Page 39 of A Kingdom of Destruction

“Then we will both just have to put up with each other.” Aven crossed her arms over her chest. “It will be a pleasurable experience for neither one.”

“Well—”

“No. Don’t say anything about how well you pleasure women, I really don’t want to hear it now,” she added before he could say anything contrary.

Roran’s smirk remained in place. “At least I would know something about it. You strike me as the uptight kind of woman who has never enjoyed the touch of a male. Or do you prefer female companionship? Your lady’s maid is awfully pretty.”

He got her back up by talking about Nora that way. “Leave her out of this.”

“Ooh, someone is feeling a little sassy. What’s the matter?”

He reached for her, and she slapped his hand. “Touch me and you’ll lose your hand.”

“What? Are you going to bite it off? I’m the one with the weapon.” Roran stifled a yawn. “Maybe you’ll just bore me to death.”

“We’ve already agreed these are less than ideal circumstances. If you’re going to insult me the entire time, then it’s going to make things much harder.”

“Haven’t you heard? Insults are a love language. Perhaps I’m doing it because I find you so irresistible.” He winked.

Good heavens!

He was going to drive her crazy. Being here already brought her to the edge of what she could tolerate. “Tell me more lies. Here I thought your brother was the better liar out of the two of you.”

“If we talk any more about Cillian, then youreallywill bore me to death.”

“Wow, it seems you have issues with your brother. Care to discuss it?” She shifted to cross her opposite ankle over the other. “We have the time.”

“I no more want to talk about Cillian with you than I want to hear about your past.”

“Oh, come now. I might have some crazy stories for you.”

He jerked his nose toward the rune still tattooed on the side of her face. “Want to start with why you covered yourself in runes?”

Of course he’d want to know about those. “I thought you didn’t want to hear about my past.”

His face soured at her retort and almost made her laugh.Almost.

“They’re for protection. At least, that’s how it started.” She held out her wrist to show him the rune there, the ink still fresh and black. “Most of the time, the runes don’t always last as long as these do, but the tattoos ensure that they serve their purpose. Protection and speed and things like that.” She paused, swallowed, and swiped her tongue along her teeth. “Then I started doing more because my family didn’t like them.”

“Of course not. A princess should not be fighting the way you do, and they certainly don’t need to paint themselves like this.”

“I did what I had to do in order to protect people,” she retorted. “Maybe it’s not the life I thought I would lead, but it’smylife. What choice do I have?”

“Ah, so the runes are a form of rebellion.” He nodded like he understood.

She opened her mouth to reply then closed it, open and closed, searching for a better way to answer him. Eventually she came out with, “Maybe they are. So what?”

He held his hands up in front of him like a shield. “I’m not saying you’re wrong. We all find ways to fight back against our situation.”

“Oh, come on.”

“What?” he asked.

“You’re telling me you don’t like being the prince of a kingdom as powerful as this one? Sure thing. Next you’ll tell me there are two suns rising in the sky and that milk comes from trees.”

“I’m not telling you anything of the sort. But are there things in my life I’d change?” Roran thought for a moment and then shrugged. “Sure. There are.”

“Now you have me curious.” Aven leaned forward, curving her spine to rest her elbows on her knees. “I’d love to learn more.”

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