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“I will.”
She hung up and I breathed out heavily.
I would have got back to Apollo, but I didn’t know where he was. If three Kincaids were arriving covered in blood, then bets were he was with Archer in his office. The holidays were a great time for Apollo and me to just exist away from expectant eyes, but it was stupid to think they weren’t also a time for Apollo – and Valen – to be learning the tools and tricks of his father’s trade. And, with less than a year before graduation, Apollo’s lessons were getting more serious.
Apollo was Archer’s only child. One day he would rule the Callahan empire with an iron fist to match his father’s. Another day, further away, my son would take the reins. And if I didn’t have a son? Archer would be furious. And my daughter would be married off to whatever family’s heir wasn’t already promised to someone else. I’d already considered just adopting a boy and getting rid of all the pressure that weighed down the edges of my mind.
I had no idea how long a debrief lasted these days. It probably depended on what job Archer had employed the Kincaids for. So I decided to just head to the kitchen and see what flavours of ice cream were left over after two days of me stress bingeing.
As I passed Archer’s office door, I can’t say I didn’t pause. Half thinking of trying to see what was going on behind it. My hand even inched towards the doorknob. But I wasn’t that kind of girl. I didn’t know anything about espionage and creeping around, and remaining undetected. Knowing my luck, I’d just end up falling through the door and everyone would look at me expectantly, waiting to laugh at me until I’d left.
No. Better to keep moving and not even think about trying.
Just as I took a step to keep going, a large body barrelled out of the office door and rammed right into me. I lost my footing and fell to my butt, sliding a little on the smooth floor.
I looked up and saw Kane Kincaid looking down at me.
“Little princess,” he said, a sinister tilt to his lips.
I couldn’t have got up if I’d wanted to. Kane’s gaze pinned me with nothing pleasant. I swallowed hard and just hoped he was going to go back into the office and leave me be. My skin got a creeping, crawling sensation. I knew the Kincaids were dangerous people, but Kane was the only one around whom I felt actually in danger.
“Harlow,” I heard Apollo say as he hurried over to me.
Even with my intended, my intended’s father, and his own father watching on, Kane didn’t back off. Like he was waiting. Always like he was waiting.Waiting for what?My heart thudded in my chest and my breath came short.
“You know what they say about eavesdroppers,” Kane said.
“Nothing compared to murderers,” I said, far less impressively than I’d intended, but at least I’d said it loud enough for everyone to hear.
Kane’s eyes flashed with something that made me wish I’d kept my mouth shut.
“The little princess seems to be growing a backbone,” Cillian boomed in his thick Scottish accent. “Perhaps she’ll make a decent bride after all, Archer.”
“Harlow has many admirable qualities,” Archer said smoothly. Somehow, he sounded like a proud father figure at the same time as the only admirable thing he cared about was the functionality of my ovaries.
I felt my cheeks flush and let Apollo cradle me against him as he helped me stand.
I couldn’t look at Valen. I wouldn’t. I refused to even think of looking for comfort anywhere but where I was supposed to. And that was with Apollo.
“Why don’t you head back to your room?” Apollo whispered encouragingly in my ear. “I’ll find you later.”
I nodded against him. “Okay.”
He kissed my cheek and nudged me in the direction of the stairs.
“Kane, get your fucking useless arse out of here,” Cillian snapped.
“Apollo,” Archer said carefully.
It was all done as though everyone was keeping me in the dark about their true nature. Like I couldn’t see the blood on their clothes. Like I couldn’t guess that Archer had paid the Kincaids to kill someone – multiple someones even.
Protected.
Appearances.
I didn’t care what it was. I wouldn’t be my mother and I wouldn’t be Frenella. I wouldn’t stay powerless.
But, I turned and I went back to my room as Kane left and Archer’s office door closed behind me. Now wasn’t the time to fight, but it was coming. I wasn’t going to be the princess locked in the tower forever. No prince was coming to save me. My prince had more interest in keeping me locked away, even if he didn’t realise that’s what he was doing. I had to save myself. I just had to wait for the dragon – or, wolf – to fall asleep and drop its guard.
