Chapter 10

T hey lay out on the blanket for a little while longer, talking. The brief glimpses into Ember's life seemed to fascinate Cole, and his eyes rarely left her face. But she was reluctant to talk about her past. She didn't have many happy memories and thinking about it caused her pain.

Instead, she talked about painting, how she loved messing about with oils and acrylics, and how she had once won an award at school. She told him with pride about the time her paintings had featured in a newspaper article for up-and-coming local artists. No matter that the paper was just a small-town rag, and the readership was in the low thousands. It had been a thrilling moment for her, and she still had a copy of the article stuck carefully between the pages of an old journal.

"The tournament will take up many days," Cole said. "I'll be occupied with training and with my team. But all my servants and rooms are at your disposal. Whatever you wish for is yours. Perhaps you'd like to do some painting to help pass the time?"

She gave him a grateful look. "Thank you, Your Highness," and then, worriedly, "But… how many days?" If she didn't show up to school on time, they'd give her place to someone else, and it wasn't as if she could call anyone from here and inform them of her delay.

Cole gave a careless wave of his hand. "It doesn't matter. You can go back to any time you choose—as long as it is within your natural life span, of course."

"So, I can't go back and see the dinosaurs?" she teased and was perturbed to see Cole's face darken.

"No," he said shortly. "You wouldn't want to go back then. It was a terrible time for fae."

She let this comment slide, but she couldn't help but think of Bruno. If she could go back to the instant before Bruno died, she could push him out of the way or something. She loathed the man, of course, but no one deserved a terrible death like the one he'd been given.

"There's a mirror in my room that shows Earth and anywhere else you want. Perhaps you'd like to visit it sometime?"

His voice had taken on a suggestive tone, and Ember shot him an indignant look.

He laughed aloud. "I do believe my cousin has scared you off."

She shook her head. "No, I just … I shouldn't have kissed you. I'm sorry."

He looked perplexed. "But you wanted to."

"Just because I wanted to, doesn't mean I should."

"But I wanted to. And so, I did."

"That's because you're a fae prince, and I'm just a fragile human," she said, with more than a hint of sarcasm.

"You're much more than that, Ember Bailey," he said, and taking her hands, drew her to her feet.

The blanket and cushions had vanished, the soiled plates gone as if they had never existed. Ember didn't even blink. She must be getting used to this strange place, she thought, as they strolled up the hill and back toward the castle.

Spending time outside under the sunny fae sky had calmed her nerves—that is until Ashe had turned up and left her in no doubt that she still had a good while yet before she could return to her regular life. Once again, she had a longing for clean white sheets and perfect peace, but this time she wasn't afraid to say it. Fae did what they wanted, didn't they? Well, maybe for once, she should too.

"I'd like to rest now," she said to Cole, disinclined to utter the more suggestive, "I want to go to bed" and he nodded and took her hand.

"Then that is what you shall do."

"And … I think it would be best if I stayed out of your way for a bit. For Lissa's sake."

His head shot up at that and he gave her a piercing look that made her squirm.

"Lissa is my teammate, the captain of the Waves. During the games, my power will run through her veins like fire. We will be closer than family, closer than lovers. We've had a dalliance—a rather enjoyable one, as it happens. But I am the prince, and neither Lissa nor my cousin nor you have any right to take me to task."

His brows drew together in a petulant scowl. The sky darkened and Ember blinked.

"I'm sorry," she said. "I wasn't sure what the … protocol was."

Cole had turned Bruno to a lump of smoking meat, she reminded herself. He could turn on her at any moment. He was powerful. For a moment, she wondered how much stronger he would be if he won the tournament and could wield Ashe's power as well. The thought was sobering.

The sky lightened again as his face cleared. "Of course you weren't. Who could know about Lissa and me? I don't even think I know myself. We have spent time together, in bed," he added with a wicked smile that made his green eyes sparkle and Ember smiled with relief at seeing his good humour return, "and of course she thinks she might become my queen someday, but they all do. She has lovers, I have lovers. We do as we please. Life is for living, for enjoying, for taking and having."

This idea fascinated Ember. She'd always felt life was for enduring, for struggling, with the occasional bright spot, like getting paid her weekly wage or going out for coffee with friends. But Cole's world was all pleasure, all the time. Her life was at the mercy of others: Bruno, her boss, her acceptance into art school. But Cole directed his own life. He made the world as he wanted it. How would it be to live like that?

"None may judge me, save the Adjudicator," Cole said, his expression becoming serious. "That's his job, but certainly not in games of love."

The castle was cool and dim as they stepped through the outer door, and it fascinated Ember that the gardens through the arched windows still appeared as though doused in twilight. Candles flickered as they walked, and Ember wondered why the castle was almost permanently at dusk even when the world outside had moved on.

"Who is the Adjudicator?" she asked.

"He is ancient. The oldest fae alive. He manages the tournament. He will be the one to imprison Ashe."

Or you , she thought, but she didn't say it.

He walked her through the maze of halls until she recognised the place where the forest grew and called for her servant. Lily appeared, curtseying prettily, and Cole instructed her to take Ember back to her room.

"I'll see you soon. Remember, you have the run of the castle. Anything you want."

He gave Ember a courtly bow and reached for her hand, pressing his lips to the back of her hand, and sending an arrow of heat through her, before striding away.

Ember watched him go for a moment, and then she turned and followed Lily back to her room.