Page 1 of The Broken Prince

ONE

HARLOW

I returned to my father’s office, ready to make any other argument to free Aurelias. My father was scribbling across a sheet of parchment, writing so quickly that his handwriting was probably illegible. When it came to communication and diplomacy, he always half-assed it because it wasn’t his thing. He dropped the quill back into the ink jar. “What is it, sweetheart?”

“Sweetheart?” I stood at the desk. “Last time we spoke, you dismissed me like a guard.”

He rolled up the scroll and dropped it into the tube.

“Basically called me a brat.”

He sealed the tube and left it on the desk. “When you have a child of your own, you’ll be more sympathetic to my plight.”

“What a great apology.”

He got to his feet and regarded me. “I’ve released the vampire.”

My hostility waned as the truth sank in.

“I’ve specified the terms of his release—and he knows the consequences if he breaks them.”

I hadn’t actually expected him to do it. “Mother’s good…”

He walked around the desk and prepared to leave, ignoring me.

“Why are you mad at me?”

He stopped, the scroll still tucked in his big hand. He took a breath before he turned to look at me. “I’m not angry with you.”

“You didn’t apologize.”

His eyes shifted away momentarily. “Because I’m ashamed…”

My eyes softened.

“I’m ashamed of the way I lost my temper. The way I treated you. I thought I learned from my parents’ mistakes, but I’ve repeated them.”

“Father, nobody’s perfect.”

“But as King of Delacroix, King of Kingdoms, and your father, I need to be perfect.”

“Those are ridiculous standards.”

He looked at the scroll in his hand. “Perhaps.”

I moved into his chest and hugged him, showing my forgiveness in a way he would understand.

His arms circled me, and he rested his chin on my head, his big palm rubbing my back. After he pressed a kiss to my temple, he stepped away. “I understand you’ve vouched for the vampire, but be smart, Harlow. He could be playing a very long game.”

“If he were really our enemy, there’re a lot of other games he could have played. Better games…” I wouldn’t have known he was a vampire unless he’d announced it, and he could have used me and made me fall hopelessly in love with him to get what he wanted. He’d had me in the palm of his hand—and I think he knew it.

“He knows I’ll kill him if he comes near you. Let me know if he breaks his word.”

Disappointment filled me, but that feeling was quickly replaced by self-loathing. The last thing I should be was disappointed. “Okay.”

“I’ll need to return to HeartHolme soon. Need to prepare the scouting mission.”

“But you just got back—”