Page 59 of Heart of the Raven Prince

“Yes, and you’re currently blocking the path to all those clothes,” I snarl, embarrassment flooding my cheeks. He keeps his back to me, but steps aside, and I hurriedly rush to the door and yank it open. “Apologies,” I hiss. “I didn’t realize the sight of my skin was so fucking offensive.”

I slam the door behind me and furiously twist the lock. Pressing my ear against the door, I can hear him slowly retreating down the hallway, but not before I think I hear him whisper, “This is a cruel punishment.”

Seeing me nearly naked is punishment? I want to yank open the door and shout that the feeling is mutual, but instead I slap my hands over my face as I let out a disgruntled groan. Muttering a string of profanity, I turn from the door and make my way to the wardrobe. I begin to rifle through the dresses. Most of them require the assistance of at least one other person to don, which is the main reason I even chose the dress I wore last night. It was far more revealing than anything I would have picked on my own, but since my options were either wear that or ask Caden to help tighten a corset—

Stop that.

I glare at the dresses in front of me, furious with my mind for filling it with thoughts of Caden helping me dress. Tugging ties on my corset so tightly it pulls my body against his.

Traitorous fucking body.

I let out a shaky breath and focus only on the gowns in front of me. Avoiding the more complicated garments, I select another simple dress. Much like what I wore to dinner last night, this gown is a single long slip, but it is made up entirely of forest green silk. A lacy gold overlay rests atop it, covering my arms and neck completely. The green silk may be cut low, but the lace provides some coverage. I turn and admire myself in the mirror.

It's strange; the style is so unlike anything I wore in Gaelynn, and I think my mother would faint at how high the slit goes up the thigh, but as I stare at myself in the mirror, I can’t help but feel powerful. I twist, looking at the way the gown hugs my curves, seeming to accentuate my hips, a part of myself I have never liked before. They’ve always been too big, too full in my mind. Thick muscles won from years of training that leave me looking nothing like the slim ladies at court. But in this gown, I feel like my body is a work of art and I am beckoning the masses to look.

I almost hit the floor when that thought pressed into my mind. Because it’s his. The unmistakable shadowy traces of his thoughts are becoming easy to detect, so I know without a doubt this one belongs to Caden. And he’s thinking about my body.

I was hot before. Now I’m burning.

“Gods and fucking demons, get out of my mind,” I whisper, scrubbing my hands furiously over my head, sending the pin holding my hair clattering to the ground, my wet locks tumbling down my back. I let out a furious breath before beginning to braid my hair. It may be long and trail down my back, but when I have it pulled into a braid it’s only too obvious how pitifully thin it is. I often looked jealously at my mother’s ladies-in-waiting with their thick, curling locks. Another shortcoming, something to measure myself against and find myself wanting.

I’ve never had to learn the best way to style my hair, I’ve only ever had to worry about braiding it so that it stays out of my face. Still, this dress feels like it requires more than a simple plait, so I grab a set of golden ivy pins from the vanity, and once again twist the braids into a crown around my head. Placing the last gilded ivy pin in my hair, I realize there’s nothing left to do but go and meet Caden.

“You can do this,” I say to my reflection. “All you have to do is master some hidden power, defeat a vampire horde, and murder a queen from the depths of hell. Absolutely achievable.”

Fuck, I wish this didn’t all sound so futile.

Closing my eyes, I try to steady my heartbeat like my father had taught me and I whisper, “I will return my people home. I will not rest until I step foot on Gaelynn’s shores.” My voice breaks as I say, “I will see my brother again.”

Three vows I intended to keep or die trying.

Letting out a breath, I turn away from the mirror and go to meet with Caden to tell him my decision. As it turns out, I don’t have to go far, because once again I open my door to find him in front of me.

“Don’t you have anything better to do than post up outside of my door all day and night?” He ignores my question entirely, and the grim look in his eyes has me faltering.

“The queen has summoned us.”

His words hit me like a dagger. My heart lodges directly in my throat and I have to swallow hard to force any moisture back into my mouth.

“How much time do we have?” I dare to ask. His expression is the only answer I need.

Fuck.

We’re leaving now.

“For the love of the old gods, keep your fucking mouth shut,” Caden hisses to me as we march quickly down a dimly lit hallway on our way to the queen’s throne room. Our footfalls echo softly over the dark cavernous space, and I’m overcome with the sense that we are walking down the halls of a catacomb.

“Thank you so much for that encouraging piece of advice,” I snap in return, my voice a harsh whisper. Caden lets out a growl of annoyance at my response. Suddenly he grabs my wrist and yanks me into a shadowy alcove. Slamming my body against the wall, he cages me in with his arms. Power sizzles off him in waves. It crashes over me, my body heating at the proximity to such magic.

“I’m serious, Oisín,” he snaps. “I know how much you like to let your little mouth infuriate people who could easily kill you—”

“Aw, it’s adorable that you think I’m so easy to kill,” I can’t help but purr, batting my lashes at him. He groans, but something like desire flashes in his eyes.

“This is exactly what I’m talking about.” His hand grips my chin, swiping a thumb over my lips, a gesture so unexpected it has me gasping as he says, “That tongue of yours is going to get you killed.” He leans in close, and fuck me, I don’t stop him.

I blame it on nerves, on the absolute panic that is coursing inside of me with each step we take that brings us closer to the queen. My body needs a distraction, and he is certainly distracting. Taking a slow inhale, he then suddenly drops my chin and pulls back, leaving me breathless at the loss of him.

“Do not speak to the queen,” he says. “If she addresses you, answer as succinctly as you can. Do not look her in the eyes unless you are commanded to. Keep her attention off you for as long as possible. Do not reveal who you are—”