Page 58 of Somber Prince

Sigid cleared his throat. “The Joy Vessels in the sarai of Her Majesty Queen Abeille all got their leilatha harnesses within a day of their arrival. The intense experience of the fitting left some of them traumatized. Having learned about that, Prince Rha ordered not to put a harness on those of his Joy Vessels who weren’t ready to accept one.”

Elaine leaned to my ear. “Were you ready when they did it to you? I’m not sure I was, but I didn’t fight them.”

“Mine was meant to be a punishment, remember? For slapping the prince?”

No one had asked me for my consent before putting the harness on me. But now I wondered if that had been the reason for Rha coming to my fitting and for him keeping his hand on me to guide and support me through it all. As if after ordering the punishment, he’d wanted to make sure it didn’t “traumatize” me.

I sighed, shaking my head. That man kept the delicate balance while treading a fine line between being ruthless and kind.

Even with my harness on, Rha hadn’t used it right away. He’d invited me to dinner, fed me, watched me dance, all while keeping his tendrils away from me. He’d only attached them to me when I allowed it. And I had no regrets that I did. Without the harness, I would’ve never seen his smile. As pathetic as it sounded, that alone seemed worth it to me.

My thoughts remained with Rha on our way back to the palace. And when we entered the courtyard, my thoughts seemed to materialize, taking the shape of the prince sitting on a floor cushion by the main fountain. Surrounded by a small group of men and women, he held a scroll open in front of him.

My heart skidded, then leaped at the sight of him.

“How many warriors does the queen want me to send to Sumakis?” Rha asked the people he was with.

An elegant woman sitting to his right replied, “The High Lady of Sumakis requested from the crown at least a thousand for the adequate defense of her city. Queen Abeille trusts you will provide that number.”

“She trusts me, does she now?” There was bitterness in his voice and in the hard set of his mouth.

I took in a long breath, calming my heart.

“Just be careful not to fall for him,” Elaine had said.

Falling for my captor with a harem full of people would be beyond stupid, even for me.

Rha raised his head as our group entered. We congregated by the gate at the sight of the prince.

“You’re back,” he said simply, rising to his feet.

The Joy Vessel Keepers took a knee. The guards bowed their heads. Not as well-versed in the etiquette of Teneris Palace, the rest of us just kept staring.

Rha’s eyes found me.

“I’ve come for you, Dawn.”

Everyone turned to me. Melanie’s elbow jammed into my ribs as a reminder not to fuck it up this time.

The prince stepped closer, holding out his hand to me. “Will you share the midnight meal with me?”

Butterflies rose in my stomach, swirling in a crazy dance as I placed my hand in his.

I was not going to fall for him.

Chapter Fifteen

DAWN

“Is it going to be just you and me tonight?” I asked Rha as he led me into his dining room for our midnight meal.

The room was empty, save for the musicians in their usual places on the low stage by the wall. They nodded to me like they would to a good acquaintance.

“Yes, just you and me,” Rha replied. “I find the presence of others distracting when I’m with you.”

“Distracting in what way?”

“I need all my senses to absorb and process everything that’s happening when you’re near me. I have no attention to spare for anyone else.”