Chapter 12
Blue
It took me no time to find Prince Mikael. He was seated alone at a table furthest to the back, casually reading a book in a small crescent of light. One of his guards stood before him, keeping any possible distractions away.
I smiled.
And then I flinched. I nearly forgot myself, smiling at the prince in such a familiar manner. Coughing into my hand to cover my slip, I realized no one had paid me any attention. The novelty of my wearing a dress had long since worn off. This had become nothing more than a standard ball full of gossip and men and women throwing themselves at the biggest catch they could find.
It was all rather sickening if you asked me.
I could alert Prince Mikael by magic that I needed to speak with him privately, but I had a suspicion that his knight would not bar my way to him.
He’d brought Father a cookie.
While the rest of the kingdom had fawned over Father and had brought their best jewels, spells, and coins, Prince Mikael had brought a cookie.
This time when I smiled, I didn’t try to hide it. What a waste of a cookie. My stomach growled. I wondered if I could make it my own later, I doubted father would care.
Clenching my hands into fists, I walked with determined steps in the prince’s direction. I wasn’t even halfway there when suddenly he looked up and for just a moment, I saw something flicker in his mossy irises that caused my heart to stir almost violently in my chest.
But then a slow, lazy smirk crossed his face. He shut his book, propped his elbow on the table, and planted his chin on his hand in an obvious gesture that he was waiting on me.
Heat rose on the back of my neck. Why did my knees feel so bloody useless all of a sudden? I felt like I was wading through concrete as I walked the rest of the way to him. Once I approached, I again smelled the scent of Cyprus oil. He must wear it as cologne.
But no sooner had I arrived than a stunning female draped in furs with platinum blond hair and brilliant ebony sheep horns tried to make her way to him. She had to be a Northerner dressed as she was.
Instantly, Prince Mikael’s lazy smile slipped. His knight stepped forward. “The prince is busy. You must go.”
“Do you know who I am!” She tapped her chest with long blood-red nails. “I am the Second Princess Leone of the North, I demand to see—”
“Ah, Princess,” Prince Mikael said, suddenly standing beside his guard, dipping his head once in dismissal of the knight. Obediently his man faded into the background. “Do forgive my slight, you look remarkably well this evening.”
The Prince of the North—Prince Niklous—wasn’t married. But he did have many recognized offspring. She was the second daughter, thus her title. It didn’t carry much weight, apart from the fact that she was tied to the prince herself. It did not carry the same power as a true princess born from the union of a recognized consort of the kingdom would.
Which likely accounted for her hissy fit when she thought the knight dared bar her way. No doubt she had an inferiority complex because of it.
He took her hand in his and kissed her knuckles.
“Is that patchouli I smell?” Prince Mikael asked with a sly grin.
The transformation in her was instant. She went from a raging witch to a shy and demure princess of the empire. I stared at the prince wondering what game he played at now.
“It is,” she said softly, with a kittenish air. Then her lavender eyes turned toward mine. “What are you looking at, mutt?” Again, her claws had come out.
I shook my head, ready to invent an apology and leave. The prince was busy. I’d seek him out another time.
His grin was sly, arrogant, and he had an expectant air about him as though he waited for me to entertain him some more. For some bloody reason, it made my blood feel hot.
“I shall return at another time, my apologies, princess.” I gave a small bow.
“You dare speak with such cheek!” She snapped, making a public spectacle of herself.
I lifted a brow. I was used to overbearing nobles, but this was a little above their usual abuse of power. I cocked my head, wondering what she could possibly invent as my slight to her person.
“If I’ve given offense, I beg your forgiveness,” I said with a neutral tone. I could feel the eyes of those closest to us being drawn into the princess’s theatrics.
“You dare approach the prince!” She rushed out of the Prince’s arms, lifting a hand, looking as though she meant to strike me. I balled my hands into fists but stood my ground. If I ran it would only reflect poorly on Father. Either way, I’d be beaten. Better to take it from her than from him.
I lifted my chin, watching that hand come sailing down. For a second, I saw the prince’s jaw clench, and there was a burn of fire in his jeweled green eyes.
Before I knew it, he was suddenly in front of me. His hand outstretched, gripping hers in his. Adrenaline coursed like bees through my body.
“I commanded the young lady’s presence earlier. She is merely responding to my command. Do forgive us, Princess. But this is a matter of utmost urgency,” he said smoothly.
Flummoxed, the princess stuttered, her pale cheeks were stained bright red. If the prince had requested my presence, then I had every right to be there. He would never defend a mutt otherwise.
So why exactly was he defending me?
He turned toward me. His eyes flashed green fire.
“Come,” he said, beckoning me to him with an imperious finger wag.
