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“Coraline Fray, may I present Prince Noah Driscoll.”
My body tensed as the book-nerdish library stranger before me, aka the freaking prince, bowed in my direction.
His brownish-blonde hair fell forward as he bent down, and when he rose, he quickly brushed it back before addressing me. “It’s nice to make your acquaintance, Cora.”
“Your Majesty.” I curtseyed for the first time in my entire life and lowered my gaze. Be respectful. Bite your tongue. I internally coached myself through this important first meeting.
Instead of raising my gaze to meet Prince Noah’s I looked over to Ms. Trapsbury.
“Your Majesty, will you be able to escort Ms. Fray back to her quarters once you’re done with her?” She was satisfied enough to leave me alone, it seemed.
I didn’t appreciate the way she said “done with her”. It just confirmed I was as insignificant as I’d thought I was.
“Of course,” Prince Noah responded.
Ms. Trapsbury left swiftly with a small bow of her head, her drab dress swishing behind her.
I finally looked at the prince before me. His gaze held mine, trapping me in an awkward silent standstill. The way his blue eyes pierced through me, I thought he might be able to read me and my plans for getting out of here.
I stepped forward and nodded once, pursing my lips. “Hello, Your Majesty.” My low mutter had my cheeks flaming slightly. I had no idea what to do or say. Do I just offer myself up as a meal now and be done? After all, how are you supposed to address the prince who’s supposed to drink your blood?
Prince Noah’s lips tugged upward a little, but it didn’t reach his eyes. “When we’re near others, you will address me as Your Majesty, or My Future King.”
I gritted my teeth in an effort to halt my lip curling in disgust as I silently wondered if arrogance always accompanied good looks. That certainly was my experience, and Prince Noah was proving to be no different.
I thought he smirked almost imperceptibly, and I could swear he could tell that my reaction wasn’t a good one. “However, when we are alone, which will happen quite often, you may simply call me Noah.”
My jaw loosened and I could feel my lips twitch. If I was more knowledgeable of what the hell Unseelie was, I might say that Prince Noah was being kind, or dare I say playful.
I wouldn’t let my guard down just yet. I had to learn more about him so that I could play this relationship right.
“What are you reading, Noah?” I asked, testing the waters with his address me casually statement.
He shut the book in his hand and slid it behind his back. “Nothing of consequence. Tell me, Cora, where are you from?”
Prince Noah moved toward a pair of white plush chairs that sat near a stained-glass window.
His tone was proper, no doubt from his stringent upbringing as a prince. He gracefully waved toward one of the seats and watched me. His face was stoic, no sign of the smirk I thought I’d noticed earlier.
I obeyed, keeping my head lowered as I sat in the chair. His sit was graceful, like everything else about him, and I fidgeted awkwardly, shifting in an attempt at looking somewhat put together myself.
He watched me, I realized, waiting for an answer.
“I’m human. From Washington, DC. It’s a big city, the capital in…” How do I describe the human world to a non-human? I paused, not something I ever thought I’d have to think to myself. Did I say Earth? The world? I settled on finishing my thought as I’d originally intended. “From the United States.”
Noah brought a finger to his lips and leaned casually back in his chair. “Fascinating. I’ve read stories from the human world. They speak of advancements I hope to achieve here in Faerie one day. If we can work through a few things first.”
I pursed my lips and nodded. Fat chance, buddy. This place was well behind the times of the human world. Maybe that was what had to be worked through. I didn’t pursue his comment.
We sat in silence for a few moments. “Are you excited to be king?” I asked.
Noah’s eyebrow quirked up. The crease between his brows deepened, but as he looked at me longer, he relaxed. Something crossed over his face I couldn’t read.
Instead of the scolding or the retort I’d been expecting, he smiled. “I would be honored to help my people. There is much you should learn now that you’re here.” He rose and I followed him toward the stacks of books.
A few caught my eye and I realized they were classics from back home. “Am I allowed to take these for reading?” I asked.
Prince Noah didn’t even look at me as he answered. “You may help yourself at any time to this library. It’s my personal study and you won’t be disturbed.”
