“Twenty-four and still without an heir,” I scolded. “Your father’s lineage is in peril.”
He laughed and held out his arm, guiding me toward a boulder. “If he looked hard enough, he’d find no shortage of his line.”
I gave him a glare. He only chuckled and dropped onto the stone beside me.
Birds shrieked overhead, circling for crumbs. My people lingered behind us, silent lines measuring our every move. To the left, a jagged outcrop marked the rock gulls’ nests. To the right, a distant dock shimmered in the heat.
“Tell me, are the rumors true?”
Wind whipped my hair across my face. I brushed it out of my eyes. “Which ones?”
“Fair point,” he teased. “You came back and lit gossip like dry tinder.”
“And here I thought your lands escaped our drama.”
“Hardly. We thrive on your antics.”
He meant they waited for cracks of weakness to exploit. Innaku played nice, but they were the sharpest teeth behind the smile. The largest island chain. Grew the most crops.
When I didn’t answer, he pried again. “Did the king attack you?”
I rolled my eyes. The question burned on every tongue.
“No? Doubted it, to be honest.” He propped his elbow on his knee. “If he had, your brother would’ve razed Radaan.”
Ronan certainly tried.
“You were caught with him, though?” he pressed.
I clenched my jaw, tipped my face to the sun, and closed my eyes.
“Father warned me about you,” he continued. “Said you’d been compromised.”
Same song from every noble and envoy. If the king didn’t hurt me, I must have begged for it. Must have laid back and spread my legs like a proper little whore.
I bit my cheek, trying to wrangle my rage as I planned my escape.
“Was he at least a good lay? He’s got to have, what? At leastfortyyears of experience.”
“Adoni.” I snapped, turning on him. “Prince or not, you don’t speak of another king that way. When I decide you deserve an explanation, you’ll get one.”
He grinned, eyes wrinkling with delight. Bile rose in my throat.
“That good?”
Thank the gods I didn’t have magic. Or a dragon.
I’d have killed him.
A shadow swept over us, blanketing the beach. I looked up. Artorious flew low, wings stretched wide, scales gleaming like oil-slick armor. He circled once, a deep growl rolling from his chest. His gaze locked on Adoni.
I wasn’t the only one who disliked the prince.
No saddle marked his back. I wondered if his rider sent him to keep watch. Mikal had made a habit of tracking me. Another leash I didn’t need.
“You’re weary from your travels. Careless with your tongue.” My voice stayed low, even.
“Fine, fine.” He raised his hands. “I surrender. No more prying.”
