Page 36 of Court of Winter

The guard did a once-over. “Well, look at you, Ilara Seary, daughter of Mervalee Territory. You look like a noble female.”

“I had help.” I nodded toward the serving girl.

She blushed, then curtsied one last time before scurrying down the hall, leaving me to follow Haxil downstairs to the great room.

A fire roared in the giant hearth, just like it had yesterday when we entered the area. I figured that a fairy with a fire elemental affinity had infused it with magic that allowed it to burn hot and bright around the clock, even when the wood fueling it ran low.

The three other guards along with the prince sat at a table, the remnants of their breakfast in front of them. A serving platter with a few portions of meat, eggs, and thick toast slathered in butter, along with dishes of fresh berries in cream, remained.

My mouth watered at the sight, and my stomach gave a ferocious growl. I’d never been around such an abundance of food in my entire life, and it seemed that my stomach was taking notice. Of course, the prince and his guards probably took it for granted. Unlike the rest of the fae on the continent, they’d probably never known a day of hunger in their lives.

The prince was drumming his fingers on the table and eyeing the windows when we reached them.

“Would you like to sit, Ilara?” Haxil pulled out a chair for me. “I’m sure the prince wants you to eat before we leave.”

The other guards watched me, but my cheeks didn’t warm until the prince glanced my way.

Prince Norivun’s features remained smooth, giving no hint to anything unusual having happened between us.

I gave an inward sigh of relief. I must not have climbed into bed while he still occupied it.Thank the Mother.

But any gratefulness I felt vanished when his jaw ticked with annoyance. “You’re late. I told you we leave at sunrise.”

I settled onto my chair and waited for Haxil to also seat himself before I said in a biting tone, “Good morning to you too, and if someone hadn’t destroyed my clothes, perhaps I would have arrived on time.”

The prince’s drumming fingers stopped. “Your clothes were filthy and better off burned. I did you a favor.”

I snapped my napkin over my lap. “Is that how you see it, my prince? How kind of you to take one more thing from me and destroy it without my consent.”

His eyes blazed sapphire. “I didn’t—” But he closed his mouth as a frown knit his features. His jaw ground tighter, and a rumble of his power vibrated around him before he growled, “Just eat. We need to get going. A gale is moving in.”

Those words left his mouth with such commanding force that my hands responded before my brain did. I found myself reaching for the plate of toast, then piling a spoonful of eggs on the bread.

“Would you like any of this?” Haxil held up the array of meats.

I grabbed several slices of crisp bacon as the guard also poured me a cup of tea.

“Thank you.”

Haxil grinned, his cheeks round and his eyes sparkling. “Pleasure is mine.”

I gave Haxil a small smile, and the prince’s chair squeaked when he pushed it back and cast his guard an irritated glare before he stood and went to the windows.

Ignoring the crown prince, I munched on the toast, bacon, and eggs. The other guards remained quiet as they shared occasional glances between Prince Norivun and me.

Once again, a scowl twisted the prince’s features. It didn’t seem he was in a much better mood than me, which led to Nish glowering at me more than once. I figured the guard was blaming me again for causing problems, but if he thought I was going to simply sit back and become an obedient fairy, he had another thing coming. Granted, I couldn’t do anything so stupid that it would get me killed, but I could goad the prince and do everything in my power to make him regret ever having taken me.

I was halfway through my last piece of crispy meat, the fat on it so succulent that it melted in my mouth, when the prince returned to the table.

“Time to go. You’ll have to finish eating when we get there.”

Dusting my hands off, I stood without complaint. Considering I’d eaten twice as much as I usually did, I gave him a sweet smile.

“As you wish, my prince.”

His scowl deepened, which made a petulant thrill run down my spine.

“Safe travels,” Milis called as we ventured toward the front door. “Ock, be mindful out there. A right gale’s coming in. Best to take care.”