Page 24 of Court of Winter

The guard shrugged. “I suppose you’d have to ask the prince that.”

But there was something in Haxil’s expression that made me think he knew exactly why the crown prince was in such a foul mood.

As we trudged up the mountain, the prince’s expression was hard and unforgiving, and the energy rippling from him was enough to make my shoulders want to fold inward while keeping my chin tucked to my chest.

Thankfully, whatever the reason for his rage, he kept it inward, not turning his affinity on me or his guards.

The village fell behind us when we entered the trees, and soon, smoke appeared from our accommodation’s chimney. When we finally entered the lodge’s main room, fragrant scents of freshly baked bread and succulent stew drifted through the air.

“Right over here!” Milis called, gesturing to the table nearest the fire that she’d preset with the guards’ meals, hot and ready.

“See that Ilara gets to her chamber,” the prince called tersely to Haxil before he disappeared up the back stairs.

Nish, Ryder, and Sandus headed toward their dinner. Numbly, I followed Haxil, once again realizing how my life was now completely out of my control. I was a prisoner of the crown prince. I now ate, slept, traveled, and probably relieved myself when he told me to.

Scowling, I pulled out a chair by the fire as my stomach let out a rumble.

“Hungry?” Haxil scooted over, making room for me at the table.

“I’m fine.”

“Ock, from that growl I just heard, you’re not fine,” Nish replied, giving me a sniggering grin after he swallowed a large gulp of ale.

“Leave her be, Nish,” Haxil said.

Nish cocked an eyebrow as Sandus also inched his chair over and waved toward the open spot. “Come and eat, Ilara Seary, daughter of Mervalee Territory.”

“Is that an order?”

Sandus gave a crooked smile. “I can’t order you, love. Only the prince can do that.”

I glanced back toward the stairs, but wherever the prince had ventured off to, he was long gone. I frowned as the image of Mealow’s husband collapsing beneath the prince’s rumbling power filled my mind again. Seconds. It had only taken himsecondsto kill that male. He’d brought down an enraged ice bear with only a thought.

My fury burned hotter, and I stoked my hatred for the crown prince until it roared as brightly as the fire in the lodge’s hearth. Yet again, the prince had destroyed another family so easily. Even if the husband had been abusive, fae could change. But now, Mealow and her son would never know if that would ever be a possibility.

My chair scraped against the floor when I finally joined the guards. Despite my anger, they were right. I was hungry, and now that the prince wasn’t around, perhaps I could stomach eating.

We ate in silence, with only the crackling of the fire and music floating through the air as company. Somehow, I managed to eat half a bowl of stew. My stomach protested at more, not used to the generous portions that Milis served. It didn’t help that as each spoonful disappeared into my belly, I felt more and more eyes from the other patrons fall upon us.

Word must have gotten out at what the prince had done in High Liss, because the lodge’s patrons stayed hushed—speaking in low tones to one another while casting wary glances toward the stairs, as though afraid of disturbing the dragon that slept in his cave above.

“Does the prince do that a lot?” I finally asked, breaking the silence. The guards had wolfed down their food, but now that everyone’s bellies were full, they were leaning back in their chairs as their wings slackened, and the fire roared.

“Do what, love?” Sandus asked.

“Kill fae?”

The guards stilled.

“Is that how you see it?” Nish’s eyes narrowed. “That the prince kills fae?”

“Isn’t that what just happened?” I challenged.

“What happened,” Nish replied, his teeth grinding together, “was that Prince Norivun acted in the realm’s best interest. That fairy’s wife came to him for help, so he did what was asked.”

My hands clenched together underneath the table. Nails biting into my palms, I retorted, “I don’t think she asked him to kill her husband. Besides, don’t the supernatural courts usually deal with domestic matters like that? He didn’t need to murder that fairy, especially since the prince is obviously a capable fighter. He could have restrained Mealow’s husband even if her husband had been in his ice bear form. Or at least, he could have tried.”

Nish’s glare increased, and he leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms. “How many fairies in their ice bear form have you restrained?”