Chapter 27 #2
The journey stretches on in a sea of silence, and honestly, I welcome the quiet.
My mind has been nothing but noise for the past few months.
The only thing I want is to get Willow back, and if that means temporarily fostering peace with a few vampires to deal with a bigger enemy, then I can do that.
When the palace comes into view, I’m desperately fighting sleep.
I almost scream in relief when the carriage comes to a stop, and we step out.
Ajax and Ivana are already there waiting for our arrival.
Ajax gives me a little smile and squeezes my shoulder before he lifts Finn from the carriage and disappears inside with Ivana.
I make to move up the steps but pause when I notice that Kaia is still standing next to the carriage.
“Are you coming in?”
She shakes her head.
“I have something that I have to do first.”
It’s clear that she wants to be alone, so I simply nod and turn to leave.
A guard waits for me at the entrance, and I realize that Karius is still going out of his way to protect me even though I can protect myself.
I start to move in the direction of my room, longing to take a hot soak and go to bed.
“Erm…I’m afraid the room you were using is occupied.”
I turn to him in confusion.
“What do you mean?”
“The prince had your belongings moved to your new room. He asked me to escort you there on your arrival back at the palace.”
I’m far too tired to argue, so I just follow him down the corridor, paying little attention to where we’re going, only that I hope my new room has the same comforts as the one I’m leaving behind.
I feel guilty for even having the thought since this place is nothing like what the purebloods back at the bloodhouse get to live like. What Willow is living like.
Eventually, we make a stop outside of a familiar set of doors, and I turn to the guard in confusion.
“I do not wish to speak to the prince tonight; you can just show me to my new room.”
“You are mistaken. The prince has asked for all of your belongings to be relocated here. This is your new room.”
“Excuse me?”
Just then, the doors to the bedroom open, and the prince stands at the threshold, his eyes scanning me as though he is going to find anything other than anger at this new revelation.
“Why does this guard think that this is my new room?”
He looks past me to the guard and nods to let him know he can leave.
“Come inside, Adina.” His eyes widen in challenge when I don’t move, and I finally storm past him. I wait for the door to shut behind us before repeating my question.
“Why have you had my belongings moved to your room?”
“Because this is where you will be staying.”
I tilt my head back and laugh.
“Like hell I will. I don’t know what you think this is,” I say, pointing between us, “but I’m not sharing a room with you.”
He moves past me toward the dresser to the right of the room, pouring himself a glass of amber-colored liquid as I just stand there staring at him.
“Drink?” he asks.
“No, I don’t want a fucking drink.”
“Gods, that mouth of yours is going to get both of us in trouble one day, little witch.” His eyes darken as they drop to my lips.
“Are you actually hearing what is coming out of it?”
“I always know what is coming out of it.” He pauses to take a long sip of his drink before he begins walking toward me. “In fact, I watch your mouth quite often. It may be my favorite feature of yours.”
I don’t even know what to say, and this seems to amuse him.
“For once, she is speechless.”
“I’m not sleeping in here.”
“On the contrary. Right now, this castle is filled with nobles whom I do not trust, not to mention that since you arrived here, the impures somehow managed to get in and launch a full attack.”
“You think I’m somehow involved?”
“I think that you are their target, and if that is the case, then I’m sorry, but I’m not letting you out of my sight.”
I cross my arms over my chest.
“So, I’m a prisoner again?”
He shrugs.
“If that’s how you wish to see it. While you ponder the thought, I’m going to have a long soak in the bath. You’re welcome to join me if you like. You could put that beautiful mouth of yours to better use.”
I snatch one of the pillows off the bed and launch it in his direction. He catches it with ease.
“I take that as a no to the bath then?” He raises his brow as if truly expecting an answer.
When he doesn’t get one, he shrugs before disappearing into the bathroom. That arrogant bastard.
I happen to think he’s more confident than arrogant. Athriel’s voice is filled with the same frustrating amusement as the prince’s.
Well, then it’s a good job I didn’t ask you, isn’t it?
I ignore the laughter filling my head; my mind remains fixed on the fact that I must share a room with the prince. He'd better hope I don’t find a way to kill him in his sleep.
“Intentions, little witch, intentions,” he calls out from the bathroom, and I flip him off through the wall. Then I hear his stupid laughter echoing in the space.
I march over to the bed and drag the sheets onto the floor. We may have to share a room, but we are not sleeping in the same bed.