Page 69 of Court of Winter
Blessed Mother, am I still drunk?I admonished myself internally and wondered if the tonic Daiseeum had given me had also messed with my brain function. I hated this male. Truly hated him. So why was my belly suddenly coiling in anticipation?
I had to still be drunk. It was the only rational explanation.
The prince peered down at me, his eyes piercing. His hair was pulled back into a low ponytail that settled between his wings. Shoulders so broad they looked as though they would rip his shirt stretched past my peripheral vision.
The corner of his mouth kicked up as he inhaled. “Are you feeling okay?”
My head snapped back. “Yes, I’m fine. Why do you ask?”
He inhaled again, the movement slow as though he was savoring something. “No reason.”
That smile stayed on his face, and I suddenly had the urge to wipe him clean of it. He looked so...smug.
But I hadn’t done anything to make him appear so arrogant, so I crossed my arms and arched a questioning eyebrow.
He stroked his chin. “Do you remember last night?”
My cheeks reddened when it occurred to me that he’d seen me completely intoxicated. “I remember that we made a bargain.”
“And do you remember anything after that?”
My heart thrummed harder. “No,” I said cautiously. “Should I?”
His eyes shuttered, and his strange small smile disappeared. “No, as long as you remember the bargain, that’s all that matters. You’re to replenish the continent withorem.”
I groaned. “So I did agree to that.”
“Correct, which is why your training begins today. And the first thing we’re doing is getting you away from the castle’s prying eyes and going somewhere discreet so you may practice your affinity without anyone judging you.”
“Oh.” Some of the nerves in my stomach loosened. If I actually had an affinity, he was right that I didn’t want to begin practicing it only to fail while others watched me. “Thank you...for that.”
He shrugged, and for a moment, it felt as though I was conversing with any other male. Not the male who’d murdered my family.
I shook myself. I was definitely still drunk.
“So where are you taking me?” I asked.
“Harrivee Territory. I need to do some business there anyway, and the fields outside of Barvilum have been dead for six months.”
“And what am I to do?”
“You’re to restore theoremin the fields.”
“You act like I know how to.”
He waved toward the courtyard. “You do, although you might not be consciously aware of it yet, so this week, I’ll be taking you to Harrivee daily so you may practice your affinity. I would like to see for myself where it’s currently at before you begin training with the castle’s most prestigious tutor next week.”
I twisted my hands. “But what if I can’t do any of what you’re asking?”
“You’ll be able to.”
He sounded so confident. Much more than I felt.
CHAPTER18
The prince led me from my bedroom chambers to the courtyard’s garden. When I cocked my head at him amidst the warm air, budding flowers, and bright leaves, he pointed upward. “We’re flying out.”
“Under one of your illusions?” I figured if he was still trying to hide my imprisonment, then that would be the only way to conceal our departure. I just thanked the Mother that I remembered the details of our bargain, because I had a feeling the prince would have been fine with me forgetting the fact that I could now freely leave the Exorbiant Chamber.