“How many have you written?”
He hesitates. “Hundreds.”
“I never knew you reached out to your mother,” Prince Lucien says, seeming troubled.
He simply shrugs again. “It was embarrassing. I mean, who wants to tell anyone that their own mother wants nothing to do with them?”
I reach out and take his hand again, squeezing it. “I’m so sorry. No child should ever feel abandoned by their parents. I once heard that it’s one of the deepest ways you can cut a person, because then they feel like if they couldn’t even get their parents to love them, they don’t deserve love.”
He looks away from me, and I hate that I spoke so carelessly, especially in front of the others. It’s clear my words hurt him, or, at least, dig deep into what was already hurting him.
Prince Lucien clears his throat. “Well, my mother was yet another woman who thought the king loved her. She gave him her whole heart, and he gave her nothing except pain. She drank her feelings away, and eventually left court, not able to bear being near my father every day.”
“That’s terrible.”
Everyone who has ears and likes gossip knows that the king is a man with an appetite for women. He’s a man who loves sex and pretty things to show off. But there would never be anything more from him than that. He’s one of the few rulers who doesn’t seem interested in falling for one woman and sharing her with the rest of his harem. The history books probably wouldn’t have a clue what to do with him.
He plucks another piece of honeysuckle. “It’s why love is a fool's game. All men want is sex from women, and all womenwant is security. If everyone would just be honest about it, the way I am, then fewer women would get hurt.”
Is that why he is such a player? He doesn’t want women to fall in love with him and get their hearts broken by making false promises like his father? It’s kind of sad to see how deep these men’s wounds run.
“To be fair,” I venture, “a lot of women just want sex too.”
He looks at me, brow raised.
I smile, trying to lighten the mood. “Unfortunately, a lot of men just suck in the bedroom. You guys get off in a few pumps no matter what. Women need a little more… expertise than that.”
“I have more than enough expertise,” he offers, his voice dropping a bit lower.
Oh, I remember.
Heart racing, I look away from him. “What about your mom, Prince Gareth?”
“He doesn’t like to talk about his mom,” Prince Alaric tells me softly.
“She died,” Prince Lucien offers, trying to sound casual, and failing.
Without a word from Prince Gareth, I already know that this is a very deep wound for him. A pain that he can’t even escape here, in this beautiful place. I wonder what happened that haunted him so much, but I don’t feel it’s my place to press further.
Prince Lucien changes the subject. “Father is having a grand event tonight, and we’re all expected to be there. It’s not a party without his dragon riders to show off.”
“Fun,” I say, but I’m not sure if I’m being sarcastic.
“He’s going to announce his decision about the Hollowborn’s offer of peace.”
I turn and look at Prince Lucien in shock. “Tonight?”
“That’s what I said.”
“Wow.” My head’s spinning a bit. “What do you think he’ll decide?”
“Honestly, no idea,” Prince Lucien says. “I’ve never been able to figure out how my father thinks.”
“I think it’ll be a no.” Prince Gareth’s voice is gentler, like he’s still troubled by the talk of his mother.
“Saying no to it makes the most sense. It’s the least risk,” Prince Alaric tells us thoughtfully. “But all this talk of legends, along with the appearance of you and your dragon, might be enough for him to give in to superstitions.”
“What do you hope he decides?” Prince Lucien asks. “Are you wanting to spend more time with the Hollowborn who kissed you?”
