Page 52 of Death of a Mortal

He looked away, back at his now-empty glass.

I hoped he didn’t regret what he’d said.

“Nothing to say, Ignacia? Come on, I know that feisty tongue is dying to let loose.”

I cringed at the name, but with a smile. How did he know my full name? I was positive I’d never said it to him, or anyone in this castle. He wouldn’t tell me if I asked anyway, so I’d have to wonder about that later. “Not a thing, Highness.”

He refilled our glasses, and I thought…Here goes. I trusted him, right? He’d been open with me. Maybe it was my turn.

I took one more sip to steel my courage and then said, “Everything you just said, does it mean you trust me?”

“You? I definitely trust you. You’re straight as an arrow, can’t even lie to save your life.” He chuckled at his own joke. It was endearing, even if the remark was a slight dig at me.

It was definitely wine-fueled when I said, “And can I trust you?”

It was even more wine-fueled that I believed him when he said yes.

I took a deep breath and plunged into the terrifying unknown with him. “My mom was part of the rebellion. And I think she might have been in the capital when they tried to storm the castle. But I need you to know I’m not here as part of the rebellion. I don’t even know if there’s anything left of it. I’m just here to find her. It’s why I didn’t tell you what I knew. I don’t want you to think that’s what I’m doing here. Because I…”

I stopped. Oh, gods, I had been about to tell him I had feelings for him.

I prayed hard that the look he was giving me wasn’t conspiratorial. He was unreadable. As much as I felt I could trust him, I still kept one thing from him—that I thought she was in the castle dungeon. If she was Varyn’s father’s prisoner, I didn’t want him to put two and two together. That felt like information I could not share.

His expression finally softened. “I wouldn’t hold that against you. People are not their parents. And for what it’s worth, I’m glad you told me. And I’m sorry for the end she met at my father’s hand.”

I wasn’t going to correct him that she hadn’t yet met her end. I believed too strongly that she was alive. And I believed the banshee that she was here, even ifherewasn’t the Ashthorn dungeon specifically.

But it felt good to be honest with Varyn. I felt as if the weight of a thousand horses had been lifted off my chest.

Maybe nine hundred and ninety-nine horses… One was still sitting there with the information centered around the dungeon.

“We’ll raise a glass to your mother,” he said as he lifted his glass.

I raised mine, too, and then we both finished our wine to the last drop. Between the wine and the weightlessness of the truth, I was properly buzzed and judging by the prince’s increasingly rosy cheeks and glassy eyes, I was pretty sure he was in the same boat.

We got up from the table, dinner completely forgotten, and started walking—stumbling more like—around the rose garden, bumping shoulders every couple of steps. Well, my shoulder was bumping just above his elbow.

We stopped at a fountain large enough to swim in before he did just that with a boyish grin. But not before taking off his shoes and ripping off his coat and shirt. Gods, he was chiseled and gorgeous.

“Take that delightful dress off and get in here, Naci. I want to see that slip I know you’re wearing.”

I took a sharp breath in. Neither of us had brought it up yet. I forgot I was even wearing it by now, but I knew I wanted to know what seeing me in it did to him.

Emboldened by the wine, I took off my shoes, pulled the dress off, and stood before him in the purple silk and black lace slip. He looked at my body hungrily, which heated my cheeks…and my core, down low.

Instead of stepping into the fountain from the side and entering slowly, as was probably more ladylike, I decided to cannonball in, sending water everywhere, including into Varyn’s face.

When I emerged from underwater, which was just shallow enough for me to stand with only my head above water, I saw the grin still on his face, sharp canines just visible.

And then he got close. Really close.

Too close.

I got so nervous and so hot behind my ears.

He was near enough that I had to look up to see his face, andif I took a big breath, my chest would likely touch his. But I didn’t breathe at all.

“In my note, I told you I looked forward to seeing the purple on you. And while the dress was truly divine on you, I meant this little thing.”