AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“No, no,” I say, picking him back up and returning to the edge of the balcony. “You can’t stay.”
This time, I set him on the balcony ledge, pointing toward the vines.
“Go on, now.” I nudge him, but he doesn’t move.
I would feel a bit ridiculous arguing with a monkey, except that he clearly understands at least some of what I’m saying.
His round eyes dart back and forth from me to the vines before he stands on his hind legs, reaching out for me with his hands. He makes a small sound of distress when a stray snowflake falls onto his nose and leans even closer to me, teetering on the ledge.
“Listen, monkey…” I say after a moment, trying to stand my ground even though he looks so pathetic.
I am not a tender-hearted person. I have killed more people in cold blood than this monkey has probably ever seen in its tiny monkey life, and this is getting out of hand.
“Just because I couldn’t leave you to die, it doesn’t mean that you belong with me. Trust me, you don’t want any part of this.” I gesture to my entire self.
He tilts his little golden-orange head, his eyes wide as he grins up at me hopefully.
“Still no,” I tell him.
My life is the exact opposite of anything remotely conducive to caring for another creature. That, coupled with the facts that Remy doesn’t want him and my sister’s giant cat would likely eat him, means the prospects for this monkey are dwindling by the second.
With that thought, I spin around and close the doors more quickly this time.
To no avail, it would seem.
As fast as I am, the furball is faster. The little bugger lands on my shoulder before the latch even clicks into place. I sigh, my head and feet and very bones aching. The energy I have to deal with this is dwindling by the moment.
Remy emerges from the study, a note in his hand and a humorless expression on his face.
“The staff should be in shortly to help us change,” he says in a voice just a shade too neutral, his eyes flitting to the monkey.
“For what?” I ask as the weightless primate slips behind my neck, burrowing into my hair.
I ignore it since I don’t actually know what to do about it, short of hurling the thing out the window and hoping it doesn’t die after all, which I suspect would be Remy’s preferred choice of action.
“We greet the people this afternoon.” His tone implies that this is obvious, when really it is just one of several things he has neglected to mention. He must realize this, because he goes on to explain, “You’ll be introduced as another steward of the people, someone who is supposed to be invested in their welfare.”
I don’t miss the sarcasm in his tone.
“Ah, so will I be greeting them as their princess or the vigilante?” I say, unable to resist the chance to remind him that I did more for his bloody people in my three-month run as a terrorist than he managed in his entire life as a member of the royal family.
He inhales a sharp breath, his gaze sliding to the monkey on my shoulder as he visibly fights to control his temper.
“Yes, well, as ridiculous as the idea of you concerning yourself with the welfare of anyone who is not a monkey or your sister or your precious sodding mother is, why don’t we stick withprincessfor now?”
I bristle. “If the idea of me as the princess was so outlandish to you, perhaps you should have thought of that before you married me.”
A bitter huff of air escapes him. “Perhaps I would have, if I had known who you really were.”
I suck in a breath, in spite of myself. “Don’t kid yourself, Remy. The last night you saw me before the ball, I had just burned a building full of grown men alive. You knew exactly who I was when you insisted on announcing me as your bride.”
Fire ignites in his eyes, furious and simmering. “Insisted on keeping you alive, you mean. I don’t recall you objecting.”
“It’s not like I had a choice,” I remind him somewhat spitefully.
“It’s not like I did either,” he snaps back. “In any of it, actually. I only even got stuck hosting the masquerade because you refused when I actuallywantedto marry you. Of course, that makes sense in hindsight. No one would expect a lowly guard to suffice when you had your sights set on the prince.”
I rear back as though he’s slapped me.
