Page 9 of The Broken Prince

He looked away, looking toward the main street that was dimly lit. The lights at the inn were bright, right across from the bar where visitors got drunk before walking back to their rooms.

“As you’re the best I’ve ever had, I’d rather screw you than a lesser substitute.”

He still wouldn’t look at me.

I remained against the stone wall, my sword at my hip, the metal of my armor concealing my flesh from his touch. I wanted a room with a bed, somewhere I could remove everything and feel those big hands squeeze me so hard it hurt.

He finally turned back to me. “No.”

“No?” I knew he wanted me, felt the intensity of his kiss, the hardness of his dick against my body. “Gods…you’re married.”

His head cocked slightly, and his body noticeably tightened. “No.”

“Then you have a woman—”

“When I’m in a committed relationship, I don’t stick my dick in other people.”

I noticed he said when rather than if. So there had been someone in his life at some point in time.

“I just don’t want you, Harlow.” As if that concluded the conversation, he turned away.

I felt the sting of an invisible palm against my cheek, the jerk of an unexpected force. It was a brutal rejection, the kind that would destroy anyone’s confidence. But I snapped back instantly. “Really? Your dick is just hard like that all the time?” I asked incredulously. “Like a sword in your pants?”

He continued to walk away.

“You just kiss a woman like that? Grab her ass?”

He didn’t turn back.

“You’re full of shit, Aurelias. And you’re a fucking coward for not owning up to it.”

THREE

HUNTLEY

Storm landed in HeartHolme, and I dropped down to the ground.

“Rest.” I rubbed his snout. “We have a big journey ahead of us.”

He rubbed his head into my palm, his big eyes locked on mine.

I patted him and walked away, entering through the open gates of HeartHolme and into the city. It was still daylight, and the sunshine was enough to place some heat on the skin despite the chilly temperatures.

I approached the castle, needing to speak to my mother and brother and make arrangements for the forthcoming journey. Ivory and I had been separated in wartime before, but I’d never been separated from my children since they were born, and that was a horrible feeling. I should stay to protect them, but I had to protect my kingdom as well.

I entered my mother’s chambers and was greeted with a hard embrace. Every time she saw me, she wore her emotion on her sleeve, made me feel loved and missed, and it always made me feel guilty because she never extended that affection to Ian, despite everything he’d accomplished, despite the fact that he’d sacrificed just as much as I had.

“Son.” She pulled away and gently patted my cheek. “Harlow is well?”

“She’s unharmed. Thankfully.”

“We have much to discuss.”

“We do. Let’s call for Ian.”

Mother addressed one of her guards to fetch him. When he was gone, she addressed me. “Before he joins us…there’ve been some issues.”

My eyes narrowed.

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