Page 62 of A Lord of Snow and Greed

“He shouldn’t have been here. I made him promise not to speak to you or touch you. He broke that promise right away.”

To make Vale feel better, I wanted to say that his twin intended to honor his word when he made the promise or else he wouldn’t have been able to do so. Fae, me aside, and only for nine more days at that, couldn’t lie.

But that gave the heir too much credit. I didn’t trust Rhistel and wouldn’t defend him.

Instead, I sought to change the subject. “Vale, there might be people living back here.” I touched the wall where the door had been again.

I wouldn’t tell him everything. Certainly not about Queen Revna’s diary. Inga was his mother, and I needed to consider what I’d read before I shared. But some of my observations were harmless.

The change of subject worked like a charm, and the anger lifted from his handsome features a touch. “What makes you say that?”

“It’s cleaner than the last time I was there. I bet someone who lives in the palace goes back there and tidies.”

Vale looked thoughtful. “I could see that. It’s one reason I let you go that night you slipped into my suite. Over time, two slaves have gone missing. No one looked into that much, but concubines have escaped Father’s harem too. There was a search for the concubines, but they were never found. It’s rumored that they must have used the hidden passages. Perhaps they stayed back there a while.” He swallowed. “Healed. Rested. I don’t know. Whatever they used it for, I hope it helped.”

I took his hand, so much larger than mine. And warm, so warm.

As much as I hated that the king kept a harem, it gave me comfort that Vale despised the practice too. Not a surprise, considering the prince was romantic enough to have wanted to marry his soulmate.

And I’d taken that from him.

No. Not taken. I’ll leave at my first chance, and he’ll be able to remarry. They’ll assume me dead. He’ll get to find her. To love her.

Though the idea should have made me happy, my stomach churned. I squashed the ridiculous reaction as quickly as it appeared.

Yes, I was attracted to Vale, admired and respected him too, but I had no true hold on his heart. We played at a marriage. Nothing more.

“How did talks with your father go?” I asked.

He frowned. “Better than expected. Still, I’m not sure I trust him.”

“How so?”

“He told me he won’t take action against you.”

“That’s good.”

“Yes, but he didn’t say that he’d stop others from doing so. He might pretend to embrace you, but he’s waiting for the vampires to do his dirty work. It’s a sneaky way of making amends. Of not alienating me further.”

“But he doesn’t seem to have an issue with making a scene and punishing those who’d witnessed our marriage.”

“Father has . . . other aims regarding the Courting Festival. He needs me on board for those. Perhaps his anger thawed, and he needed me more than he wished for revenge. For now, at least.”

The way he said it made me think it was yet another secret the prince was holding. I leaned closer.

“Want to share?”

He exhaled. “Let’s sit. This will be a long night.”

I went to bed and waited as Vale changed into something more comfortable. I tried not to watch or notice the muscles rippling in his back. Instead, I stared at where the hidden door had been, where now only a smooth wall remained. When Vale was done, he turned to me, face set in serious lines.

“What I’m about to tell you cannot be repeated. I’m only telling you because it involves someone we’ve allied ourselves with, so you have the right to know.”

“Who would I tell? Saga?”

He eyed me. “Saga doesn’t know. And she can’t. Only Rhistel, Father, Mother, and I know.”

“Fine. I won’t say a thing.”

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