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Wren was disturbed from her endless train of thought as she lay in bed by the sun shifting just enough that it shone in her eyes. Shielding her eyes, she became aware of the path outside of her window, and how she had yet to see where it led.
A jolt of excitement ran through her as she realized today she could finally do so as Lady Daugherty had other engagements. Removing herself from the bed, excitement coursed through her as she moved to pull one of her dresses from the wardrobe. A simple green silk dress that would allow her the movement to explore whatever lay outside her prison walls. She smiled thinking how much Georgie would love to explore the massive castle.
Wren dropped the dress with a gasp. She had forgotten.
Somehow she had forgotten how much she wanted to go home. Today was the first time she had woken up and not felt like she was in a strange place. She had felt comfortable upon awakening instead of the panic she usually felt of nightmares and waking up in a castle. Nausea built in her as she donned the green dress with renewed purpose.
She couldn’t afford to become complacent when she knew her aunt, uncle, and Georgie were worried for her. When Cara’s mother needed to know what happened to her daughter. They needed her to find a way home.
When Wren was satisfied that she was put together well enough that she might be taken seriously, she opened the door, finding a familiar guard standing there. She requested to know where Prince Malaki was, but he informed her that he had no way of knowing.
Stamping down her annoyance, she walked from the room without another word, knowing he would follow. Knowing someonealwaysfollowed. How could she have ever felt comfortable here when there was always someone watching her?
It only took a few inquiries to determine the prince was in a council meeting. When she turned to her guard, he nodded before taking her in that direction. He brought her to a room with a large wooden door that had a guard on either side of it. Wren made to open the door, but one of the guards put out his arm.
Wren gritted her teeth in annoyance. No matter how much she attempted to persuade the guard, he merely told her no one was permitted entry during council meetings. Resigning herself to having to wait for the doors to open, Wren propped herself against the adjacent wall, not caring whether Lady Daugherty would deem it improper or not.
Wren’s resolution to wait wavered only briefly as she reminded herself that there was nothing more important than finding a way home. She would wait all day if it meant doing anything proactive to find a way back to her family.
Two hours passed and Wren’s commitment fractured enough that she pushed away from the wall and began pacing so that she would not give up and go back to her rooms. The creak of a door accompanied by voices had her whirling around, her dress twirling behind her.
A few of the cabinet members passed her strange glances before giving her small bows and murmured greetings. It occurred to her that she likely appeared strange having just been pacing. An ache in her hands pulled her attention and she saw that they were red from where she had been nervously rubbing them together. She only prayed she didn’t seem as disheveled as she felt or else she knew she would lose ground with the prince.
When no one else came through the door, Wren took a deep breath, determined to enter and get the answers she needed. Wren couldn’t stifle her small gasp as she rounded the corner and came face to face with Wesley, who easily recovered from his own surprise to smile brightly at her.
“Wren, how wonderful to see you. I was beginning to wonder where they had locked you away at,” he said as if she had not nearly accosted him.
Wren’s heart raced, but she willed her nerves to quiet enough to prevent her from seeming like a fool. She forced a smile. “No doubt you were just about to attempt a daring rescue.”
Wesley feigned shock. “It was to be done tonight. Who gave me away?”
The sound of their laughter filled the hall, and Wren’s nerves instantly gave way the comfort of easy conversation. The Prince of North Helm had such an easy-going manner about him that it felt almost safe to be near him. She didn’t have to worry about making a blunder of her lack of etiquette or court knowledge. She couldn’t help but wonder at how different things would be for her if this was the prince she was forced to marry.
“Well, this is a sight to see. Sister, are you here to see my dear brother, or have you come for Prince Wesley’s company?” Richard’s deep voice broke her from the dangerous thoughts and she might've been grateful if it hadn’t been for the insinuation in his words. Almost as if she had let her guard down too much and he had seen her thoughts.
The anxiety she felt was quickly replaced by irritation and the sight of the younger prince’s gloating smile. She only had to endure him at dinners, and even then his company was short-lived, as he usually roamed among the court following meals.
She opened her mouth to answer the probing question, but as her eyes met Wesley’s, he gave her a knowing smile. “If only I were so lucky, but no, I fear the princess is only indulging a foreign dignitary with niceties.”
Wren gave him a grateful nod as she felt her chest lighten.
Richard looked between them before settling on Wesley. “Of course. My sister is settling into her new role quite nicely, don’t you think, Wesley?”
The tone Richard adopted with Wesley was different than with others. He seemed more respectful as if he were deferring to the other prince. It was an observation she would keep close to her. Whether it was because of Richard’s relationship with Wesley’s sister or something else didn’t matter. It was information she didn’t have before.
Wesley seemed entirely unfazed. “Indeed, I have heard nothing but glowing accounts from the court.”
Wren’s heart leapt at the unexpected compliment. She turned her face away as she felt it heat suddenly fighting the urge to scream at her own foolishness. Was she so starved for kindness outside of Sophie that she would jump at every polite conversation?
Before Wren could manage to think of a response, a familiar dark form came through the door. His blue eyes landed on her first, widening only briefly before he recovered and took in the other two men standing in front of the room.
His surprise was quickly replaced by cool arrogance as he fixed his stare on her. “Why are you here?”
Irritation flooded her, but his words left her feeling like she didn’t belong. She refused to give him the satisfaction of knowing he had cowed her. She straightened her shoulders as she returned his glare with what she hoped was an equally unmoving glare. “I needed to speak with you and it could not wait.”
He scoffed. “That seems unlikely.”
Wren bristled at the dismissal in his voice.
