Page 44 of Death of a Mortal

As I was folding, I realized I hadn’t seen the prince since we’d arrived. And I also realized that I was disappointed by that. I mentally shook myself. I shouldn’t be disappointed by, or even thinking of, Varyn. It clearly had not been flirting, and I was kidding myself to think, even for a second, he would like me or make time for me in his busy, princely life.

He was also the son of an evil king. I couldn’t forget that, but he’d made it very tempting and very easy to when he smiled or winked.

Gods, I had to forget about that damned wink.

The day went on as usual, folding and listening to castle gossip.

Dinner was just as bland as ever, served by Nella’s new boy. Nella had smiled at him when he gave her dinner. I just stared him down, turning his face as red as his hair.

We left the dining hall, following the rest of the laundry ladies. We’d learned that, while we were supposed to use the servants’ corridors to get around, the servant’s dining hall and the laundry room were right next to each other. So this was practically the only time we were ever allowed in an area of the main castle. As short of a walk as it was, it was nice to see some lavish part of the castle.

I heard the ladies ahead giggling. Before I could wonder why, there he was. Prince Varyn.

And he was looking right at me. My heart did a little tumble, and I stopped walking.

He nodded to each servant who walked by and then stopped in front of me. He was so close that I had to look up to see his face. I didn’t miss how kind he seemed to be toward the mortals here. How could he possibly be the son of such a bloodthirsty tyrant? The male who rounded up mortals and shoved them into a small section of the continent unless they were deemed useful? That openly supported the king of Fellendral, who had purged the continent some years ago of all mortals?

“Happy Birthday, Naci. Would you like to take a walk with me?”

The tumble turned into a full-on somersault in my chest as thoughts of Caedryn vanished. I looked over at Nella, questioning. She wore a sly, I-told-you-so smile and kept walking back toward the laundry room, leaving the prince and me alone.

How had he known it was my birthday?

I was finding it hard to care…theprincehad just asked me to walk with him.

And of course I wanted to. So I said yes.

Chapter 13

She’s Still Here

Varyn offered mehis arm when we reached the castle courtyard.

“How did you know it was my birthday?”

“I just know things.” He was good at dodging the truth.

“You know that’s actually unsettling and not comforting.”

“I didn’t think you were the type to need comforting,” he teased with a half-grin that was all too confident.

I just stared at him, noting his still-outstretched arm, so I looped mine through it, and we continued walking. What was he trying to get at? He was definitely hiding something. I’d have to be careful around this male.

“What is it you think you know about me?” I asked.

“I think you’re protective, smart, resourceful, and troubled. I think you’re a survivor. And I think you’ve lived a life where you’ve had to be strong for a long time, and you don’t know how to be any other way.”

It felt as if the air had been squeezed out of the world, and I hadbeen punched in the gut. I was hesitant to admit just how right he was, and the truth of his words gave me conflicting feelings.

“Am I wrong?” he asked when I couldn’t come up with anything to say.

“I…no, I think not.”

“You’ll learn, Naci, I’m rarely wrong.”

I rolled my eyes at his cockiness but fought a smile all the same—and lost.

We started down the row of brightly flowered trees we’d passed when we first came to Ashthorn, just as the sun was sinking below the horizon. It was a beautiful sight, and it amazed me how peaceful such a murderous place could look.