7. Princess Davina
Chapter 7
Princess Davina
“Change is painful, but nothing is as painful as staying stuck somewhere you don’t belong.”
— Mandy Hale
I f I don’t die of a curse, then I’m sure this throbbing ache in my temples will make it happen.
I groan as I enter the kitchen, where Rafe is leaning against the island. A smirk plays at the corner of his mouth. “Is everything alright, Princess? You sound awfully frustrated.”
“Is this unbearable headache I’m experiencing what people refer to as a hangover?”
“Perhaps this hair color of yours has penetrated your scalp and infested your brain so thoroughly that it caused the headache.”
I blink. “Excuse me?”
“Oh, I love the color,” he drawls, waving his hand dismissively. “It’s so…fiery. But dyeing your hair can damage?—”
“Hold on,” I interrupt. “I didn’t dye it. This is my natural hair color.”
He raises his brows in surprise and takes a sip from a tumbler of what I assume is whiskey. My stomach twists at the sight. I’m never touching that stuff again.
“You’re drinking whiskey for breakfast?”
“It’s afternoon. Maybe you’ve had a bit too much whiskey yourself yesterday.”
I glare at him, feeling a mix of embarrassment and irritation. “Trust me, I won’t be making that mistake again.”
“Coffee?” he offers.
“Thanks, but I prefer tea.” I head to the stove to turn on the kettle. “Where is Cole?”
“He won’t be back until tonight.”
“That didn’t answer my question.”
“You’re not going to stop asking, are you?”
“Not a chance.”
He sighs, clearly regretting what he’s about to reveal. “Fine. He’s in Andphilia.”
Shock floods through me, my eyes widening in disbelief. “What? Why would anyone voluntarily go there? It’s dangerous—suicidal, even.”
He seems unfazed. “You can ask him yourself when he’s back.”
“If he gets back,” I say. “He could die if Lorelda sees him.”
His expression shifts, and I catch a hint of pity in his gaze.
“He won’t,” he replies, as if he’s not the slightest bit concerned. “No need to worry.”
“Oh,” I laugh, “I’m not worried. But why aren’t you? He’s your friend.”
“Trust me, he’ll be fine.”
“Do you know why I’m here?”
“If I know?” He smirks. “What do you think?”
“Of course you know.” I sigh. “Will you tell me?”
“That’s something you’ll have to ask Cole yourself.”
Accepting that he won’t share his secrets with me, I ask, “So what are we going to do until he’s back?”
He frowns. “We?”
“Now you’re going to pretend that you’re not stuck here to keep an eye on me while he’s gone?”
“Just because I have to watch you doesn’t mean we need to spend time together.”
I place a hand on my chest, feigning hurt. “Ouch.”
“I won’t let you braid my hair.”
I lift a brow. “Braid your hair?”
“Isn’t that what women do? They braid hair and talk about feelings.”
I narrow my eyes, caught between disbelief and amusement. “Have you ever spent time with a woman?”
With a pensive stare, he absently runs a hand over his hair. “Of course I have.” He scoffs. “Women. Plural .”
I stifle a chuckle and reach for my teacup when a loud clap of thunder echoes through the room. Looking out the window, I watch as dark clouds gather on the horizon, and another rumble of thunder accompanies a flash of lightning. “Looks like a storm is coming.”
Rafe’s expression darkens as he gazes outside. “Lorelda,” he mutters under his breath, so quietly that I’m unsure if I heard him correctly.
“Did you just say Lorelda?” I ask, feeling a flutter of unease. “What do you mean?”
“Nothing.”
“You’re a terrible liar, Rafe. Considering the look on your face, it isn’t nothing .”
“I changed my mind,” he says in a rush. “We’re going to spend time together. What would you like to do? I love playing chess. You like chess?”
I push down the sting of being treated like a child—something I’m all too familiar with. “I do love playing chess,” I lie, and follow him.