Page 64 of Witch’s Ruin

“Mina.”

She continued to mutter.

“Lady Witch,” he finally demanded, interrupting her.

She opened her eyes, still tight with anger. “I can’t be here right now.”

He frowned.

She crossed the room and wrenched the door open.

“Where are you going?” he demanded. She froze in the doorway, turning to look at him over her shoulder.

“For a walk. Away from you, you infuriating—”

“Mina,” he begged.

“It’s just a walk, Rixon.” Something in his expression made hers soften a measure.

“I don’t like you going off alone,” he managed. “Especially not right now.”

She sighed, her shoulders somewhat relaxing. “I need space, Rixon. I need…to be alone. I won’t go far—to the garden. But I need to be away from you right now.”

He flinched, then nodded. “Of…of course,” he said, ignoring the ache in his chest.

Her eyes fluttered shut; she was mastering herself. When they next opened, they were normal again. She stepped into the hallway. He watched her go, his insides twisting with shame. She’d never been so disappointed in him. He needed to fix this.

Seconds ticked by. He stood motionless, in thoughtful consideration, then he strode from the room, shutting their door and continuing on through the palace. When he entered the kitchen, the room fell silent. Cooks and servants were cleaning up after dinner. Upon seeing who had entered, they began bowing. “What can I get for you, Your Highness?”

“Chocolate,” he said to the head cook.

“Chocolate, Prince Aleksander?”

“Yes, as much as you can.”

“But, Your Highness, we only have the ingredients. We would need to make some. That could take thirty minutes. More.”

He sighed. “I’ll wait.”

“Very well.” The head cook motioned to several assistants. They jumped into action. As he sat there, his mind wandered. He had half a mind to take the chocolate in its melted form and pour it all over her tight body and lick it off. Perhaps that would reduce her ire towards him?

His center clenched. He pushed the thought from his mind, leaning back against the trestle tables as he waited. For the first few minutes, everyone scuttling around gave him a wide berth, but after a time, they relaxed.

All too soon, the smell of chocolate filled the room. He breathed it in, watching the cooks work, stirring the chocolate concoction over the stove in pots, then pouring it into molds. One of them turned to him. “It should only need about twenty minutes to cool, Your Highness.” He merely nodded, leaning back further against the table, letting his long legs splay out, crossing his arms.

A few of the female servants glanced his way and blushed.

He spent the remaining time thinking about how he’d win Mina over. Chocolate, obviously. More whispered apologies. A back massage would help, and he’d make it the best damned massage she’d ever had. Orgasms were on the table, certainly—

“There you are, Your Highness. Will this be enough?” The cook began stacking bricks of milk chocolate on layers of parchment paper.

“That’s plenty,” he said. More than plenty. Far too much. But knowing his Mina, she’d find a way to consume it. He hid the twitch of his lips, thanking the cooks, then gathering up the bundle and returning to their room.

How long had he been gone? Nearly an hour? She was probably back now, and he braced himself for the mood she’d be in, hoping her walk had calmed her down. He entered, slamming the door with his foot. “I hope you’re ready for some chocolate. I’ve enough to last you two weeks—”

He frowned, gaze darting around the empty room. “Mina?”

His stomach dropped. Her shoes and cloak were still missing. He set the chocolate down and moved about the room, pouring a large glass of wine to be ready upon her return. Then he tracked down a bottle of massage oil. Minutes ticked by, and still she did not return.