Page 15 of The Crown of the Dark Prince
“What was that about?” I questioned, as I watched him retreat at a furious pace down the hall.
Kent sighed, glancing at Rankor. For a moment, the two men only looked at each other, each seeming to communicate with the other silently.
“You’ll have to ask him,” Rankor finally muttered.
“Tell me a secret,” Iris requested softly, twirling her glass of wine in her fingers.
Clay hadn’t joined us at the tavern tonight, which admittedly seemed odd after he expressed such a desire to support Iris. His absence left me feeling a touch disappointed. Even though I knew I shouldn’t, I had been looking forward to seeing my prince in a setting where he might let his guard down enough to actually laugh. Getting private time with Iris made the loss of that worthwhile, though.
We’d spent the first part of the evening upstairs, watching Kent sing and playing cards with Rankor. But after a while, the liveliness of it all seemed to drain Iris, and she’d grasped my hand and pulled me downstairs.
The lower level of the tavern was quieter. A long bar stretched across the wall and a single barkeep kept conversation with a young couple at the far end. A few other patrons sat scattered throughout the room, speakingin low tones and laughing softly. Iris and I found a corner bench near a fireplace, settling ourselves next to its dwindling embers.
I sighed, pondering her request. A secret. There were too many secrets between us, more than I cared to admit.
There was Hyrax, of course. And the time last year when I’d snuck out of the castle alone in search of a potion to restore my lost memories. That night had ended with me dosed with a drug that left me rather sensitive, and I had tried to seduce Clay while we stayed alone together in a dingy inn. Then there was the time I had visited Camilla after her capture, demanding to know why she had done the things she did.
Too many secrets.
“The Dragon threatened to send me oversees,” I said finally, settling on one that seemed simpler than the rest.
“Because of Clay?” Iris surmised immediately.
I nodded, impressed by how quickly she figured it out. She really was brilliant. As a faerie, Iris had the unique ability to morph her appearance into anyone or anything else. The Dragon had capitalized on the talent and commissioned her to work as an Athenian spy. It wasn’t just her magic that made her good at her job, though; it was the way she thought.
“How is that going, by the way?” She spoke in a detached tone, as if she didn’t really care about the answer, but the simple fact that she asked seemed like progress.
I shrugged, uneasy. “I’m not sure I know what you mean.”
She frowned, her gaze narrowing suspiciously.
A roar of applause sounded from the floor above us, and the music quieted. Kent must have finished his last song for the evening. Soon, we’d need to head back to the castle. I’d have to return to my rooms and pray to the Gods that I didn’t slip into the Underworld again in the few hours of sleep that I allowed myself.
“There’s nothing going on between us,” I said, avoiding her eyes. “Nothing can.”
She was quiet for a moment before finishing her wine in a single gulp. “You want my advice?”
Probably not, but I wasn’t about to turn her down.
“Life’s short, Thea. Too short to waste a single day ignoring your feelings for someone just because you think it’s wrong. I’ve done that twice in my life, and both times ended in heartbreak. If I’d gotten over those fears sooner, then maybe Lorelai and I would have had the time we needed. And maybe, if we’d had that time, I’d have memories to look back on fondly instead of just regrets.”
Her voice cracked, and my heart shattered for her. First, because of the tears welling in her eyes, and second, because I couldn’t think of a single thing to say to her.
“I should have been faster that night,” I whispered. “I’m so sorry.”
Iris met my gaze, and the haunted look in her eyes sent shivers down my spine. “I’m not ready to talk about that night, Thea. I know you feel guilty, but I can’t be the one to help you through those feelings. My own pain is all I can see right now.”
I stood abruptly, crossing the space between us. Without asking if it was okay, I pulled her into my arms. She was stiff at first, but finally softened, her hands wrapping gently around my waist in return.
We didn’t speak any further after that. We just sat in silence, the crackling embers the only sound, until Rankor and Kent came down to fetch us. They glanced between us with worried expressions as we headed for the carriage, uneasy by the silence.
When we all finally parted ways for the evening, though, Iris squeezed my hand twice and told me she was looking forward to breakfast in the morning.
I wasn’t sure I’d ever felt more relieved.
Chapter Five
The next evening, Rankor and I ate dinner with Kent in his chambers. It was a meticulous space, carefully organized and always tidy. He arranged the books alphabetically on the shelf, always pulled the duvet up to the headboard of the bed, and kept his laundry out of sight.
