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“If you’re going to have a mortal shadow, Rhaegar, you might remember that she is mortal.”
Annoyance darkens Rhaegar’s normally gorgeous face as he takes in the prince. “What do you care?”
“She’s on loan to you,” the Winter Prince points out, the smarmy dickwad. “But in a few moon cycles, she’s mine. Perhaps I don’t want you to break her before it’s my turn.”
Bastard.
A snarl rips from Rhaegar’s chest. “You’re the one with a track record of killing those you love.”
At those words, the prince goes still . . . but it’s a predatory stillness. He watches Rhaegar without blinking. Without breathing. Every ounce of his focus is on the Summer Fae as giant snowflakes begin to fall.
The trickle quickly becoming a blizzard.
Adrenaline surges through my frozen veins. Any moment now I expect the prince to strike.
It’s almost comical how fast the Fae students scatter to form a circle around us. Then it’s just Rhaegar, the Winter Prince, and me.
Through the dwindling visibility, I spot Inara with her flunkies by the nearest frozen fountain, watching everything unfold with rapt attention. In fact, the entire courtyard stares, entranced, as the snow rages around us.
Once again, I’m the focus of attention. Fabulous.
Someone laughs, and I turn to see Eclipsa Skywell saunter over and clap the prince on the shoulder. “Oberon’s beard. If you’re going to kick off a war between Seelie and Unseelie, I want to be invited.”
I tense, expecting the prince to react badly to Eclipsa’s touch. So does everyone else, apparently, because the silence turns into palpable fear. Every eye is riveted to the Winter Prince, and that’s when I truly realize just how powerful he must be.
But instead of agitation, Eclipsa’s presence seems to calm him. His muscles uncoil as he flashes a boyish grin at her. “Trust me. If the Winter Court wages war, you’ll be the first to know, Eclipsa.”
Well, now I know what it sounds like when an entire crowd sighs with relief. Just like that, the blizzard stops. With the threat of a fight gone, murmurs break the silence as students stop holding their breath and begin to whisper.
“Oh, good.” Eclipsa rolls out her shoulders before sliding a pointed glance at the prince. “For a moment I thought you two idiots were about to fight. But it’s just a testosterone-fueled stare down. Gotcha.”
Despite my annoyance at the situation, her sarcasm makes me smile.
Rhaegar opens his mouth to speak then seems to think better of it. Instead, he switches his focus to me.
Whatever he sees, it must not be good because pity flashes across his handsome countenance, his green eyes widening.
God, I hate that emotion.
“Summer, I’m sorry. I didn’t know . . . and why in the scourge aren’t you wearing a coat?”
“Because she can’t afford one,” the prince reminds him. “She came from the Tainted Zone, remember? And in case you aren’t familiar with humans, they aren’t like the lesser Fae slaves your father keeps. They do need sustenance and the occasional rest. Even the poor ones.” “You would know,” Rhaegar growls. “Considering all the human slaves your father forces to work at his clubs.”
Anger warms my cheeks. I’m tired of being used by both of them as a pawn to piss each other off. “I’m fine.”
The Winter Prince scowls at me as if my human frailty is a mortal sin. Unfortunately, his fierceness only makes him more beautiful. Especially the way his wavy blue-black hair falls around his forehead. And his lips curl at the edges, a small dimple forming on one side of his face . . .
I shake my head, trying to dispel my random musing about my former tormentor’s looks. What in the Shimmer is wrong with me? Rhaegar is just as handsome as the prince, but I’m not losing my mind over Rhaegar’s kissable lips.
The Winter Prince’s scowl rips me from my thoughts. “Fine?” he counters. “You were swaying on your feet, and your lips have turned a disconcerting shade of blue.”
I hate that he’s right. I also hate the way Rhaegar is now looking at me like some wilting flower. What if he decides not to fight for me now? That I’m not worth it?
Pushing past the prince, I plead with Rhaegar. “I was dizzy. I’m not used to this much standing. That’s all. I’ll find a way to buy a coat. I—”
“No.” Rhaegar’s jaw is set. “I’m releasing you from your shadow duties early. See you at combat class.”
His voice leaves no room for argument. It also makes his disappointment impossible to overlook. “Wait? You’ll be there?”
