Page 38 of A Dagger in the Ivy

Dante has every right to hate my father.

But I’m not him.

“He can’t blame me for my father’s actions.”

“I believe that is something of which he’d have to be convinced.” He brushes chalk dust off his robes and rounds his desk. “Whether or not he would agree with you, I cannot say. But if you haven’t already noticed, Dante Stregasi is a stubborn, proud man. His opinion is not so easily swayed, no matter how true your words may be.”

Shit.

I may have to live with the fact that my future brother-in-law will spend the rest of his life hating me. For something I didn’t even have anything to do with.

Ezra straightens suddenly, looking past us. He dips his head, his expression serious. “Your Highness.”

I glance over my shoulder and spot Prince Torbin at the entrance to the room.

“As much as I admire a beautiful woman with an intellectual mind, I wonder if I could steal the princess away for the afternoon.” Torbin leans his shoulder against the doorframe, and there’s a twinkle in his eyes that causes a flutter in my stomach. The soft curve of his smile is enough to make me rise from my chair.

“You could,” I answer for the magister, not even bothering to look his way.

“Who am I to deny the prince of his wishes?” Ezra says.

“I guess that means lessons are over for today.” Nadya lets out a laugh and mouths athank youto Torbin as she rushes past us, her skirt swishing around her as she escapes into the courtyard.

Torbin crooks his arm, and I slide mine through.

CHapter

Sixteen

Torbin’s tall form shades me from the sun as we stroll down the path together through the courtyard. The air is crisp and cool, the dew on the grass not yet dispelled by the sun.

“Did you sleep well?” I offer him a small smile. “You weren’t at breakfast this morning.”

“I apologize for my absence. I do intend on making it up to you.” His grin is full of mischief, and I can’t help but wonder what he’s got planned. “Sorry if you felt stuck dining with my parents.”

“Actually, it was just your father. And Dante.”

I consider bringing up Dante’s aversion to me and the possible reasoning behind it but think better of broaching the subject. Torbin went out of his way to save me from my lessons. Far be it from me to dampen the mood with talk of death.

“My mother wasn’t there?” His gaze is far-off as he speaks.

“No. Your father said she needed her beauty sleep.”

“Hmm.” His mouth is pulled down into a frown.

I want to ask if something is wrong, but when he catches me studying his face, he lifts his chin and smiles.

“Well, you’ve certainly had your fair share of beauty sleep.” His eyesflit over my face. “It’s like gazing into the face of an angel.”

I’m not used to this kind of flattery. Praise for my battle skills, I can tolerate, but words of admiration only make me blush.

I’m caught off guard when, instead of veering left to continue on the main path, Torbin places a hand on the small of my back and steers me right. We approach a high, iron-barred gate, which he opens and ushers us through. The crisp smell of hay and the pungent odor of mud wafts around me. The path turns to pebbles at my feet, and the sound of neighing floats on the wind.

“Oh. Are you putting me to work in the stables?” I tease.

“I’m sure if I did, you’d excel at the job. But no, that’s not what I have planned.”

“Whatdoyou have planned, then?”

---