Page 31 of The Broken Prince

“Father saved me…” He looked into his glass.

“Perhaps I’m not the favorite after all.”

“No,” Kingsnake said quickly. “You definitely are. But it’s nice to know he still has some affection for the rest of us.”

Silence hung heavy in the air, the world quiet after the battle that had shaken the foundation of Delacroix. The field was stacked with dead bodies, friends and foes, and the blood had stained the stones. Unless it was scrubbed, it would probably always be there. I admired the views this kingdom had to offer, the way the grass smelled in the heat, the way it functioned without a vampire ruler.

“I don’t want to seem insensitive,” Kingsnake said. “In light of the battle that’s claimed so many lives…but we need to feed. It’s been a long time since we had a proper meal. Can that be arranged?”

I released a heavy sigh, because feeding on the subjects was strictly prohibited by King Rolfe, a man who wouldn’t hesitate to kill me if I gave him any reason to. “I’ve been subsisting off animal blood while I’ve been here. I suggest you do the same.”

Kingsnake stared for a solid three seconds, in utter disbelief. “When was the last time you properly fed?”

“A couple months…”

Kingsnake stilled.

So did the others.

“You’re lucky that thing didn’t kill you,” Kingsnake said. “Functioning on partial capacity…”

I refilled my glass and took a drink.

“Now it’s your turn to catch us up,” Cobra said. “What have you been doing these last few months? Besides ingesting animal blood.”

I told them the story, kidnapping Harlow but then rescuing her instead, becoming a prisoner to her father until he finally released me once Harlow pleaded on my behalf. “He was only gone a few days before this shit happened.”

“You think they’re related?” Kingsnake asked.

“I’m not sure,” I said. “It’s one hell of a coincidence.” King Rolfe might already be dead, but I didn’t have the heart to tell Harlow that. He could have traveled to their lands, been taken, and they deployed this army to demolish his kingdom. The lead monster did ask for the king, but it could have been a taunt.

“Since you saved Delacroix, I think you’re free to go,” Kingsnake said. “You’ve earned your freedom.”

“Let’s leave tomorrow,” Cobra said. “If there’s no food here, we have no reason to stay. We’ll return to the ship, where our volunteers are waiting, and feed on the return journey. I know you’re hungry, Aurelias, but make sure you don’t kill them.”

Everything in my body hurt all at once, as if I’d been stabbed with a hundred blades. My expression didn’t change, but I stared across the table at my brother, who was completely oblivious to the insult he’d just unleashed. I could feel it in his emotions—that it was completely unintentional.

But it fucking hurt.

“Cobra.” Kingsnake didn’t need to read emotions to pick up on my rage.

“What?” Cobra asked before he took a drink.

Kingsnake gave him a furious stare.

It took Cobra a few seconds to realize the problem, to remember the words that could provoke my drawn sword. “Fuck…” He looked away, clenching his eyes shut once the revelation hit him. “Aurelias, I didn’t mean it like that—”

“It’s fine.”

“I’m sorry—”

“I don’t accept your apology,” I said calmly. “But it’s fine.”

The silence was heavier than it’d ever been. Seeing my brothers in the flesh was the greatest comfort, but now my heart felt empty.

“Since we can’t feed, we can leave now,” Kingsnake said. “Take advantage of the darkness.” It was obvious he wanted to say something just to say something, to push past the tension Cobra had created.

“I’m not leaving.” My arms were on the table, my palm on top of my glass.

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