Page 45 of The Dark Prince
Maddeus’s eyes were clear, free of drunkenness or anything else that would have him out of his mind to suggest such a horrible idea.
“The witch hates me. Have you forgotten the last time I went to her for help?”
Maddeus crossed his arms over his chest. “I know. Trust me. I was there helping the servants clean the blood after every attempt you made on your own life. I know,Tyr.”
I flinched away at the reminder that he’d seen me at my absolute lowest.
Maddeus patted me on the shoulder. “Such a cheerful man.”
We tacked up our horses and led them out of the barn in relative silence. As Maddeus mounted, he turned back to me.
“I just think Isadora deserves a chance even if you don’t think you do.”
He kicked the flanks of his horse and took off.
I growled and dug my heels in, chasing behind him.
Twenty Two
ISADORA
“There is a wonderful parlor in my room that would suit our needs with a good fire going,” I continued. “I’ll arrange for some refreshments to be brought up.”
I turned and began a confident walk toward the castle. Aella wasn’t shy as she stared at everyone on the grounds going about their business. She seemed keen to watch the soldiers drill. Outside, Aella kept up with my quick pace, but once we entered the castle and turned down the corridor to my rooms, she darted ahead.
“Oh, it’s just like it was when we were little.” She touched a tapestry on the wall fondly, then looked to see my expression.
I kept my smile frozen on my face and waited.
Aella dropped the edge of the tapestry and fell in with me again, but made sure to always stay a half step ahead of me. I didn’t know if this was some sort of odd power play or if she was genuinely excited to be here.
It was likely the former.
She paused at the entrance of Tyr’s rooms, but I gestured for her to keep walking until we reached mine down at the end.
“You keep separate quarters? How … traditional,” she remarked flatly, gliding inside as I opened the door for her. A maid turned the corner and saw us, giving me a questioning look.
“Some refreshments, please.” I asked her. “Cucumber sandwiches would be wonderful, and some hot wine. Thank you.”
The girl hurried off.
Inside my suite, Aella was already poking around, having dismissed the sitting room and walking straight back to the bedroom. She took the gauze fabric of my bed hangings between her fingers and rubbed them together.
“Hmm. His quarters have a balcony, at least.”
Her lingering gaze and upturned eyebrow at the size of my single bed embarrassed me more than anything Roselle had ever done or said. My brain sent up warning signals as I tried to hide my discomfort.She’d been in Tyr’s private quarters before.
“Luckily for you, I require little in the way of entertainment,” she began, retreating to my sitting room and gracefully lowering herself into a chair. The young maid came in with the sandwiches and goblets moments later, setting them down lightly on the table before us. I gave her a smile of thanks and she bobbed her head, hurrying away. I would have to learn her name as soon as possible.
Aella took a sandwich and nibbled on it daintily. “I will eat a bit, then retire to my chambers. I’m utterly exhausted from the ride. You understand, surely.”
I blinked, sudden relief lifting my shoulders at the news I wouldn’t be required to entertain her all day. “If … if that’s what you prefer,” I managed back. My mind whirled in a hundred directions as I realized I did not know where the guest rooms were. Were they towards the west side of the manor that was uninhabited like Bessy had mentioned?
We both sank deeply into the cushioned chairs, silent. Aella and I glanced at each other.
She broke away first, huffing. “Lord Tyr and I were quite close growing up. I only hope we may be just as good of friends,” she offered stiffly. She held out her hands, and I kissed the air above her fingers, inwardly doubting that.
With her blonde hair and blue eyes, Aella was everything I wasn’t—the very epitome of a noble lady and a princess.
