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“Are you going to go forward with the attack after our ceremony?”
He stops and glances around before picking me up and stepping into the shadows. “How do you know about that? Did Oraya tell you?”
I find my footing on his arm and brace my hands on his shoulders. “No. Your father found me in the library.”
His eyebrows snap together, drawing a furious line down the middle of his forehead. “Why didn’t you tell me that sooner?”
“I was going to, but you were so upset over the latest incident with the vampires when I found you it didn’t feel like the right time.”
“What did he say?” Orcus demands.
“That you were going to eviscerate them and that I should probably figure out how to birth baby ogres.”
He doesn’t say anything.
“Do you want baby ogres?”
“No.” His face is unreadable.
“Oh thank g—Orcus,” I say with a small grin. “And the vampires?”
“I don’t have a choice.”
“In a week you’ll be king. You’ll have plenty of choices then.”
“It’ll be too late. They’ll know we’re up to something once they see our forces marching toward their border. Even if I stop the attack, we’ll end up in a war.”
“Or, you could send everyone home and let the vampires know there’s a new king in town.”
He shakes his head. “It isn’t that simple.”
“What if it was?”
“That’s wishful thinking, little flower.”
I lift a shoulder. “Maybe, but I do know that you’ll never be able to live with yourself if you go through with this plan.”
His navy eyes flash. “My father—”
“Will run away while you pay the price. You’re better than him, Orcus. You may not think so, but I know so.”
He studies me. “You believe that?”
“Without a doubt. Your dad is an asshole.”
“You call me grumpy all the time,” he points out.
“That’s totally different. You can be grumpy and still have a heart. Your father on the other hand? I don’t know if he has one.”
“I think at one point he did.” Orcus looks away as someone passes. In the moment of silence, I mentally mark every line of obligation or concern or frustration on his face, swearing that somehow, I’ll find a way to make his father pay.
“You are better than him,” I say as he turns back to me.
Instead of responding, he simply brushes his lips over mine. “We’re going to be late now.”
“Then we better get going, grumpy.”
The soft smile he sends my direction melts my heart. Orcus nods and carries me the rest of the way to the great hall. I don’t ask to be let down this time. Any trace of happiness is gone, now replaced with a battle-ready scowl. My heart clenches with unease. Shaking off the fear of uncertainty, I prepare myself to face the ogre I want to junk punch with an unaffected smile.
