Page 11 of Tarnished Crown
“Technically, you’re sharing my room, but I wasn’t going to accuse you of ill intentions.” The corner of his mouth tilted up.
I scowled at him, and he sighed.
“There are two beds here, for storms’ sake,” he said, sitting on the corner of the one closest to the door. “Everyone is sharing, and it isn’t like anyone else was volunteering to room with the Lochlannian.”
Relieved about that in spite of myself, I cast about for another reason he couldn’t stay. “So it wasn’t enough for you ruining my life and future, now you’re going to destroy my...reputation?”
I had always been a mediocre liar at best, but I was hoping he didn’t realize how long ago that ship had sailed with my antics in Lochlann.
That hope was dashed quickly when he raised a single, condescending eyebrow.
“From what I hear, you did that pretty well on your own, Lemmikki.”
I made a valiant attempt at a disbelieving expression, and he leveled a look at me, holding up a finger.
“The guard you were found in the tunnel with—”
“That was different. Davin is—” I stopped before I could saymy cousin, but what I replaced it with was infinitely worse. “A eunuch. All of the Lochlann...royal...princess guards are, for...obvious reasons.”
He made a thoughtful face that I was fairly certain was mocking, holding up a second finger. “I believe there was also the business with the ‘stableboy?’”
I internally cursed the man who had turned out to be a spy for Socair.
“Well...that was...also different. Because we had a deep connection…” From his face to mine. “In our souls.”
Was I the only one who realized how ridiculous I sounded? No. He definitely heard it, too.
“Ah. Indeed. But then, of course, there was Lord Theodore in the smuggler’s hole. Honestly, I couldn’t be less concerned with your prior escapades, Lemmikki, but as you raised the issue of your reputation, I feel compelled to ask, was that also different?”
Mila was right. They really did do nothing but gossip at that stars-forsaken Summit.
“Obviously,” I said with more confidence than I felt. “Theo and I were...practically married.”
Evander choked back what I was certain was a laugh. “Of course. Sopractically marriedthat you waited until death was the only other option to agree to it.”
Though I had been mostly lying, the full force of that statement hit me, how drastically my life had changed in two weeks and then changed again. I should have been safe in Theo’s arms right now, headed back to his clan as his wife and ready to start our life together.
Instead, I was here, sharing a room with Lord Arseling and his never-ending condescension.
I gave him a smile that was more a baring of my teeth. “I’m sure your sparkling personality makes you an expert in interpersonal relationships, but you really don’t know the first thing about mine.”
He snorted. “But your ninety-second engagement gives you a wealth of insight? You know, I think I’ll forgo taking criticism from someone who has managed to become a captive two times over in as many weeks.”
I saw red. I had never been prone to anger, but Lord Evander had me clenching my fist just to avoid punching his smug face.
“You know, I thinkI’llforgo defending myself to a man whotook me as his slave,” I spat. “I may not have the moral high ground in many situations, but I’m fairly certain I have it here.”
“Oh, no doubt, Princess,” he agreed amicably. “But the rooming situation stays. Worry not, you can comfort yourself with the knowledge that this is alsodifferent, because you’re my pet and I’m your owner.”
Gritting my teeth to keep from responding, I climbed into the bed closest to the fire without another word.
Evander was almost eerily quiet on his side of the room. He didn’t slurp his soup, didn’t fidget, didn’t even breathe loudly. Even in the silence, though, it was impossible to forget he was there. Tension thrummed in the air whenever he was around.
I didn’t think he was lying about his intentions or his reasons for sharing a room, but I would have been an idiot to let my guard down entirely. So I forced myself to stay awake, my mind drifting to everything that was just said.
I would have been married right now if Evander hadn’t stepped in. I thought back to all the nights Theo and I had shared a room on the way here, how we had forced ourselves to stop at just kissing. How we had drawn the line at sharing a bed.
How we wouldn’t have had to do those things anymore.