Page 120 of Settle Down, Princess

Selene’s words made good sense, but I didn’t want to heed them. Let him come, that’s what the boy with his father’s blood on his hands shouted deep inside me. I thought he’d died along with the king, but he had been revived. My hand strayed to my sword hilt, something that had Selene’s eyebrow rising, but the priestess shook her head.

“Princess Jessalyn—”

“Go with Selene,” I urged. “She’s Silas’ sister, and she and the other ladies of the temple know how to keep you safe. Just keep your head down, and we will come for you when this is done. What happened here today?” I stared at the bed with all the anger, the enmity, I fought to keep back. “Nothing like that will touch you again.”

Gods, the hot flames of purpose flickered across my skin, threatening to burn me whole, even as they defrosted the shroud of ice I’d been wearing since the moment Ariel died. I felt moments of resolve before a battle, the adrenaline and the sure threat of death able to defrost me, but not for long. This, however, the sure need to keep Jessalyn safe, to prevent her from facing any of the indignities so many women had dealt with before her, burned through that ice, leaving me naked and aching.

Which was perhaps why I did this.

If undressing a princess in the king’s chamber was unwise, what was kissing her? Madness, that’s what I felt as my mouth slammed down on hers. My hands on her jaw, my fingers sliding to tangle in her hair. The smell of her perfume, of night blooming jasmine and roses and her, just her, filled my lungs to the point where I no longer wanted to breathe air. It was the rapid intake of her breath through her nose, then the way she softened against me, that I needed most—that very moment when our bodies softened against each other’s, slotting together as perfectly as if we were made this way.

“Stay safe,” I declared finally as I yanked myself free, smiling at Jessalyn’s dazed expression. “Just do that for me, princess, and I’ll bring the entire world to its knees.”

“Come along, Your Highness,” Selene said, stepping in when Silas and Roan went to approach Jessalyn. “We need to leave the castle now.”

I bore the sweet pain of watching Jessalyn leave far more easily now. The contract gave us seven days. Seven days to bring down a king, bring our enemies to the borders of my country, and somehow avert all-out war as my brother’s head lay at my feet. My lips curved into a wicked smile.

“The Bastard Prince and his band has faced down some fucking hopeless missions before,” Roan said with a shake of his head, “but this…?”

“Your father has a contingency plan?” I asked Silas.

“For everything.” He sighed. “Plans within plans.”

“Seems like a meeting with the Raven of Khean is in order then,” I said. “I’m not sure we can pull this off with just the four of us…” I frowned, staring at the blank space where Creed should’ve been. “Three of us, but surely, with The Guild behind us…”

“That will come at a price,” Silas warned. “Everything that comes from my father does.”

Gods, I knew that to be true. This wasn’t my first time bargaining with the Raven, but it was the first time I’d walk into his office, cap in hand.

“I’ll pay it.” I swallowed hard, shaking my head before starting for the door. “Whatever I have to give, he’ll have if he just…” I strode down the hallway and out of the castle, glaring at servants as they scurried to get out of our way. “If he’ll just help me keep Jessalyn safe.”

“He will.”

Silas’ grim expression told me everything I needed to know. He’d ensure that happened either with his father’s assistance or as he claimed the title of Raven from the man’s bloodied fingers.

“Creed is making sure my brother has no external support from the army,” I said as we reached our horses. “Let's see what we can do to undermine things within the walls.” I swung back into the saddle, my muscles aching, but I was only dimly aware of the feeling. “First to the Raven, then…” Bile filled my mouth, the harsh taste of acid burning my tongue. “I think we need to set up a meeting with the Duke of Fallspire.”

Ariel’s father had sworn to support my claim to the throne before, but it hadn’t come to much last time. I had to hope a revolutionary fire still burned within his breast. Or an avaricious one. The duke had been bold enough to support me against Magnus’ claim to the throne. Perhaps he would see the wisdom of doing so again.

Chapter 70

“So, it appears you’ve lit a fire under the prince’s perfectly formed arse.” I stared openly at Selene as we sat in the carriage taking us to the temple. Her arch tone seemed completely at odds with her holy attire, my expression earning me a wicked smile. “My father will want to meet with you. He’s been trying to tempt Arik to take the throne for years.”

“Arse…? Your father?”

People kept saying all these things to me, but I was preoccupied by two aches. There were ones deep in the muscles of my arms where the king’s filthy fingers had left their mark, but then there were those much gentler ones. Arik’s murderous speech was delivered almost under his breath as he inspected my injuries. His words were gratifying and terrifying in turns.

“Selene.” She offered me her hand like we were two women at the market. “Sister of Silas, though I think you already worked out that he is my twin. We’re the children of the Raven of Khean.”

I was aware that there were guilds and then there were ‘guilds.’ The tight-lipped glass blowers’ guild protected the secret of making gold-coloured glass with their very lives, but the other ‘guilds?’ They used a shroud of secrecy to mask less legitimate activities.

“Your father is head of the Thieves’ Guild?”

She watched me stiffen with a smile, but then her focus shifted to the open window of the carriage.

“Thieves’ Guild? There are plenty of light-fingered fellows in my father’s employ, but let's just say any gambling hall, any ale house, or brothel that opens within these walls does so with my father’s permission, lest they face his wrath. He has a vested interest in keeping the peace to ensure those businesses continue to be profitable, which brings me to the most important question.”

“Which is?”

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