Page 32 of Court of Winter
“Correct. Now don’t you suppose that they would also like to get some rest tonight?”
“Well, of course they would.”
“And do you really think that they’d be able to rest well if they were guarding me while I slept in one room and you while you slept in another? That would require two guards on each room during the night versus four guards on one room. I’ll leave the mathematics to you. I’m sure even your simple mind can deduce that they’ll get more sleep if there’s only one room to protect.”
I rolled my eyes. “So you’re actually claiming that you’re sharing a room with me to be less of a burden to your guards?”
He continued to stare down at me from his imposing height and didn’t respond.
Even though my hatred for the male still burned hotly inside me, a small part of me paused at his strange courteousness. As the crown prince, all he had to do was snap his fingers, and he would be granted any wish of his choosing. One would assume with that kind of entitlement, he would be selfish and uncaring, but apparently, he actually thought about his guards’ comfort.
Or it was all just a ruse to trick me.
Of course.It had to be a ruse.
The prince leaned down, and I could have sworn darkness gathered around him. “What’s the matter, Ilara Seary, daughter of Mervalee Territory? Does that surprise you so much? Does it not coincide with your preconceived notions of the Death Master?”
Even though his words dripped with sarcasm, I still detected something in his tone. Something that hinted at my reaction being what he was so used to hearing.
“I shall leave the latrine to you. Fresh clothes are on the bed.” He sidestepped me before I could stop a sliver of guilt from burning through me.
But any shame I’d felt at assuming he was horrible in every way was doused when a pile of clothes abruptly landed on my head.
I swung around to find him smirking.
“Did you really just throw my clothes at me?”
“No, I simply gave them to you.”
“You’re not a gentlefae at all.” I snatched the shirt off the floor that had fallen off my head.
“I figured I’d save you the trip back to the bed.”
Seething, I tucked the clothes under my arm and faced him as he doused one of the fairy lights. Since it was becoming apparent that I was sharing a room with him whether I liked it or not, I said, “Okay, fine. We’ll share a room, but tell me something, my prince. How do you know thatIwon’t harmyouduring the night?”
His gaze dipped, and he did a slow perusal of my body, his stare like the strength of a hundred suns, burning a path into me.
“Let’s see...you’re small, underweight, wingless, magicless, and most importantly, weaponless.” He stroked his chin as he lifted the covers with his free hand. “If you were actually able to kill me in my sleep, I would deserve it for being so weak.”
“So I’m too minuscule to be a threat? I see.” Thankfully, my reply came out haughty because inside, I was dying with embarrassment. The prince was right. Even if I managed to secure a weapon, I wouldn’t know how to use it.
“Now, are you satisfied?” He sank onto the mattress while his wings bent to accommodate him. “Or do you have more questions I need to address before I finally go to bed?”
I clenched my teeth. “One last question, my prince. Why must we share a bed?”
“Because there’s only one.”
“Can’t you sleep on the floor?”
He settled the covers over his bare chest, and his rounded shoulders stayed visible over the top while his giant wings seemed to take up half the mattress.
“Why would I do that?”
Blessed Mother...I made myself count to ten before responding. “Because we’re not sharing a bed, my prince. And since I’m the one who’s been taken captive and held prisoner for no discernible reason, I think the least you can do is give me the bed while you take the floor.”
“Why would we do that when this bed is more than large enough for us both?”
“Just get on the damn floor!”