Page 52 of Blood On His Lips

“Am I?”

I shut up, confused. “Are you what?” Oh. My shoulders stiffened. “Is that really the discussion you want to have now?”

He watched me, expression impassive, eyes pale, the line of his lips pitiless. “No. A more interesting discussion is who instigated this, and why.”

Realms, I was glad I’d gotten my people off the field. Not that that would save them if the Prince decided to hunt them down. But at least they weren't in his current line of sight.

Because the universe or something was mocking me, the Prince angled his body slightly, and as he did, the White Guard parted. Every member of my House whom I’d sent away stepped forward. Rigid, soaked, their postures wary, their gazes meeting mine with fear. But no one begged, or cried, or expressed any outward emotion. For once, we were all on our best behavior.

Too damn little, too damn late.

I transferred my focus to Renaud. “These are the youth of my House,” I said carefully, raising my voice slightly above the thunder, “who I instructed to return home to face Lord Étienne. Why have you intercepted them, Prince?”

“Why? Was my law not clear? Did I not state the repercussions for those who broke my peace on these grounds?”

I couldn't show any fear. Even though he was walking me into a pretty, gruesome trap. I certainly wasn't stupid enough to count on any sort of favoritism. The edge of hostility in him was subtle, butIsensed it. It was also personal. I didn’t exactly blame him—I felt a moment of discomfort. Maybe I shouldn’t have tried to seduce him the other night.

I gestured to the ground. “As you see, we've lost one of ours.”

The rain was diluting the blood even though there was so much of it, pounding the red into the blackened dirt. Lights flared, lamp posts partially powered by the suffocated sun, partly by magic. The artificial light turned flawless complexions into skin over skeleton. Our eyes glittered, reflecting the lamps. If I were fully human, I would run.

“The youths of all of our Houses are hot-headed, and require reprimanding,” I continued, “but I would beg your Highness to allow the High Lords to deal with them.”

Internally, I was breaking apart all over again. If the breaking had ever even stopped.

Renaud tilted his head, his gaze traveling over the silent crowd slowly. “I see no children here.” He glanced at the ground. “I do not see the blood of children soaking the earth, nor was this conflict instigated by mewling infants unable to read andcomprehendand obey.”

I lowered myself to a knee, mouth going dry. The consequences of one’s actions were not always on one’sownshoulders. I knew that well. If the Prince wanted to hurt me, he knew how to twist the knife. Bypass harm to myself and visit it on my family.

“Allow me to accept the punishment for my House on my own shoulders.” Numair and Juliette sucked in breaths, but neither spoke. If they sensed the undercurrent between us, they would only be able to guess its origins. I had told no one about the sauna. I should have—any interaction with Renaud, no matter how intimate, was technically a matter of state. “Their unruliness is my fault; I did not control them.”

Renaud laughed. “If I didn't know you were serious, I would accuse you of attempting to force my hand.” Again, his voice implied. He turned to one of the Montagues. “Who slew the Faronne child?”

No one spoke, but Vervain lifted a trembling arm and pointed, water dripping from her fingertip. Stupid girl. She should have let someone else take that particular spotlight.

A young male stepped forward, face ashen underneath the brown skin of Montague House.

“Is her allegation true?” the Prince asked gently.My nails bit into my palms. Too gently.

The youth swallowed and nodded. “Yes, my Lord.” Blood spilled, and the boy dropped to the ground.

I surged to my feet. “That wasn’t necessary, damn you!”

Numair and Juliette grabbed both of my arms, and the five youths of my House stiffened.

“No one move.” I growled the order, shaking my guards off.

Numair and Juliette didn’t react to the death only because their number one imperative wasmysurvival, and neither of them was stupid. Nine of us against Renaud and his Guard? Not that he needed his Guard.

The Prince watched, but I remained still. The White observed a little less calmly from behind him, their gazes lethal, absent any emotion other than a promise of death.

I blinked fiercely, glad for the rain on my face. “That wasn't necessary.”

“And how do you teach children to obey rules if there are no consequences?”

“We're not talking about sending them to bed without supper, Renaud!” I curled my hands into fists, nails biting into my palms. The sharp pain grounded me even as rivers of anger, scathing anger, surged. “Death can't be the answer to every disobedience. Killing should never be so easy.”

“Interesting that you should say that. And if my example is for them, it is also for you, Aerinne.”

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