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This was her ticket to freedom. The realm was giving her anotherchance.
So, why did she feel so much dread when she stared into the eyes of young Taveon’s paintedface?
* * *
Bree paced backand forth in Rafferty’s quarters, still mulling over everything she’d discovered on her walk with Ethne. She needed to talk to someone about this, but who? She wasn’t ready to go to Dagen yet, and it wasn’t as though she could confront the Princehimself...
Or couldshe?
She didn’t have to tell him that she knew what the color of his wings meant. She could just bring it up, all casual-like, just to see what he said. Maybe there was an explanation. Maybe he wasn’t the bastard he seemed tobe.
She had the guards outside her door escort her all the way from Rafe’s room to the Prince’s chambers two buildings down and near the Great Hall. He was standing beside his library shelves when she strode inside, one arm propped onto a shelf, the other holding a large tome before hiseyes.
He lowered the book and shut it with a snap when he saw who had entered hischambers.
“Bree?” He arched an eyebrow. “To what do I owe this...why are youhere?”
A flicker of irritation went through her. He’d been about to saypleasure, but then changed his mind. Because Taveon felt no pleasure in her company. In fact, he felt the opposite. Why had she decided to come here again? Why was she trying to give him the benefit of the doubt when she wanted nothing more than to smack his smug expression off hisface?
“I’m bored. Rafe and I aren’t training today, and there’s only so long I can stare out the window at the moon.” She crossed her arms over her chest and plopped onto his sofa. “Is your council meetingover?”
“Yes, we finished just a few moments ago.” Taveon’s expression stayed neutral as he slid his book back onto the shelf before crossing the room to settle into the chair directly opposite of the sofa. “And you thought you might come here so that I can what? Amuse you? You do realize that I have important things to tend to at themoment.”
“Yes.” Bree’s eyes flicked to the book. “Such as reading what looks to be some sort of mystery novel about a fae with a bakery shop and a wolfsidekick.”
His lips quirked. “Alright, Bree. You caught me. Sometimes, I do enjoy a good book but only when I have a few spare moments of downtime. Which is notoften.”
“So youdohave downtime at the moment.” She leaned back into the sofa and tried on a smile. It felt strange directing the expression at Taveon when she’d done nothing but scowl at him since the moment they’d met. “Then, humor me. Tell me some stories. I saw the portraits on the wall. Your family has some crazy-ass wings, let me tellyou.”
She tried to stay nonchalant, even when he stiffened. She had to act like her question was no big deal, that her entire future didn’t hinge on his answer to it. Otherwise, he’d never give her any indication that she was ontosomething.
“You should not be wandering around the castle alone, Bree. It is notsafe.”
“One of your council members took me for a walk. Ethne, I think her name is.” Bree shrugged. “Anyway, I saw the portraits and got curious about it all. Your family seemed to be super keen about showing off their serious power. And yet you aren’t likethat.”
Taveon clenched his jaw and glanced away. “I have told you time and time again that I am not like my father. Or his father before him. I want things to be different in Underworld. I want our realm to be more atpeace.”
Bree met his gaze. “And you think you can dothat?”
It was an honest question for once. She wasn’t baiting him for an answer. She wasn’t trying to drive him to irritation. She truly wanted to know what he had in mind for this realm, and if he thought he could be the fae to change things for thebetter.
“Some call me weak because I do not share my father’s zest for...intimidation, chaos, and violence. Some say that I am not fit to rule because I would rather lead by example, rather than by fear. But I think that is the only way to lead. This realm will never be at peace as long as there is a violent ruler on thethrone.”
Bree gripped one of the pillows in her fists, leaning closer to Taveon. “So, then why treat me the way you do, Taveon? You say you don’t want to be violent, and then you’re violent tome!”
Bree realized she was getting a little off-track here. She’d come to try to sneak out some answers about the Prince’s silver wings, but somehow, she’d circled back onto the same old argument they’d had a million times before. But she wanted answers. She wanted an explanation for the way he’d treated her and not one that had anything to do with keeping up appearances for theCourt.
She could see glimmers of the softer side of him underneath. But only toward others. Never to her. What was it about her that he hated so much? What was it about her that hedespised?
She wanted toknow.
No, sheneededto know hisanswer.
“Bree. I thought I explained this to you in the forest by House Marlin.” The Prince sighed and leaned forward, propping his elbows on his knees. Their foreheads were close now, almost brushing. It was all Bree could do to stay where she was instead of pulling as far away from him as she could get. “There are a few things you need to understand. If theCourt—”
“Yeah, I know.” Bree rolled her eyes. “If the Court sees softness in you then they won’t want you to rule them. I’ve heard the song and dance before, Taveon. It doesn’t make what you’ve doneokay.”
“The Dark Fae view humans as lesser than themselves. Mindless creatures full of so much more violence and rage than we ever experience here. We hear stories of the wars humans wage upon each other. Humanity, to most fae, is not worthy of any respect ormercy.”
