I stayed glued to my post for the rest of the morning. As a reward, I saw Austin returning from the forest before anyone else. “He’s back!” I yelled in the direction of my guard as I sprinted out of the library and down the hall. I barreled through the foyer, out the door, and down the front stairs.
“My lady, wait!” One of the sentinels reached for me, but I dodged him.
“The prince is back. I just saw him!” I hurried across the wet grass and around the corner to find Austin talking to another sentinel.
“Blake—what are you doing out here?” Austin’s glare traveled from me to my guard, who was close on my heels.
He threw his hands up into the air. “She’s rather autonomous, my lord.”
Austin scowled at him. “That’s no excuse. Get her inside. Now.”
“Austin, wait—” But I stopped short. Behind him, at the edge of the woods, stood Rhys.
I hadn’t seen the werewolf leader since he’d held me prisoner in the forest. I remembered that night all too well. He’d said that he planned to use me against the prince. He would bargain for power with my return. That was the same night that another werewolf had killed Abigor, making his heart explode in every direction. It was also the night that Rose’s human life had ended.
Austin glanced back over his shoulder and addressed the werewolf. “If you make a move toward her, or even look in her direction, I’ll have your eyeballs. In fact, I’ll have all your balls.”
Rhys snorted, but he pointedly looked away. I took the opportunity to inspect the pack leader. As when I’d last seen him, he was shirtless and shoeless, wearing only pants. His dark skin glinted in the early morning sunlight. His thick, wiry black hair was pulled back into a messy knot.
“What’s he doing here?” I asked Austin.
“His pack has agreed to help us against the rebels in exchange for a dedicated portion of northern lands.” Austin clenched his hands together. Agreeing to this must have cost him. “I brought him here to show him the map. We will concur about the parameters of the land and sign a contract. Then I expect Rhys will go back into the woods and set up a lookout, like the good little wolf he is.”
“Don’t push your luck,” Rhys snarled. “We don’t have an agreement yet.”
“But you want the land, and we both know it. You’ve been salivating more than usual since I made you the offer.” Austin turned back to me. “Go inside, please.” His voice was icy.
I hesitated. I wanted to go to him, to hug him and welcome him back, but his big shoulders were tense, warning me not to.
“Ooh, are you two having a lover’s quarrel?” Rhys chuckled to himself.
“Shut up.” Austin’s eyes flashed. “Blake, go now. That’s an order.”
Rhys was paying close attention, so I kept myself composed as I turned and headed back to the castle. An order, indeed. Austin had been ordering others around his whole life. Still, I bristled at being one of his subjects. I knew the prince wanted to protect me, but he seriously needed to work on his delivery.
I didn’t have to wait long for an audience with His Highness. He stormed into the library, startling Beast. The gnome rolled behind the log rack and peered out at him.
“Why did you leave the castle? You were expressly told not to!”
“I went out on the grounds to see you. I had my guard with me.” I jerked my thumb at the sentinel, who was avidly pretending not to watch us. “I didn’t know Rhys was there, nipping at your heels.”
Austin leaned forward, his eyes amber-and-hazel eyes bright. “You never know what might be lurking about. That’s the whole point of you remaining inside and staying safe.”
“Are we really doing this again? We just had this conversation.” I put my hands on my hips.
Austin took a step back and exhaled deeply. “Exactly. And I don’t want to quarrel with you. But you must listen to me. You’re taking too many risks.”
“I walked outside, on the castle grounds, and with my guard, no less. At this rate, you might as well lock me in the dungeon next to Chase.”
Austin’s eyes flashed. “I might consider that.”
“It’s not funny.”
“I know, but neither is having Rhys back around.” He shook his head. “He could turn on me in an instant. And if he ever got a hold of you again…”
I reached for his hand. “He won’t. But you mustn’t treat me like a child. Things are going to get even more intense around here for the near future. I need you to trust me.”
“I told you—I do trust you. It’s the world I don’t trust.”
