Page 77 of The Prince's Curse

“Maybe.” Benjin kept his gaze steady on Haldric as something stirred in his chest. “Maybe not. But the responsibility is yoursall the same. And from where I’m sitting, I don’t see anyone better qualified for the job. Do you?”

Haldric hesitated, chewing on his bottom lip.

Benjin thought back to the time they’d shared on the road. “Do you remember what you asked me when we left Revesole, about whether you’d make a good ruler? Well, my answer hasn’t changed.”

Haldric’s expression was torn. “How can you say that? Goddess’ mercy, Benjin, I was so desperate to relinquish my duty that I literally cursed us!”

“And I loved every second of it.” When Haldric still looked unconvinced, Benjin sighed. “You made a mistake, Hal. We all do. But you cannot allow one moment of weakness to define the rest of your life. Tell me, do youstillfeel like running? If Dexil came in here right now and offered to curse us again, send us away to some remote mountain village in Korvanthos, would you do it?”

Haldric seemed to seriously consider the question, his brow furrowing. After a long pause, he slowly shook his head. His expression firmed as some of the resolve returned to his emerald eyes.

Benjin’s pulse quickened when Haldric strode across the cell, closing the distance between them while holding his gaze. His heart tried to burst from his chest when his prince—no, hisking—gently caressed his cheek.

“No,” Haldric whispered. “I wouldn’t. Never again.”

Then, Haldric leaned in and kissed him.

Benjin closed his eyes, a soft whine forming in the back of his throat at the familiar feel of Haldric’s lips. Haldric’s fingers stroked down his cheek and gripped his neck, tugging him closer. The chains rattled between them as Benjin poured every drop of his jumbled emotion, past and present, into their joined lips.

When they parted, he gasped for breath, blinking dazedly as Haldric turned to stare at the cell door.

“I swear I will do everything in my power to make things right,” Haldric said. “Not just for us, but for the rest of Ilthabard as well. First, however, we need to find a way out of here.”

Perhaps it was the shock of the kiss, or perhaps some part of his subconscious had been puzzling over the problem all along. Either way, the beginnings of a rough plan started to take shape in Benjin’s mind.

He fixed Haldric with a smirk. “How would you feel about finally working out some of our pent-up aggression…?”

The instant the door to their cell creaked open, Haldric shoved Benjin against the wall. Benjin might’ve found the motion erotic had Haldric’s face not been contorted in rage, one hand roughly pinning Benjin’s throat while he brought the other back for a punch.

“How dare you?” Haldric snarled. “Take that back, you…you pitiful worm!”

Even as he feigned anger and hurt, Benjin fought the urge to roll his eyes at Haldric’s atrocious acting.Pitiful worm—really? That’s the best insult he can come up with?

Still, the act must have been believable enough to the Grand Magus and his soldiers. Shouts rang out, and before Haldric could pretend to strike, rough hands grabbed his arm, hauling him away from Benjin.

“Restrain him!” Dexil shouted from somewhere behind them. “Don’t let him harm the prisoner!”

Haldric made a clumsy play for one of the rebel’s swords and appeared startled when it actually worked, his shoulder blow sending the man sprawling. As Haldric raised the stolenweapon, Benjin felt a flash of hope. Perhaps the rest of their plan would prove unnecessary if the untrained rebels were trulythatincompetent.

Haldric struck at the other rebel who’d hauled him off Benjin, easily batting aside his sword to land several wounding blows. The man collapsed as another pair of guards emerged from the doorway, Haldric spun to meet them, but the first rebel that Haldric had knocked aside kicked at his shin. Haldric staggered, faltering.

And just like that, the fight was over. The two fresh guards disarmed Haldric, hurling him to his knees and pressing the tips of their swords to his neck while the third rose and delivered a swift kick to Haldric’s midsection for good measure.

Muffling a wince, Benjin pretended glee. “Exactly what you deserve!” he said, spitting on Haldric’s hunched back.

“Don’t hurt the king!” Dexil barked to his men. “Not unless he leaves you no other choice. I don’t want to cause him any unnecessary pain.”

The Grand Magus had stayed in the doorway the entire time, Benjin realized with a sinking sensation. They’d hoped Dexil would enter the cell as he had the last time he’d visited Benjin. This added a fresh wrinkle to their plan.

“Are you all right, Benjin?” the Grand Magus called from across the chamber. “I see we arrived in the nick of time.”

“I’m fine.” Benjin glared down at the wheezing Haldric. “No thanks to this Void-cursed coward.”

Dexil’s narrowed gaze flicked between Benjin and Haldric. “What happened? I thought the two of you were in love?”

“So did I. But that was just the lingering effects of the curse. He betrayed me back then when he tried to abandon me along with the rest of his life here. And when I confronted him about it, he had the audacity to blameme. As though it’s nothisfamily that brought Ilthabard to the brink of ruin!”

“Indeed.” The cautious optimism in the Grand Magus’ voice tore at Benjin. It was almost enough to make him feel guilty for his deception. One glance at Haldric detained on the stone floor, however, was enough to firm his resolve. “So, you finally begin to recognize the truth.”

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