Chapter 34
Belle
My guards trailed behind me as I strolled through the lower garden on my way to meet Isolde Morgrave for tea.
She’d sent a dozen invitations since the king’s reception, and I was more than a little suspicious that he had agreed to let us meet.
Perhaps he’d ordered her to interrogate me just as he had at our dinner, mining me for information about the Bloodvale, my sister, and Cassius.
His brother. The brother he’d never once thought to mention while treating me like a prisoner in his castle.
It didn’t matter. Spy or not, her invitation had come as a godsend. A month ago, I would’ve been horrified at the thought of drinking with one of the bloodsuckers, but I was desperate to speak to anyone other than Locke and the king. Especially the king.
I needed space, a chance to ponder everything I’d learned at dinner.
According to Loreli, the bastard had kept up his end of the bargain and released Gregoire, though I hadn’t seen or heard a thing from the huntsman. Apparently, our deal didn’t involve being allowed to meet—a not-so-subtle fuck you from the king.
The fall wind whipped over the parapets and around the courtyard, chilling my bare hands and cheeks, yet the sky was clear, and I relished the warmth of the sun spreading over my back. This was what freedom had felt like, back when I’d had a different life.
The garden was in full bloom, the last of the season.
Petals had started to fall, scattered across the ground like drops of snow and patches of spilled wine.
A pair of gardeners in woolen cloaks moved amongst the bushes, trimming the old branches and mounding dirt over their roots to protect them from the coming frost. How I envied them—to spend one’s days amongst beauty in the open air, then to return home to a cheery fire at night.
Or to even be a lady’s maid, like Loreli, with the freedom to move through the castle unnoticed.
I’d taken so many things for granted once. No more.
Prickles ghosted across my skin despite the heavy coat I wore.
I cast a glance behind, but aside from the gardeners, the courtyard was empty. My eyes drifted higher, climbing the length of the king’s tower until they came to rest on a shadowy figure, leaning on a high balcony—as if my thoughts had summoned the devil himself.
There you are.
Despite the cold, Valen was dressed in trousers and a shirt, leaning forward casually, his bare forearms braced on the stone railing.
The wind had mussed his golden hair, and though it was too far to tell, I was certain his lips were pulled into a malicious grin, as if he were gloating or knew something I didn’t.
What are you offering, princess? My breath caught at the memory of his words.
He’d been taunting me, pushing me to see how far I’d sink to get what I wanted.
And the terrible truth was, I’d almost considered it.
He wanted me, that I had no doubt. The knives came out whenever we were in the same room, but his interest never wavered.
The way his eyes swept over me promised things I shouldn’t want, nor even contemplate.
I loathed everything he represented, and yet, his attention was pure heat, even now, like sunlight breaking through the cold winter sky.
No. I didn’t want him. He was a tyrant, playing with my emotions.
I met his gaze with what I hoped was a look of composed defiance and gave him a sharp smile, then turned to my guards, speaking loudly enough I was certain he could hear. “There appears to be a large ego blocking out the sun, and I prefer not to linger in its shadow.”
To my surprise, the east wing of the castle, where Lady Morgrave and the rest of the nobles lived, was more lavishly decorated than the comparatively austere royal wing. Unfortunately, the gilded trinkets and garish art did little to staunch the ever-present gloom that hung in the perfumed air.
We turned the corner to Lady Morgrave’s chambers, and I collided with the hard body of a towering male hurrying down the corridor.
I stumbled back. “Gregoire?” Excitement thrummed through me, and I flung myself into the huntsman’s arms. “You’re free!”
“Are you mad?” he exclaimed. He pulled my hands away and shoved me back, a look of horror on his face like I might have the plague. “Don’t touch me!”
Shock rendered me speechless.
“She bumped into me, my lords. I didn’t touch her, I swear,” the huntsman blurted as he retreated, palms raised, his eyes focused on my guards.
They’d unsheathed their weapons and looked ready to stab him.
“What are you doing?” I said, turning to my escorts. “Put your weapons away. You’re not to harm him.”
“We have orders,” one of them said, positioning himself so that he was between Gregoire and me, weapon still drawn.
Valen.
My hands fisted. “What orders?”
The guard’s gaze flicked to Gregoire, and the huntsman said, “The king ordered me to stay away from you. Under no circumstances may I touch you.”
My nails dug into my skin as I glared at the two of them. “What I do with Gregoire is none of the king’s business.”
“Actually, it is,” the first guard said. “The king was quite explicit about that.”
“We’re to put a sword through his gut,” the second added, grinning as he eyed the huntsman. “The entire garrison has been notified.”
Gregoire jerked back, looking from one to the other. “Let me be clear. I want nothing to do with her. I barely know her, let alone like her, and I have no intention of disobeying the king.”
I gaped at him, the hurt sudden and shattering. I didn’t particularly like him either, but he was all I had left of home.
“I’m sorry, Belle, but I have to look out for myself,” Gregoire said, already halfway down the hall. “Good luck with…” he shrugged, “…surviving, I guess.”
I clamped my jaw shut, watching him leave. The huntsman was the only one in this castle who understood my situation, and yet he’d chosen self-preservation. Could I blame him?
Valen did this. It was petty and cruel, a way to put me in my place. I understood his wicked smile now. He was gloating. He thought he’d managed to best me, but the truth was, I’d beaten him, and he’d capitulated.
Out of all the new information burning in my head, that was the most important lesson I’d learned from our dinner: the king could concede. I could beat him. I just had to match his will.
That gave me hope.
The king had the answers I needed about the curse and the beasts, maybe even a way to control them. I just had to work him until he broke.
And I knew just how to get his attention.