Chapter 10 #3
The prince ducks his head. “Unfortunately,” he mutters.
When he looks up and meets my gaze, vulnerability shines through his expression until he masks it with a nonchalance that would have been believable if he hadn’t just thrown the contest. “You should have given me that kiss, Storme,” he says, prompting laughter from the crowd around me.
I roll my eyes as my cheeks burn. The lines between reality are blurred enough as it is, and I need to stay focused. “In your dreams, Prince.”
He presses a hand to his chest. “Every night.”
I can’t help but grin back at him as I blush even brighter.
Blackmere scoffs and slips between the other guests to the exit.
I should follow him and pick up where our conversation before dinner left off, but I can’t leave the prince here on his own.
Some of the guests take their cues from Blackmere and start heading back to the drawing room.
Fennor, however, approaches the archers with a tight expression.
“I didn’t expect that from you, Your Highness,” he says.
The prince shrugs. “Guess I’m having a bad night.”
“And now you’re going to be four thousand euros poorer because of that bad night,” Northam says happily.
Fennor tilts his head, a confused furrow in his forehead. “That isn’t what I was talking about.”
Then what was he talking about? Hex looks just as curious, but before he can say anything, Northam nudges his elbow into Fennor’s side.
“You should invite the prince this weekend, Fen. He could make things interesting.”
“Won’t things be interesting enough?” Fennor asks with a frown, speaking so quietly that I almost don’t hear him. His eyes focus beyond me to where Greywick is standing with his arms folded.
Greywick isn’t watching the exchange. His gaze is on the ground instead, a distant look in his eyes like he’s deep in thought.
“Pah!” Northam waves Fennor’s question away. “Everyone knows things are always more fun when Prince Hendrik is involved.”
“Do they know that?” the prince asks, raising an eyebrow. “It may have escaped your notice, but I don’t spend my free time with just anyone.”
“After you bought that painting,” Northam counters, “you’re bound to be a part of this anyway.”
Fennor grabs his arm and hisses something indiscernible as something sharp flashes across his expression.
Hex narrows his eyes. “Greywick?” Fennor says, pulling the man’s attention upward.
Fennor is smiling now, but there’s still a tightness to the expression that makes it look less than genuine.
“Think we could accommodate His Royal Highness at this weekend’s retreat? ”
Greywick smiles politely, just as fake. “I can make the arrangements.” He turns his gaze to the prince. “Assuming you would like to attend, Your Highness.”
The prince glances at me long enough for me to nod.
I’m guessing Northam is talking about one of Fennor’s weekend retreats he likes to host, but it’s obvious this is more than just an amusing getaway.
“Why not?” he says. “Could be fun to get away from the pretentiousness of the palace for a few days.”
“I will send you the details,” Greywick says and leaves the shooting range with a nod.
I am more than ready to have a conversation with the prince and try to figure out what he’ll be walking into—and how I can be there to ensure things go the way they should—but Northam’s low voice stops me from making my way to the front of the room.
“Why do you keep him on your payroll, Fennor? Greywick is a snake.”
I barely hear Fennor’s response: “Keep your friends close…”
Wondering if he’s implying the second half of the proverb—“and your enemies closer”—I continue forward until I reach the prince and smooth a hand along the collar of his shirt. “That was…an adventure,” I tell him, quirking an eyebrow up.
He presses a hand to my lower back but doesn’t hold me as close as he did before the contest. “I’m blaming you for that last one.” Even with a teasing lilt to his tone, his words aren’t as lighthearted as they should be. “Does this mean I have to work even harder for your affection?”
I have no clue why he’s asking me that with most of the other party guests gone from the room now, but Northam and Fennor are close enough to be listening to our conversation.
Feigning thoughtfulness, I reach up and brush my fingers through his golden hair.
“Actually, seeing you concede like that was more attractive than it should have been.”
“I didn’t concede.” Jaw tightening, he glances in Northam’s direction. “I lost, fair and square.”
I hum in response. He’ll never admit he intentionally shot wide, so there’s no point in pushing the issues. My phone buzzes, bringing a welcome distraction, and I slip it out of my clutch. I wince when I see the message.
Virek:
Return to HQ immediately, or an extraction team will be deployed.
Cursing, I show the prince the message and take a step back. We’re still being watched, so I won’t be able to have a conversation with him tonight after all; Virek’s threat of extraction isn’t one I’ll take lightly. Not after I removed my ear bud for so long.
“I’ll see you around, Prince,” I say with as flirty a tone as I can manage and blow him a kiss before heading for the door.