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“I think it suits you,” I say. “After all, you never asked before starting to call me Ella.”
“You’ve got me there.” His voice is weary and his shoulders sag, as if he can finally stop pretending he’s not carrying the weight of the world on them.
I go and put my hands on them, rubbing small, soothing circles.
“It’s okay, he’s going to be okay.”
I can see how badly nearly losing Destan has shaken him. Of course he’d try to isolate himself after that. It’s the only defense mechanism he knows to use.
Ruskin looks over my head to something in the distance. When he speaks it’s slow and quiet.
“You know, I don’t usually consider myself someone who really needs people. I always saw that kind of dependency as foolish. Naïve. But today knocked that pretense right out of me. The thought of Destan…We’ve been friends since we were boys, did he tell you that? He was one of the few High Fae children who didn’t befriend me just because I was a prince, or hate me just because I was mixed blood.”
“How did you know?” I ask, trying to keep him talking, working through the pain. “That he liked you just for you, I mean.”
How often is that a question I’ve asked myself? Do people actually see me, or only what I can do for them? Me, or my mother?
Ruskin smiles and the sight warms me from the inside out.
“He told me he hated my clothes. No one trying to cozy up to the prince would say that.”
“I can definitely hear him saying that.”
He grows serious again. “Today reminded me there are a few, very crucial people in my life I can’t live without.”
He doesn’t say more, but he lowers his chin to meet my eyes, and my heart jumps in my chest. Maybe I’m the foolish one, but part of me thinks he might be including me on that list.
Chapter 25
I’m told by Kaline that Destan is sleeping most of the next day, so I wait to visit him. Besides, when we’re together in my workshop, Halima goes on a long rant about his overbearing High Fae family barely leaving his bedside, apparently complaining at top volume about how the prince is a “bad influence.”
“They don’t like Ruskin?” I ask her as she watches me put my workshop back to rights after yesterday’s impromptu surgery.
“They can’t make up their minds. Half the time they’re boasting about how close their son is with the ruler, and the rest of the time saying he’s a corrupting influence.”
“Why would they think that?”
Halima clears her throat and suddenly seems very interested in her sword. When’s it’s clear I’ll wait in silence for an answer, she sighs.
“They had their wild days by all accounts, when they were young.”
“Don’t worry, Des has alluded to those already.”
She nods, seeming satisfied that she won’t surprise me.
“At least he finally started listening to my advice once he became Prince Regent.”
“How so?”
“I told him he needed to stop taking strangers to bed. It was a huge security risk.” She sounds annoyed at the very thought.
“So, he just started taking people he knew to bed?” I ask, trying to sound as casual as possible, keeping my eyes on the equipment I’m stacking. Luckily, Halima doesn’t have Destan’s sense for social cues.
“No, not really. I suppose he considered it too much trouble. Wise decision. Fewer background checks for me too.”
“Did you do background checks on me?” I ask. We’ve not discussed it, but Halima is astute enough to know Ruskin and I are more than just friends. Even if I don’t know exactly what we are.
“Not necessary. You’re not a threat.”
