Page 56 of The Hunted

Arelle trembled.

That was not a question she wanted to answer. It was not a title or position that had ever been hers, nor had she wanted it.

Mav’s gaze darted back to hers, and he smiled again. “Well, that would be you.”

Arelle looked back to her father, waiting.

The rage her father had been so careful to hide … the truth stared her in the face now. Blatant, and stinging.

“As you can see,” Zale said with a wave of his hand towards Mav, “the Prince of the Emerald Lands has arrived with his companions. We have a lot to discuss. And I’m sure you won’t mind taking to your rooms until we do that.”

Oh, Arelle had many things she wanted to ask.

Many things to say.

Her intended mate looked her way and nodded. A clear sign she should do as she was told, but the softness in his gaze as he looked her over slowly—checking her injuries in a way her father had not done, but also appraising—made her heart ache.

For Mav, because what he thought he would find here was no longer waiting for him.

For herself, because another man giving her attention, either with concern or lust, made her stomach twist with sickness like never before.

But it also made her heartache for the man she’d left behind on an island that morning. Because he couldn’t possibly know what she had done to them both.

Yet, she could still hear him.

Deep in her mind, echoing with the beats of her heart … she could hear him.

Eryx.

Where are you, little mermaid?

What have you done?

TWELVE

Eryx

“YOUR HIGHNESS—”

“That will be all,” Eryx said to the servant still lingering in the doorway of the House of Miller’s library. “If I need you, or anyone else, I will call on you.”

He didn’t even bother to glance up from behind the desk where he had stayed most of the day. Even going as far as taking his meals in the library, yet never cracking a book because he had far more interesting things to pour over. What with the newest map the hunter had delivered to him since their last discussion a good week ago. The place touted a full list of servants to handle whatever needs Eryx might have. They’d proven useful since he’d arrived a few days earlier, but he still wanted to be left alone.

For the most part.

It seemed no one here understood what that meant, considering they were constantly asking what the prince would like them to do next. Then again, he supposed on the rare occasions his father used the estate that had once belonged to a rich grain farmer … well, the king was quite demanding. Perhaps they assumed Eryx would be the same.

Fortunately for them, no.

Unless they continued to work his nerves.

Knowing the woman was still standing in the doorway, Eryx sighed and glanced up from the map. Sure enough, she was standing exactly where he’d assumed she would be. No doubt because she was confused about why, with the sun still peeking over the sea through the glass doors and wall of windows on the other side of the library, the prince said he would no longer need anyone for the remainder of the day and evening.

“I did say that was all, yes?”

The woman, in her plain gray gown that all the servants here seemed to prefer to wear, nodded quickly. “Yes, Prince Eryx. I will let the rest of the house know that you’re not to be bothered as well. However, if you do want something, please don’t—”

“I will shout until all of your ears bleed so that someone will immediately help me. Even though I am perfectly capable of doing it all myself, thank you.”