Chapter Thirteen

Long before I knew the intricacies of ruling a kingdom, I wasn't a typical princess.

That sentiment existed even before I was betrothed to the crown prince of Brealan and my mother welcomed the enemy into our home.

Having stared at the canopy of my featherbed for hours, I sighed, unable to fight the intrusive thoughts that haunted me. It simply wasn't possible that this was to be the fate the stars bestowed upon me. That the sum of my existence was meant to be reduced to carrying an heir for two kingdoms. I was meant for more than that.

Heavy rain lashed against the glass-stained window pane, as unyielding as the turmoil cresting inside me. With another long breath, I pushed back the thick covers that cloaked me. I hissed when my bare feet met the cold stone and quickly toed into the velvet slippers at my bedside.

Sleep was an impossibility on nights such as those. All racing thoughts of my predicament aside, the flashes of white lightning and deep rumbling in the distance were enough to will me into submission. I had to find calm.

Shoving my arms into the matching robe draped over the cream settee, I padded across the room and gently turned the knob of the chamber door. In truth, I didn't have a particular destination in mind, but I did know that my tumultuous feelings seemed to be at ease beneath the night sky.

I squeaked with surprise when Warwick's large form appeared in the doorway to tower over me. His hand gripped the pommel of his sword, his eyes wide with concern as he scanned me over. I took a step back and gave him a sheepish grin.

"Are you well, Princess?" Concern seeped into his irises and deepened the shade of his spring green eyes.

Shifting my weight, I ducked my chin. Understanding passed over the older man's features when a rumble of thunder echoed in the distance and I glanced over my shoulder.

Turning back, my gaze rested anywhere but his face. I loathed that a simple glance out the window told all that needed to be known about my mood.

"Can you fetch me some lavender tea from the kitchens?" I asked.

The emotion behind his eyes transformed into something I despised even further, if that was possible. Pity. When my powers were discovered by the whole of Minalis—including the people of our court—I became accustomed to their apprehensive stolen glances. Fear, I could withstand. Sympathy, however, I didn't require.

The crease in Warwick's brow smoothed as he smiled softly. "Of course, Princess. I'll return shortly."

With an incline of his head, the chamber door snicked shut as my guard stepped out into the hall. The night wind blew to the tune of the nefarious whispers that filtered into my mind.

When the sound of his echoing footsteps faded, I pulled the robe tighter around me and stepped into the quiet hall.

With Warwick's post abandoned, the corridor was all but deserted. Still, I held my breath and stuck to the shadows as I moved along silently. Considering it was the dead of night, the likelihood that someone other than the palace guards would find me was slim.

A small twinge of guilt lanced through me as I thought of Warwick returning to my empty chambers, his large hands clasped around a warm cup of tea.

I quickly pushed those thoughts aside. I just needed peace. In times such as these, I could only think of one place that would soothe the turmoil in my mind.

Cursing under my breath, I tiptoed past Nuelle's chambers with my heart feeling as if it might escape from my chest. She wasn't Mother or Father, but the silent glare of disapproval I would receive as she escorted me back to my chambers was somehow worse than any scolding from the King and Queen of Minalis.

An audible sigh of relief passed through my lips as I spied the kitchens. To any other, the shimmering gold and burgundy banner that hung adjacent to the servant's entrance of the kitchens showed nothing out of sorts. Little did anyone who passed by know, but an abandoned tunnel lay behind the thick velvet material.

Whether it was used by servants, or created as an escape route out of the palace, I couldn't say, but I discovered where it led long ago. In truth, it had been an accident. When my lessons were finished and it wasn't yet time for supper, I'd wander the halls, determined to learn the secrets the Amber Palace held.

I'd only discovered the passageway when I'd been desperate to hide from Nuelle after losing a large ruby out of Mother's crown. I'd only wanted to try it on for a moment. When I removed it from my head, it slipped through my fingers and hit the stone floor with a clatter. I'd fled when I heard Nuelle's quick footsteps approaching.

Looking both ways to assure none of the servants saw me wandering the castle at such an hour, I tiptoed to the tapestry and slipped behind it. Crouching and fumbling in thick, dust-coated darkness, my palms met the cold stone as I searched for the candlestick and match.

After stumbling along in the darkness on my first adventure into the night, I'd snuck the items from the Great Hall when the servants weren't looking. The corners of my lips tipped up in victory when my hands wrapped around the cool metal of the candlestick, then a small box with the texture of parchment. Striking the match as quietly as possible, I held it to the wick and was immediately rewarded with a glow that filled the deep, cavernous space.

Although my hands were covered in dust, I didn't allow that to steal my joy as I crept down the winding tunnel. In a few minutes, I reached the end, and pushed the wooden door of the hidden alcove open.

