Page 51 of Between Smoke and Shadow

“It’s not perfect,” he says. “But it’s not bad either.”

Now my face heats for an entirely different reason.Not badprobably isn’t the best compliment someone could receive, but coming from a prince—coming from him—it feels like the highest of praise.

“Your cut,” he clarifies. “I’m not much of a healer, but it’s mostly gone. It didn’t hurt?”

I shake my head. I’m too afraid of my own emotions right now, terrified I’ll admit that his touch not only didn’t hurt—it felt really fucking good.

More, I want to tell him.Touch me more.

“Thank you,” I say instead. Then, because I can’t help myself, I ask, “Why are you helping me?”

Harrick scans my face, and I can hear my own heart pounding. I’m terrified he can too. His attention drops to my mouth, and for a suspended moment, I’m sure he’s going to kiss me. A ridiculous thought, by itself, and an extremely dangerous one, considering. The queen and the Committee might be unhappy with Harrick’s broken betrothal, but if they think I’m the thing that led him astray…

The carriage shudders to a stop. Harrick pulls his attention from my face and looks out the elongated carriage window. He eases back onto his seat, watching as his guards move in and out of view.

“We’re here,” he tells me. He gives me an almost boyish grin, but whatever he’s planning to say next is interrupted. The carriage door slides open, and one of his masked guards leans into view. Rain cascades around him, splattering against the floorboards.

“We’ve arrived, my prince,” he says. His concealed face turns toward me, only briefly before focusing again on Harrick. “Dae has gone ahead to call the proxy.”

“Perfect,” Harrick says. “We can get settled until then. What rooms are available?”

“Two master quarters, two guard quarters. A spare room the servants can use.” The guard doesn’t look at me this time.

“The other servant is a man,” Harrick says, pointedly.

“Yes,” the guard agrees.

I shift on my seat. I feel like I should excuse myself to unload the bags, but that would require squeezing past the guard. I stay where I am but turn my eyes to the floor.

“No,” Harrick says, his voice hard.

I force myself to be still. On the lower floors, servants aren’t separated by gender. They’re shoved wherever there’s room, and on more than one occasion, I shared a room with a man. It was always unsettling, and sleep often came in fits, but I never suffered an attack from one. The same can’t be said for other women.

“Sir—”

“No,” he repeats. For the first time since the guard appeared, Harrick turns toward me. I keep my gaze on the floor, but I feel his attention all the same. Heavy and intense, like he’s trying to convey a secret message, meant only for me. Finally, he looks back to the guard. “Leave us.”

“Yes, my prince,” he says. He leaves without another word, sliding the door shut behind him.

It’s several seconds before I dare lift my head, and even then, I look out the window, rather than at Harrick. I’m not surprised he’s already watching me, but I can’t bring myself to meet his gaze. I feel like I’ve entered another world, one where reality has an entirely different set of rules.

“Rune,” he says. His voice is level, calm. “Look at me.”

I do, failing to fight the nerves wracking my body. I’ve started trembling.

“You can’t,” I whisper. It’s hoarse and pathetic, but his eyes widen all the same. I’ve never spoken this way to a superior before, let alone someone of Harrick’s rank. But if I have any chance of surviving this, I can’t let him do this.

“Do you know him?” he asks. He’s barely moved. “This other servant? Are you familiar with him? Is he safe?”

“It is the only option,” I say, ignoring his questions. I force my attention to stay on his eyes.

“I will put you in the spare master’s. It will be unused otherwise, and you will be safe there.”

I let out a startled laugh. I shouldn’t be surprised that Harrick is this delusional. He’s a member of the crown. He can do whatever he wants without consequence. Has it ever occurred to him that most peoplecan’t?

“It is not allowed,” I say. I’m surprised at the steadiness of my own voice. I’m treading dangerous territory here. I can’t challenge a member of the crown, but his kindness is going to get me killed.

“Says who?” he snaps. “I am the crown prince, Rune. My word is above theirs. They cannot stop me.”

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