Putting on an air of obedience, I tilted my head and walked over to him. I expected him to turn and follow me out of the room, but instead, he took my hand in his.
The gasps all around us were like a traveling wave.
Treating me—not as a despised half-blood, but—as a noble lady, he turned and escorted me out the room. Neither of us spoke a word to one another until we were well out the hall.
“You don’t need to hold my hand anymore, Prince, no one can see us now,” I said calmly, though inside I felt nothing but.
“And yet it pleases me to hold your hand. And you may call me Mikael.”
My stomach suddenly felt as though it’d dived to my knees. I shook my head. “That would be improper, Prin—”
Growling, he turned us. We stood beneath the awning of the solarium. Far removed from the crowded confines of the ballroom. Moonlight kissed his handsome face, sculpting his already stunning visage into something almost godlike.
I swallowed hard. Under the moonlight he had a hint of the Green Man about him, perhaps it was my imagination, but it seemed that the scent of Cyprus bloomed stronger.
“Call me by my name or I will return at once to that godforsaken ball and not speak with you for the entirety of the evening, is that what you really want, little bird? Considering you went to such great pains to drag me here.”
It was a silly threat he issued. He knew it and I knew it. And yet… I sniffed softly. “As you command. Mikael.”
For a moment I felt a tremor course from his hand through mine and his fingers tightened imperceptibly.
Without another word, we entered the solarium. I felt the movement of his guards. His knights would never leave his side.
I sat at the lavish table and he took a seat beside me. “My guard will alert us if anyone approaches, speak freely with me, Blue.”
I’d never given him permission to call me by name, but then he was a prince. I did not have the right to give him permission for anything.
Snapping my fingers, I cast a spell that would garble our speech.
“I was visited by Elder Acornus.”
That lazy demeanor of his instantly stiffened and I almost grinned at the thought that for once someone had managed to surprise the arrogant man.
“Elder Acornus. Why did you not write to me of this?”
I shook my head. “I did not trust that kind of information to come from anywhere save my mouth to your ears.”
“Your spells are some of the most complicated in the realm, Blue. It took me forever to figure out how to even open your first damned letter. Blast you.”
His words while grousing, were full of respect.
The prince was vexingly hard for me to figure out sometimes. Tonight, it seemed he would not help me with the princess, and then he came to my rescue at the end of it. Even affording me pride as he’d escorted me out like I was someone of note.
I looked down at my lap. “I did not dare write of Elder Acornus. I learned that in this world there are those more powerful than I.”
Suddenly his thumb was on my chin and he was tilting my face up. “Do not look down at your lap when you speak with me. You and I are equals here.”
My nostrils flared.
His dark brow lifted. “You do not believe I speak the truth. I see. Then I will merely have to convince you of my sincerity. Give me time. I never fail at anything I set my mind to.”
My brows twitched. “You are very strange, milord.”
He laughed. The sound was rich and full of humor.
“And you are very bold speaking to a prince in such a casual manner, woman. What shall I do then, have you flogged?” He tapped an elegant finger against his chin. “Or, how about I simply”—he slipped a hand into his pocket and before I knew it there was a box, the same as the one my father had been given by him.
Taking his gift with trembling hands, I almost hugged the silly thing to my chest. “Cookies?”
He nodded. “I was up all night baking them for you. I hope you’ll like it. It’s been two years since you last ate them, I hope they’re still up to snuff.”
Ripping up the beautiful packaging I grinned as I saw the perfectly shaped treat. “Oh gods, I’ve been dreaming of these for so long.”
I didn’t care that it was impolite to eat while others did not, I took my first bite. It was as I remembered it. Buttery. Sweet and full of anise. I moaned, strangely giddy. It was better than I remembered.
When I’d finally finished, I looked at him only to see him smiling down at me indulgently. “The thoughts that go through my head when I see you eat what I made with my own hands are downright terrifying, little bird.”
I shifted in my seat as I cleared my throat.
Reaching out, he wiped his thumb down my mouth. “Crumb,” he said by way of explanation.
But then he did the most astonishing thing and stuck the finger with the crumb on it into his mouth. “I really am a good baker. What did the elder want?”
And suddenly he went from being an insufferable noble to one of the brightest minds of the kingdom.
Coughing into my fist, still feeling discombobulated, I said, “I believe he has given you his blessing of succession.”
I said nothing more as I saw him digest what I’d said. He tapped the side of his cheek with a tapered nail. “The Arcana is loyal only to the empire. They’ve never betrayed the sitting ruler.”
I inclined my head. “You are right. They haven’t.”
“Just who the devil are you, little bird, that you could speak with an elder and live to tell the tale?” he asked me, curiosity bright in his jeweled gaze.
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