldn’t believe that Claude had known why I stayed in Archwood— that he had always known. I didn’t know how to feel about it. I didn’t know why that made me . . . sad. I couldn’t even begin to figure that out when I had this to deal with.

Pulling my gaze from where I’d placed the ruby headpiece on a small table, I glanced at the door. The hour was almost upon me. My stomach dipped. “When Claude summoned me last night, he sent me to one of the Hyhborn who’d arrived ahead of the regiment. Claude hadn’t known why the Hyhborn were here yet and he’d wanted me to find out why.”

Naomi turned from the window, the delicate arches of her brows rising. “My gods, you’re just now telling me about this?” she asked. “I would’ve expected you to have been at my chamber doors first thing in the morning. I’m so disappointed in you.”

Unfurling my legs, I scooted to the edge of the settee. “Don’t be disappointed. There wasn’t much to tell.”

“Don’t bullshit me, Lis. There has to be a whole lot to tell.” Her eyes widened as she stepped forward. “Unless you used the Long Night last night? On a Hyhborn lord?”

“I didn’t try. I wasn’t sure if it would work and I didn’t risk it,” I told her. “And it wasn’t a lord. It was the Prince.”

“The Prince?” she repeated, lips parting. “The Prince of Vytrus?”

I nodded.

“Holy shit. I need a moment to process this— Wait.” Her eyes bravely met mine. “Did . . . did something happen when you were with the Prince?” Everything about Naomi changed in an instant. Gone was the teasing seductress, and in her place was an alert tigress. “What happened last night, Lis?”

“Nothing I didn’t allow to happen— nothing that I didn’t want,” I assured her. “He was— I don’t know.” I shook my head. “Not as I expected.”

“He’s said to be— ”

“A monster. I know, but he’s . . .” Prince Thorne was a lot of things— infuriating and entitled, demanding and annoying— but he wasn’t a monster. “I don’t think a lot of what has been said about him is the truth.”

“For real?”

“Yes. I promise.”

“Good.” She relaxed, unfolding her arms. “I would’ve hated having to get myself killed in the process of chopping off a Hyhborn prince’s dick.”

A loud laugh burst out of me.

Naomi crossed her arms. “You think I’m lying?”

“I don’t. That’s why I find it funny.”

“This is the perfect distraction.” She nudged my foot with hers. “I want every last juicy detail about how the dreaded Prince of Vytrus was not as you . . . expected.” She winked. “And I may need a demonstration of exactly how.”

“Well, there may not be time for that,” I said with a nervous hitch to my voice. “There’s more. The Prince requested— and I use the word ‘requested’ in the barest sense possible— that I keep him company during his time at Archwood.”

She blinked once, then twice. “Seriously?”

“Unfortunately.” I gripped the edge of the settee.

She stared at me for what felt like a full minute. “Okay, I don’t believe nothing much happened last night. What are these things that you willingly did that must’ve impressed him enough to request such a thing?”

“Trust me, he wasn’t impressed.” Clearly he wasn’t all that impressed, since he didn’t believe I was as experienced as I’d tried and failed to present myself as. “I think he . . . You know, I honestly don’t know why. It makes little sense to me.”

Coming to the settee, she sat beside me. “It’s obvious you’re not thrilled about this. Did you not . . . enjoy your time with him?”

“It’s not that.” I brushed a strand of hair back from my face. “I did enjoy it.”

“But?”

“He didn’t really ask, Naomi. It was more like pretending to ask. He made it clear that he wouldn’t be happy with a no for an answer.”

“I’m surprised he even pretended, to be honest— and I know that’s not the point,” she added when I opened my mouth. “I’ve just never really heard of the Hyhborn actually asking for permission for anything.”

Neither had I. “I don’t like that he thinks he can just make such a demand, and I don’t care if he’s a prince or not. That shouldn’t matter.”

“No, it shouldn’t,” she agreed. “And it would piss me off too.” She glanced over at me. “Did you agree to it?”

“Not really.” I sighed.