Page 23 of Ash and Roses

Tess squeezes my hand. “I’m so sorry. I thought you knew. You were the only survivor.”

It takes too long a moment to process her words. Her very, very wrong words. “No. No, he was right behind me. If you didn’t find him, then he must still be out there.” I swing the blanket off my legs and realize only then that I’ve been dressed in a white slip. “We have to find him. Where are my clothes?”

“Don’t get up. You were badly injured.”

I roll my eyes. What happened to ‘just a scratch?’ “If Jade is out there, I’m going.”

“I will search again, but you must stay here,” Ruben says. There’s pain evident on his face, and I know he thinks this is a fool’s errand. He’s already decided that Jade is dead, and that’s exactly why I can’t trust him to search.

“You don’t think you’ll find him.” The accusation flies fiercely from my lips, each word a jagged dagger meant to pierce him.

“There’s never much left to find.”

His words hit me with the same force the creature did when it knocked me from my horse. “You found me.”

He sighs, but it’s one of submission. He can’t argue with that. I’m alive, and that means Jade could be, too. “We will look for your friend, but the forest is not safe for you. We cannot protect you if you leave the valley.”

Of course I want to search for Jade myself, but if we were to get attacked again, I could only imagine the heartbreak he would feel knowing my death was because I was searching for him. No. Jade has proven himself time and time again that he’s a survivor. He’s probably on his way here now, dragging the monster’s bloodied carcass behind him. So I’ll wait for him. At least until the prince returns.

CHAPTERTEN

ABBY

Ishift uncomfortably in the loose fitting dress. It’s made of a modest brown cloth with a white lace bodice and tied around the waist, but even so, it’s luxurious. It was the most casual dress in the wardrobe, though I’d be lying if I said I wouldn’t have preferred a shirt and pants. When I step out from behind the changing screen, Tess smiles.

“You look lovely. It’s a bit big on you, but it’ll fill out once we get some meat on your bones.”

I wonder if I’ll be here long enough for that. I’d like to stay—after Ruben finds Jade, of course. The image of him in that tree flashes through my mind, but I shove it back with force. He’s not dead. I know he’s not.

“Is something wrong?” Tess asks. She must have caught my momentary grimace.

“It’s just… This is a lot. This room, these dresses. Are you sure there isn’t anywhere else I can stay? Even a tent outside—”

“Nonsense! The castle has plenty of room, and besides, Quinn would want you here.”

I catch the casual usage of his name again. Maybe I’m overthinking it, but it’s hard enough getting anyone to call me Abby in Lunae. Perhaps things are different here, but the fact that both people I’ve met in Rosewood have referred to the prince by first name alone can only mean one of two things. Either they don’t respect him, or things are different here.

“Can I ask you something?”

“Certainly,” she says as she fusses with the hem of my skirt. “I’d enjoy the conversation.”

“Both you and Ruben called the prince by his name rather than his title. Is that customary here? Where I’m from, you could be executed for less.” I probably didn’t need to add that last bit, especially considering the way her face falls. “I’m only asking because I don’t want to make a mistake when I meet him.”

She visibly relaxes. “You should refer to him by his title, but he’ll probably ask you not to. From there, it’s your choice.”

I nod, but then another question pops into my mind and I can’t shut my mouth fast enough. “If it’s just him left, why isn’t he considered your king?” Perhaps there are traditions to be fulfilled, but the idea of that is strange. In Lunae, a prince can be crowned the moment a throne sits empty, but a princess must marry before she can be made queen. It’s archaic, but that’s the way things have always been. Things would be so different now if that weren’t the case. My mother was royal by blood. If I had been born a son, I would have succeeded her to the throne. Imelda would have never been queen, and my new stepbrother wouldn’t be heir. Because I’m a woman, I will never sit the throne that only my blood is destined for.

Tess’ answer brings me out of that harsh reality. “A lot has happened in Rosewood. Quinn needs time. We all do.”

“I understand,” I say, though I really don’t. By all rights, heisking. Refusing the title does nothing to serve his kingdom. And what kind of king spends more time away from his kingdom than he does with his people? The more I learn about this so-called prince, the less I like him. “Did the monster kill his parents? The same creature that attacked me?”

Tess’ eyes fill with sadness. “It was five years ago. Please don’t ask me to speak more of it. If you have questions, save them for Quinn.”

My face goes hot. “I can’t ask him that!” Nothing says ‘please let me stay in your kingdom’ like asking about the untimely deaths of his parents. Despite the years, this is still a fresh wound for Tess, so it’s bound to be so much worse for the prince.

Tess’ smile is weak, but it’s there. “You will not offend him. Quinn is just…” She trails off with a sigh. “He’s selective of whom he shares his stories with. I honestly have no idea if he will speak openly with you. We haven’t had a visitor to Rosewood in some time.”

So I’m not the first then. “Is that why you’re treating me like royalty?” As far as they know, I’m a lady’s maid. This room and these clothes are not fit for me.

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