I took a deep breath. I didn’t want to quarrel with him, either. There was enough going on, and we might be separated at any time.
“What’s next?” I asked, changing the subject. “What word have you about the rebels?”
His face darkened. “They have a large camp a few hour’s journey from here. From what we can tell, they haven’t dispatched a team yet. And my other sources tell me they have a similar camp set up a day’s journey from my parents.”
“They have that many soldiers?”
He nodded. “Perhaps they’ve recruited more soldiers over the past year, or perhaps they’re finally coming out of hiding. Did you and Balkyn have any luck with the prisoner?”
“Not at all. She hates us, she hates Balkyn, and she told us nothing.”
“I see. What does Balkyn want me to do with her?”
I shook my head. “I don’t know. I’m sure he doesn’t want to hurt her, but he’s not exactly her biggest fan.”
“I could torture her, of course, to see if she’ll talk.” He shrugged.
“I thought we were evolving. I have no love for the prisoner, but I can’t endorse such a course of action.”
“Of course you can’t.” He chucked me under the chin. “Because you’re all that’s right and good in the world.”
“Ooh, are we being nice again?”
Austin narrowed his eyes. “Protecting you is being nice.”
“Protecting me is one thing. Treating me as if I’m a delicate porcelain teacup, about to shatter if you blink too hard at me, is quite another.”
He sighed. “I will do my best not to treat you that way, my lady. That is all I can offer.”
“I accept your offer, then.” I smiled at him, letting my anger seep away. “Because your best is all you can ever do.”
“Ah, Blake.” He bent down and put his forehead against mine. I could feel the tension leaving his big body. “This is why we were meant to be together.”
“My exceptional forehead?” I joked.
“Your exceptional wisdom, my lady. You restore my heart with your good sense, your ability to quickly forgive, and your mostly level head.”
I chuckled. “Oh, that’s rather sweet. Mostly.”
He put his lips to mine, and he kissed me briefly then pulled away. “I’ve got to meet with Rhys now.” Austin’s face darkened again. “He won’t do a damn thing for me unless he gets his land.”
“So you will deed the werewolves some of the Northern lands. That’s legitimate?” I’d wondered if Austin could actually bear to sign such a contract.
He nodded. “I believe it’s fair. If they’re fighting to protect the North, they should have a claim. That’s what they’ve always wanted.”
“But what about your vow?” As he’d pledged to decimate the wolves, it didn’t make much sense to deed them land first—unless it was a vicious trick.
His nostrils flared. “As I said, vows have no expiration date. Not all the wolves will pay for what Rhys and his men did. Some will remain to take the land, as is their due. Their kind will profit from the agreement.”
“That’s lovely and all, but…” I gathered my thoughts. “Having experienced firsthand what happens when a werewolf kills a vampire, I would like to request that you do not fight Rhys and the others to the death. Not today, not tomorrow, not ever. I do not care for the idea of your heart exploding. In addition, if you’ve found a way to work together again, don’t you think there’s a chance of reconciliation?”
Austin blinked. “They stole you from me and plotted to take my kingdom. Of course I am going to fight them to the death, just as soon as we deal with these rebels. That is what they deserve, and that is what they will get.”
My heart thudded just thinking about all the danger surrounding us. “My lord, do you understand that I do not want to live in a world without you?”
“Yes. I feel the same, hence my somewhat overprotective streak.”
“What if I had made a promise—something that could harm me and put me at risk? Would you not try to discourage me?”
He rocked back on his heels. “I live by my word, Blake. Do not ask me to go against my very beliefs.”
I raised my chin. “I only ask you to put yourself in my shoes, when the time comes, and give yourself a moment to consider what could happen.”
Austin swept into a bow. “I will do my best, my lady. I promise you that.”
“As I said, that is all I can ask of you.”
He kissed me briefly—always too briefly—then turned on his heel and was gone again, his dark cape sailing behind him.