Page 35 of Obsidian Prince

"I know you have a heart. I feel it." It beat fast beneath her fingers.

He covered her small hand with his, holding it tight to his chest.

She let her arm bend so she was not holding him so far away. She didn't want him to be that far away. "Today is my birthday," she told him, not certain why it mattered. She had somehow moved so close to him that she could feel the heat of his body through their clothes.

"Happy birthday." It was the usual social response, but the heat in his voice made the words a mere carrier. "How old are you?"

"One hundred forty-seven."

His smile went crooked again. "You're very spry for your age."

She giggled. "I am young. Spider seers live long lives. My grandmother was born in Egypt before the largest pyramids were built."

She made her decision in that moment. This Fae prince had a heart. Liliana would fight to make it hers. "Take me home," she ordered the prince.

He bowed to her and extended an arm in an old-fashioned gesture, offering escort to a lady.

She took it.

The three bodyguards fell into step around them.

Chapter10

Trust And Loyalty

As Alexander Bennettdrove her home, bodyguards left behind to celebrate with the pride, Liliana stripped off her bright flower print blouse that was coated in the dead lion's blood.

She wore a black leotard underneath her sapphire blue skirt. The leotard hid the few spots of blood on it. Underneath were warm powder blue tights, now ripped in a couple of places, and matching blue satin ballet slippers she would have to throw away when she got home. The blood stains would never come out of the satin.

The prince, driving manually as seemed to be his habit, had trouble keeping his eyes on the road. It would have been safer if he let the auto-drive take over like Pete usually did. He took her out of the seemingly unguarded gate, although she saw a few of his SET unit’s soldiers watching them pass by. Since they were on the opposite side of Fort Liberty from her house, he drove in a wide circle around the large base.

Her skirt had very little blood on it. She used it to make a temporary sling for her broken arm.

While she wrapped and twisted the cloth, she opened her fourth eyes to check on her favorite red wolf. As she expected, Pete, with Doctor Nudd at his side and the legendary sword Fraegerthach in his hand, killed all four assassins from the order of the Wolfhounds.

It was a good thing he did not need her help. Once the adrenaline rush wore off, Liliana was overwhelmed with exhaustion and pain. As badly as both she and Alexander might desire each other, there was no chance of them consummating anything that night.

"Pete is alive," she informed Alexander.

He raised an eyebrow. "Why wouldn't he be?"

"Four Wolfhounds tried to kill him tonight. Pete was ready for them."

A faint twitch at the corners of his mouth appeared, a sign she now understood that meant he was pleased. "Pete surviving was your doing?" the prince asked her.

"Pete defeated the assassins. He fought valiantly. I warned him and gave him the training he needed so he would be ready. I also made certain that he had his sword tonight."

"William said the sword had been stolen. I assumed Aurore had it by now."

Liliana shook her head. "No, I stole it, not your sister. I gave it back to Pete yesterday. If your wizard had succeeded in taking his sword, Pete would be dead by now. Without it, he could not have defeated the Wolfhounds' protective magic."

The prince's eyes widened for a moment. "I nearly got Pete killed."

"Yes, you did. What I do not understand is why. I know you don’t want Pete to die."

Alexander’s lips flattened into a thin line. "I was trying to get the sword to my sister so she would stop sending assassins after him."

"You were trying to protect Pete." Liliana smiled. That was a good reason to do the wrong thing. "I said you could not stop the Wolfhounds this time."

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