9. Chapter Nine
Chapter Nine
D espite not getting much sleep the night before, I feel energized come morning. Contrary to what I would have thought, talking to Viridian last night made it easier for me to fall asleep.
Even Tiffy notices the shift in my mood.
“Good morning, Miss.” She flashes me a cheery smile. “You look rested this morning. You slept well, I assume?”
“I did,” I reply. My voice is lighter than it has been.
“I’m glad to hear it,” Tiffy says, and I can tell that she means it.
I follow her into the washroom, and as usual, a hot bath is already waiting for me. I sink into it, letting out a relaxed breath when I do. I can already feel the water working out the knots in my shoulders and upper back, loosening the tension that’s gathered there for however long it’s been since I arrived. Spending all my time in the castle, it’s easy to lose count how many days it’s been since I left home.
The thought makes my heart heavy. Even though I’m feeling better this morning—a phenomenon that I still can’t seem to wrap my mind around—thoughts of home always come over me like a storm cloud.
Though, Father wouldn’t want me to be sad the entire time I’m here. No, he would want me to look for the good in every situation.
And in every person.
Even Viridian.
I brush away the thought. I’m not ready to let my guard down around him yet. Or let myself even consider the thought of getting close to him. Like my mother before me, it takes me a while to let go of grudges. From what Father’s told me of her, she was stubborn, too. And even though she forgave those who wronged her, she never forgot.
A small smile clings to my lips.
Tiffy and two of my other ladies’ maids finish bathing me, and then help me to my feet. Using a towel, one dries my body, while the other does the same to my hair. Tiffy gives them a satisfied nod, before entering my bedchamber to lay out today’s ensemble.
Wearing only my dressing robe, I emerge from the washroom. My eyes immediately land on my bed, at the garment that Tiffy’s laid out there.
The day dress is a pale green, the color of wild sage. It reminds me of the sage that grows in the meadows back home in the spring and fall.
Following my line of sight, Tiffy gestures to the dress. “Since you’re in a better mood today, I thought you might like to wear something in a brighter color.”
“It’s perfect,” I tell her warmly.
“Wonderful!” she exclaims.
She and my other ladies’ maids remove my dressing robe, and then help me step into the dress. Once it’s secured to my body, Tiffy weaves my hair into a simple braid.
“There,” she says, draping the braid over my shoulder. “All done.”
I open my mouth to thank her, when my chamber door bursts open. The entire room goes still.
Viridian stands in the arched doorway, a deathly calm falling over him. It’s more than clear that the Viridian I talked to last night, in the stables, is nowhere to be found. No, this is the face of the Crown Prince, dealing with a pest.
I swallow.
The sight of him—of that quiet rage—nearly chills me to the bone. It doesn’t take me long to piece together why he’s here, looking like he’s about to unleash hell on earth.
He knows.
I don’t know how, but he knows that I saw Loren, four nights ago. I knew it was only a matter of time before he found out, but I hadn’t anticipated that it would be so soon.
How could he have found out?
Then, cursing under my breath, I realize my mistake. Irritation directed toward my own carelessness rushes to the surface.
The door to the dungeons.
I wasn’t able to lock it before Viridian found me.
His eyes stay fixed on me, even when he addresses the servants that stand on either side of us with their mouths clamped shut.
“Leave us. Now .”
Tiffy shoots me a concerned look, as if she doesn’t want to leave me alone with him. But my ladies’ maids do as they’re told and drop into hurried bows before scurrying from the room. Leaving me alone with a very, very angry fae male.
Raising my chin, I level my expression and meet his glare head on.
“You weren’t just attempting to escape that night.” His voice is lower than I expected. Every word is isolated, as if he’s restraining himself. That scares me more than it would if he were shouting at me. “You made it into the dungeons. Didn’t you? ”
A statement, not a question. A condemnation.
I only look back at him, no doubt mirroring the expression he now wears.
My silence only seems to stoke the flames. “Answer me.”
“Why? You already know,” I retort. Anger fuels me, making my face hot. “So why make me say it? To bask in my humiliation?”
“Nothing is ever easy with you, is it?” he snaps, his voice elevating in volume. At his sides, he balls his hands into fists.
“What did you expect?” I raise my voice to match his. “That you’d keep me trapped in here and I would just lie down and take it? Fuck you, Viridian.” I use his first name, and I don’t care if I’m crossing a line.
He draws his lips back, baring his teeth. “I would choose your next words very carefully, if I were you.”
“Well, you’re not me. You and I are nothing alike.” Ignoring his warning, I take a step forward, sharpening my words so they fly at him like iron-tipped arrows. “You took everything from me—my life, my family, my lover—and you think I’m just going to be some docile little creature that does as she’s told?”
“That lover of yours is still mine to do with as I please,” Viridian seethes.
“As if you would let me forget that.” Bitterness drips from my words.
“It appears that you need some motivation to stay in line. ”
“You arrogant, pompous, entitled fae bastard!” The force of my fury is so strong that I’m shaking. “If I’m so difficult to manage, then why don’t you send me home and pick someone else to be your bride?”
The way his jaw ticks tells me that I’ve hit a nerve.
“Send me away,” I continue, daring to press him further. “Then neither of us has to suffer the other’s presence anymore.”
Viridian only glowers at me, clenching his jaw. He lowers his face to mine, until our noses nearly touch. “If only it was that easy to be rid of you.”
That catches me off guard. He’s the Crown Prince of all Inatia. What in the gods-damned world could make it difficult for him to send me away?
I falter. Even though it’s only for a moment, it gives Viridian enough time to cross the room and stop with his hand on the door.
He pauses, still standing with his back to me. When he speaks, he doesn’t even look my way.
“Your doors are to be locked after sunset.”
“What?” My voice goes shrill. “You’re locking me in here at night?”
Viridian says nothing. But his silence is answer enough.
“You can’t do this!”
“ I am the Crown Prince!” Viridian yells, turning around to face me now. His eyes are wild. I think I’ve finally pushed him past the point of no return. “And you are a commoner. I can do as I please.”
Then, he strides into the hall without another word. As if he can’t get away from me fast enough.
The door closes behind him just as quickly, sealing my fate with the single click of a lock.
I run to the vanity table and yank open the drawer.
All the hair pins are gone.
“Argh!”
Running to the door, I fling myself at it.
“Viridian!” I shout. “You noble fae prick! Unlock this door!”
Though I know it’s no use, I pound my fists into the wood over, and over, and over, while letting out wordless screams. Ramming my hands into the door, I howl until my throat feels raw, and my voice ragged.
I scream for Loren.
I scream for Father. For Acantha.
I scream for myself. Because I’m locked in the wolves’ den, forced to live among them for the rest of my inconsequential, mortal life.
And, because I’ll be forced to marry the worst one of all.