“Yet?” Galen asked.
“He wants to build that army he’ll need, and he tried to recruit me. He hoped I had Aetheric skills that I obviously don’t. But I survived his test, so he says he’s still interested.”
Wren walked to the window and looked out. “Soldiers are posted all day and night?”
“And there will be a guard on Fox’s door,” the prince said.
Wren looked back at him. “Like the one you put on the manor.”
“I asked for that,” I said, rising and giving the prince a warning look. It was mostly true, anyway. “The practitioner knows my name now; Jonas came looking for me and was very loud about it.”
“Jonas?” the prince asked.
“The person who gave away my position.”
“You didn’t mention it was a man. Or that his name was Jonas.”
“He’s the farrier’s son,” Wren said with a glint in her eyes. “He has a thing for Fox.”
“He has a thing for anyone with—for women,” I corrected, thinking “tits” was probably not a word to be spoken in a palace. I was going to have to watch myself in here.
“Not the point,” I continued. “He called my name, and the practitioner heard it. Not a lot of girls named Fox in thestronghold, so he’ll probably be able to find the Lady’s manor. And he could send someone to look for me…or you.”
Wren looked at the prince, disdain dripping from her expression. “This started the moment you arrived.”
“Wren,” I warned, but Galen stepped up to her first.
“Watch your tone when speaking to His Highness.”
The look she gave him—pure dismissal—might’ve melted a lesser man where he stood. Galen didn’t even blink.
“My tone was factual, and nothing I said was wrong.”
He took a step forward. “You will show respect.”
“I’ll show it when he earns it.” And her voice carried a strong tone of “and he never will.”
Galen’s eyes flashed. “You don’t know him.”
“I know his type. Born into money and power, so they don’t care how others live.”
“You don’t know him,” Galen said again. “But you’ve made a judgment based on how he was born. Is that any different?”
Wren made a sound of deep disdain. “Of course it’s different—”
“Enough,” the prince said. The word wasn’t loud, but it was forceful enough to have them dragging their gazes away from each other.
He waited a moment until they were calmer. “We’re on the same side,” he said, “and it’s time you both admit that. This is going to get worse before it gets better, and we’re going to need each other to survive.”
Neither of them responded.
“Good,” the prince said, and settled his gaze on Wren. “I told Fox that you can visit whenever you’d like. Try not to start a riot while you’re here.”
Wren’s smile was thin. “I promise to try.”
“In that case, we’ll leave you to catch up.” He looked at me, his gaze lingering for longer than it ought to have. “Carry your token with you.”
I nodded, and they left us alone.