Stepping over the threshold, I closed my eyes and inhaled the fresh scent left behind. The rain had stopped, thank the stars, and I could almost taste the moisture lingering in the air upon my tongue.

Setting the candlestick on the ground behind me, wonder filled me as little creatures with tiny, glowing wings appeared. They seemed to be engaged in a game of chase as they swirled in iridescent circles around me. Extending my arms out from my sides, I tilted my head toward the sky. Letting my soul breathe.

My eyes flew open when the snapping of a tree branch cut through the peaceful silence. Crouching slowly so as not to alert the predator to my presence, I twisted around. Remaining vigilant, I grasped the candlestick and raised it in front of me, wielding it as if it were a weapon. Not that a candlestick would be a match for any matter of things that lived in the eerie woods behind my home. At least, this way, I'd have enough time to throw it at the great beast and run like hell.

Steadying my breathing, I inched closer to the door behind me, my gaze remaining on the silhouette of the forest ahead. For several moments, the only sounds to be heard were the chirping of night weasels, and the occasional splash from the lake of starlight. I was not so easily swayed, though. I felt the piercing gaze of whatever was out there upon me.

Every muscle in my body stilled when leaves crunched beneath heavy footsteps. The lanky shadow of the Risian prince appeared from the darkness. I dared not to breathe as he lifted his head and stopped mid-stride. For a moment, he beheld me with the same bewildered expression that had been smattered across his features earlier that dawn.

Even with the distance that separated us, his eyes were the most vivid hue of cerulean I'd ever seen. His stature was of a height that would rival my father's, his lithe form speaking to the rapid growth for men of our kind.

The fine sheen of sweat on his forehead glistened beneath the waning silver moon, ensuring a stray raven lock clung to his brow. Heat crept up my cheeks as my gaze wandered lower to find the smooth expanse of his chest bared to me. Gooseflesh prickled at my skin when I noticed his hand slowly flexing at his side.

"Ahem."

Horrified, my gaze flew to his face.

The corners of his lips twitched upward into an amused smirk. "What happened to your hand?"

A tingle of warmth ricocheted through my chest with the deep rumble of his voice. It was smooth like the red wine I would sneak from mother's goblet, rich like the most decadent chocolate to have graced my tongue.

My brows drew together in confusion and I tilted my head. There was something wrong with my hand?

"What?" My heart returned to a thundering pace as he took a long stride forward.

"Your hand. Why are you holding your thumb?"

With a frown, I looked down to find that my right hand had a tight grasp around my left wrist. I was only further puzzled when I realized my forefinger stroked the joint beneath my thumb. More precisely, near my mating mark.

Feeling the prince's unrelenting stare, I willed my hands into submission and placed them firmly at my side. Raising my chin, I leveled him with my most menacing glare.

"How did you even get out here?" I demanded, willing strength behind my tone.

As if my question was the most amusing thing he'd ever heard, a smirk stretched across his well-shaped lips. The kind of lips that would make the ladies of the court jealous, full and stained the palest shade of pink.

I narrowed my eyes further when he took another step forward and mimicked my movement, angling his head. "I walked. And you, Princess?"

With only an arm's length of distance between us, my legs moved of their own volition. Almost as if it were a dance, with each long stride he took forward, I took an equal step back. Although I had no reason to engage in such nonsense, the backs of my heels soon met the door of the hidden alcove.

The prince shoved his hands into his pockets. My nose wrinkled when I spied the brown mud caked below the knees of his tan breeches.

With the distance vanished between us, I craned my neck upward to meet his unabashed stare. An emotion I couldn't discern shimmered in the depths of his sapphire eyes.

The playfulness of his sharp features softened as the silence-filled moments passed and we stared at one another. The slight tang of sweat and earthy woods filled my senses with each of my slow, measured inhales. His gaze flickered between my eyes before moving to the apples of my cheeks, the bridge of my nose. Despite the steady hum in my ears, stillness akin to the calmest waters swept over me as his gaze touched the curve of my lips.

His tongue darted out to swipe over his bottom lip. "I'm Felix," he said suddenly, meeting my eye once more. "And you're the princess, Ellesandra."

I inched the candlestick higher between us. "Are you following me?"

Mirth danced in his eyes. His low chuckle skated over my skin as he withdrew his hands from his pockets. The signet ring of obsidian on his pointer finger that bore the Risian crest reflected beneath the moonlight.

"I mean you no harm, Princess. I'd always heard the blanket of the stars in Minalis rivaled those in Risian."

I wouldn't have believed that for a second, but his playful tone had vanished, replaced with a seriousness that resonated within me. The quiet of the night had long been my haven too. With a heavy sigh, I resigned myself. Besides, if his purpose had been to cut me down, he would have done it already.

A wide grin spread across the prince's lips as I lowered the candlestick and shoved my hand into the space between us.

"Yes, I'm Ellesandra."