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Chapter 17
Bree
Bree had decidedshe would do her best to find the information that Lord Dagen wanted. Prince Taveon was being unreasonable, especially after everything he had done to her. There was no reason why she had to be kept in a tiny cell and forced to eat prison food. There was no reason why she had to endure horrible punishment. He was a gorgeous asshole and that wasthat.
So, why did it feel as though she was trying to talk herself intoit?
He was right on time for their morning walk, and she was waiting for him for once. She’d chosen that deep purple dress he’d given to her that first day, hoping to reignite that spark in hiseyes.
But he was in a mood this particular morning, and that was saying something. Somehow, he managed to be even more scowly than he usuallywas.
“Come on,” he grunted as he yanked open the door and motioned for Bree to join him in the stone hallway. He didn’t even glance at her as he did it, too focused on something inside his ownmind.
“Someone must have woken up on the wrong side of the bed,” she said as she sailed out into the hallway with the dress billowing behindher.
“Ah, and there you would be wrong,” he said. “There was no bed in my life. I did not get to sleep last night atall.”
She arched an eyebrow. “Why? Is somethingwrong?”
He seemed to notice her for the first time, and he paused as his eyes caught sight of her. It was then that she could see the full weariness on his face. Those sunken eyes, the purple rings around them. Even his shoulders were a bit stooped, as if he carried the entire weight of the realm on hisback.
“You are wearing the dress I brought you.” The weariness dimmed for just amoment.
“Yes.” A pause. “Though, technically, all of the clothes I have are the ones you broughtme.”
“Yes, but that one...” His cheeks filled with color. “Well, it is different from therest.”
How odd, Breethought.
Bree wanted to pry a little more, but she knew it was probably best to save the real needling for the question she truly needed answering. If she could find out Dagen’s information, then she could get out of her hellhole of a cell. And she could have a window. Oh, how she yearned to see the outside world, even if it never did seesunlight.
When they reached the top of the stairs, Bree cleared her throat and motioned at the end of the hallway they normally avoided. Every day, they took the exact same path. Bree had memorized every turn, every painting on the wall, where each guard stood and what he looked like. It was information that might come in handy later, even though she wouldn’t dare attempt an escape, not when she was worried Taveon might invade her realm inretaliation.
“How do you feel about going a different way today? Maybe we could go somewhere with some windows? I feel like I’ve been cooped up in here foryears.”
Taveon merely frowned. “I am afraid that way would lead toward the barracks, and some of those males might take offense to you. Word has spread that you are some kind of shapeshifter, and they are wary of fae like you. They do not like knowing that there could be spies out there, disguised asanimals.”
A seed of guilt sprouted in Bree’s gut. Little did he know that spies could sometimes be disguised asslaves.
But that was ridiculous. She owed him no loyalty, not after everything he’d done toher.
“Surely there must be a way for me to see the outside world.” Bree decided to try another tactic. “Even if it isn’t on our walks. Maybe a different room? I think we’ve agreed that I’m not going to run. There’s no reason to keep me in acell.”
He let out a sigh. “Bree. I am far too weary to have this old argument again this morning. And if you insist on carrying on about it, then I would much rather end our walknow.”
She bristled as they continued to stride down the old familiar hallway, the only one she’d seen inside this entire monstrous castle. “Fine then. Let’s talk about something else. I saw the Hand of the Kingearlier.”
“Rafe told me.” Taveon scowled. “Lord Dagen. Stay away from him. He was a supporter of my father, which means he is nothing buttrouble.”
But of course he would say that. The Prince probably knew that Dagen would love to see anyone but Taveon on thethrone.
“I guess that means that you won’t choose him to be your Hand, then,” Bree said, tiptoeing a little bit closer to thequestion.
Taveon cut his eyes her way, his shoulders tensing. “You suddenly seem very interested in Court business. What happened to your disdain of everything within thiscastle?”
Bree sighed and shrugged, trying to remain as nonchalant as possible. “Well, you know, I guess I’ve figured that I’m stuck here for awhile. And you keep dragging me around the halls trying to explain things to me. I figured I should probably learn what’s going on. If I’m going to be stuck here forever, I might as well understandit.”
“Stuck here.” He frowned. “Yes, I suppose you arestuckhere.”
