2. Prince Cole
Chapter 2
Prince Cole
“It is better to be hated for what you are
than to be loved for what you are not.”
— Andre Gide
I f I weren’t so exhausted, I might find it amusing how her eyes widened in fear as we left her castle, as if she were being sent to a slaughterhouse.
“I told you she wouldn’t be happy about being here.”
“Hmm?”
“Cole, are you even listening?”
“I am, Rafe. Don’t question my ability to hear.”
“Is she in her room?”
“She is,” I reply, leaning back in my office chair.
“Does she already know I’m living here too?”
I let out an irritated breath. “Are you turning this into a quiz? Because?—”
“Alright,” he interrupts, standing abruptly. “Screw you and your plan. If you want my help, stop acting?—”
“She doesn’t know yet, and she doesn’t need to. The idea of being alone with someone she doesn’t know will freak her out more than thinking she’s alone for an hour. Just make sure that she’s safe, but don’t let her see you. I will properly introduce you tomorrow.”
He rubs a hand over his face. “Are you sure this is going to work?”
“Stop questioning me and my decisions.”
He raises his hands in surrender. “I’m not. But let’s be frank… This won’t work. She’s just a girl. She has no idea what we’re dealing with,” he says sternly. “I know you didn’t want to hear it the other day, but just hand her over to Lorelda.” He sits down again, leaning back in his chair. “This whole thing is a waste of time and effort. You don’t even know how long it’ll take her to understand what she’s capable of. So make a deal. Put a cute pink bow on that pretty princess, hand her over, and Lorelda will give you your sister back. You know I want Aurora back just as much as you do?—”
“Listen, Rafe. You’re appreciated, but if you bring this up one more time, I’m losing it. We’re not handing her over to Lorelda.”
“But you don’t even care about her, so why not just do it? I can do it for you.”
“Handing her over doesn’t mean she’ll make a deal with me. It’s not that simple, and you know it. Not to mention what she would do to her. She was safe in her castle all those years because knowing that Davina and her father were suffering and anticipating her death every day was satisfying enough for Lorelda.”
Sighing, I run a hand through my hair. I’ve explained this to him a million times already, yet here we are again. “I will not, under any circumstances, let her near Lorelda. I need her to help me,” I insist. “End of discussion.”
“What if she’s more trouble than she’s worth?”
“Rafe—”
“Seriously,” he continues, “she’s going to drive us crazy. A princess? Really? She probably wants us to braid her hair and sing her lullabies.”
“Just listen to yourself,” I mutter, pinching the bridge of my nose in an attempt to quell the rising tide of irritation. “You’re being ridiculous.”
“Alright, fine.” He sighs, rising from his seat. “Clearly, I’m not going to change your mind.”
“Rafe?” I call after him.
“Hm?”
“If anything happens to her because of you, I will make you regret it.”