Page 35 of Slaying the Shifter Prince
“Iama prince.” The edge of a grin threatened on his lips, but it was a grim thing rather than his usual smirk.
“An insufferable one, at that.” She sank into the pillows, but a small crease remained between her eyebrows.
“Well, you’re going to have to suffer me, aren’t you? I’ve sent for a healer from Luminis, and I’m not leaving your side until they have you fixed.”
“I’m sure you have better things to…” Her voice faded as she drifted into sleep.
We waited at her side for a long while, but she didn’t wake. Eventually, I realised kneeling couldn’t be comfortable for Sepher, and since he wasn’t being a prick for once, I took pity on him and fetched a chair. He blinked when I brought it through.
“It’s for sitting on.”
He gave me a flat look. “I know what chairs are for.”
“You looked so blank, I had to wonder. Or is the problem that it’s not a throne?”
“The problem…” He sucked in a breath, probably realising his voice was rising. “The problem,” he went on, more quietly, “is thatyou’rebringing it to me. And yet I can’t see how it could be a trap.” He watched me with narrowed eyes, still not rising from his knees.
A trap? Then he still thought I might be a danger to him, however small. He hadn’t seemed the slightest bit frightened as he’d hunted me this morning.
“Temporary ceasefire.” I nodded at Celestine to indicate she was its reason.
His eyebrows rose, and he inclined his head as he stood. “Thank you.”
“For the chair or the ceasefire?”
He shrugged as he sank into the seat, still holding her hand. “Can’t it be for both?” His attention returned to her, as though I’d been dismissed.
I watched him fuss over her a long while, wiping away sweat, giving her a little to drink, calling for fresh water to cool her brow.
If I hadn’t known better, I’d have said he really cared. But His Prickishness? What did he care about except for how good his body looked in those open shirts?
There didn’t seem to be anything romantic between him and Celestine, and he hadn’t called her to his bed since I’d been staying. In fact, he hadn’t brought anyone back to his room since Anya and the night I’d ruined sex for him.
But even the thought of that wasn’t enough to bring a smile to my lips. Not when Celestine looked so sickly and there was still no sign of the healer. My stomach knotted as I topped up her glass. Even Sepher, who usually seemed so carefree, watched her with fierce intensity, like his will alone could make her better.
She woke when a fae woman with cream-coloured braids and a calm demeanour arrived.
Sepher ran through Celestine’s symptoms and the medicines she’d already taken with surprising efficiency.
“And I took white willow tea before you arrived,” she added as he helped her sit.
The healer inclined her head. “Thank you, Your Highness.” But her nose wrinkled as she glanced at his tail, which hadn’t stopped swishing with agitation. “You’ve been a great help.” She nodded towards the door.
He snorted, though sudden tension cut through his body, squaring his shoulders. “I’m not going anywhere.”
“Sepher, darling,” Celestine said with a sigh as the healer felt her hands, “yes, you are. Let the woman do her job.”
His tail swished faster as he stood there, looking from the healer to Celestine.
Celestine widened her eyes at him, then at the exit.
“Fine,” he growled, and strode out. I followed, shutting the door behind me.
Tension carved the lines of his back and arms as he poured two drinks from a decanter. He handed me one before slumping on the settee. It looked comically small for his frame, but I found myself unable to laugh in the face of his tight expression.
I swirled my glass, watching the golden liquid flecked with shimmering silver particles. Celestine had called itaurgwyn. I edged closer to the armchair opposite him, watching for a reaction as his “pet” threatened to sit on the furniture.
Nothing. He just sat there, knuckles white on his glass, brows in a tight line, shadowing his eyes.
