Page 35 of This Prince Is Not Charming

Moonlight shone over his pale skin, lighting him in its bluish hue, making him look more otherworldly than he already did. Cillian was objectively one of the most gorgeous men I’d ever seen. It wasn’t just me who thought that. Everyone agreed—from his dark wavy hair to his striking blue eyes to his straight, strong nose and high cheekbones. He was flawless.

“Ceri?” he asked.

“What?” My gaze snapped to meet his. “What was that?”

His eyes crinkled, amusement flashing in them. “Are you all right?”

“Yes.” I looked back up at the night sky. “Of course I am.”

“So . . . are you going to answer my question?”

I cleared my throat, not daring to look at him. “I’m not answering your question until you answer mine.”

“C’mon,” he said, “how are you feeling after tonight?”

I wished I could give an honest answer, but since I’d spent all night thinking about him and nothing else, I wasn’t even sure how I was feeling. “Liadan disappeared, Cillian. She got eliminated and just disappeared, and then Morton had the gall to tell us this was all part of the trials, that nobody should panic because everything is going according to plan.”

“I know,” he said. “We’re going to find her. First thing tomorrow, I’ll be sending out guards to scour the mountainside.”

“What if she’s not on the mountain?” I asked. “What if she’s . . .” I couldn’t bring myself to say it.

“Castle wouldn’t do that. Yes, it’s disappeared people in the past, but usually there was a reason behind it. They were people who were actively trying to sabotage Fairwitch Isle. There’s been accidents over the years, like the older woman who opened a door to nothing and fell out of it.”

To her death. I shuddered at the memory of that.

“But it wouldn’t just kill Liadan. She has to be somewhere. And we will find her.”

I swallowed thickly, my voice coming out in a tremble. “What if I disappear? Who’s going to take care of Papa?”

Cillian grabbed my hand, his so big and warm, this touch different from the one in my room—still intimate, but in a comforting way, a way I was used to from Cillian. “I will. I already know what to feed him, I know when to walk him, and I know when to give him his medicine.”

“You make him sound like a pet!” I let go of Cillian’s hand to swat him, even though my heart swelled at his words. “That’s kind of you, but you can’t care for my father as the high prince.”

“I can and I will.”

I took a shuddering breath.

“But you’re not going to disappear. I won’t let you. If that magic starts swirling around you, I’ll grab you, and I’ll hold tight. If you’re going, I am too.”

My head snapped to look at him. “No.” I rolled so now we were both on our sides, facing each other. “If something happens to me, you have to stay and find someone to care for Papa. Promise me, Cillian. He can’t be alone.”

Cillian swallowed, his Adam’s apple bobbing. “I promise.”

I didn’t want to think about this anymore, especially when I felt so helpless. I needed to turn my mind to something else, something that wasn’t Cillian’s body pressed against mine and the way the area between my legs pulsed at the contact. “So how was your date?” I asked. “I believe I was promised a bedtime story.”

“Well, it involved a live fish and an angry butcher,” Cillian said.

I laughed, which made him laugh, and then we were both laughing.

“What happened?” I finally said when I regained control over my words.

His eyes darkened, the humor leaving them. “I have to tell you something.”

My insides froze. That didn’t sound good. “What?”

“Meera and I visited Amaria.”

I jolted upright. “What?”