AllFreeNovel
Share Us
The voices drifted off. A chill raced down her spine, not because they were talking about possibly hurting her that casually.
No, it was because Emerald was pretty sure that one of the voices belonged to Erin.
Chapter 10
Bronco looked at Rick as if wondering whether he was mental or a different person altogether. Frankly, Rick wasn’t sure either.
“You didn’t get any sleep? Even when you retired early from your welcome banquet and didn’t join your friends’ party?”
Rick winced. He didn’t promise to join, not specifically, but he was sure that wouldn’t sit well with them—and he needed them soft and their guards down for him to get to the truth. He peered at the Fae who was fast becoming his right-hand man.
“I take it my absence in both has been circulating already?”
“Yes. The princess retired early too. Word has it that she wasn’t pleased with how callously you dismissed her and my sister’s efforts.”
He raised a brow. “Not surprising for Erin. She likes her banquets respected. And what do you think?”
Bronco shifted on his feet, unsure. Then the man straightened his shoulders and cleared his throat.
“I think my sister’s annoying for throwing herself at you when she has plenty of suitors and could settle down respectably anytime. Of course, none of her relationships with men… or women…are my business. I think the crown princess has a right to be displeased, though you also have every right to not attend what you don’t want to attend…which, I will reiterate, is none of my business.”
“Hmm. And what do you think of my visitors?”
At this, Bronco’s spine stiffened and he was silent for a long time. When Rick kept staring at him, the man finally relented.
“The pixie’s fine. A little silly, but he matches the energy of a lot of our undignified peers.” He sighed as if the reality of their undignified peers exasperated him. “That woman…”
“Yes?”
Bronco glanced at him, then looked straight ahead. “She’s not silly. She’s serious and intense. Respectful enough, but I don’t trust the way she eyes everything when she thinks no one’s looking.”
Pride lit up inside him, along with something else. While Emerald’s independent, capable streak was impressive, the sexiness of it called to him more.
“Maybe she’s just observant and making sure she’s safe here. She might be loyal to me, but that doesn’t mean she should trust everyone in the Winter Court blindly.”
“Maybe. But I have secured her room to alert you if she ever stole something from us or if something new enters her room. Just in case. You’re the only one who would know and I’m sure you would deal with it accordingly.”
Amusement spread through him, even while he kept quiet that he already knew. The alert had been ringing in a magical device in his bedroom when he had entered it last night.
“Clever, Bronco. I suppose this means you trust Yu and don’t trust her?”
Bronco shrugged. “I don’t trust outsiders in general. But it doesn’t matter.”
“Why not?”
“They don’t run the household, I do. They don’t have any effect on how things work here, including those outside my grasp because the other Fae assigned to protect our court are very capable. Also, in case she breaks her loyalty, I’m sure you will do the right thing.”
The turn of conversation had Rick’s smile drifting off as he deduced that Bronco wasn’t even trying to impress him. Curiosity blazed and he tilted his head.
“Do you think I will make a good king someday, Bronco?”
“Only if you clean up your act, Your Majesty.”
“And my sister?”
There was a hesitant pause, then, “She will rule well. But her short temper might get us in trouble while your patience is in line with your father’s.”
It wasn’t a full-on support, but it was enough. For now.
