Page 125 of A Bond in Blood

“But that’s my point!” I replied. “He makes these deals with those heknowscannot complete them.”

“Princess,” Olen said blankly. “Follow me.”

Shocked, I trailed behind Olen while he led me through hallway twelve then down hallway eight; the one I’d learned led right out to the city docks.

The walk was quiet and long. A hidden tunnel under the city of Muspell. When he pushed the hidden door open that led to the docks, the afternoon sun was shifting slowly in the sky.

Olen pointed his snout and I gasped when I found Adalie in the arms of a young man.

“That child,” Olen breathed out. “She was not supposed to come here. Nature should have left her in the rubble of fire and death, but I made a deal.”

My head snapped to the beast beside me. “Ulrich allowed me to keep her with me. To raise her in honor of my sister and her wife as long as I fulfilled my deal.”

“What was the deal?” I asked while tears filled my eyes.

Olen only shook his head. “I am duty bound to keep that to myself. But he is not the monster you think he is.”

“He’s the monster he wants me to believe he is,” I countered.

“Precisely,” Olen replied, closing the hidden door once again while he turned back toward the palace.

The conversation with Olen ran through my mind throughout the entirety of the day. Words I could not ignore while Ulrich opened hidden passageway after another, pointing me to the veins of his palace. Showing me every possible escape route I should have never been told of.

My hands dragged my koal over the easel while he spoke, but I barely heard his words. Instead, I studiedhim. The light in his eyes when he opened a door leading to thelookingglasshallway. The laugh he let out when he unintentionally startled atrollcleaning the library.

How his hands ran across the newly dusted books when we entered the library and how he admired it all, stepping back with his hands over his broad chest.

The rumble of his voice, addictive and smooth.

The kindness in his eyes when we returned to the room and Adie was there waiting. The smile, subtle and barely cracking across his lips, when I asked Adie about her love interest.

Gods, was Olen right?

Ulrich left me with Adie, tilting his head with respect before telling me he’d see me at dinner.

I turned to my attendant.

“Adie, can I dress alone this evening?”

Adie shook her head with confusion. “What, your highness?”

“I’m suddenly feeling unwell. I would just like a quiet bath before I head to dinner. I promise you have done nothing wrong.”

Adie eyed me. “Your highness?”

“I promise, Adie. I just need a bath.”

She tucked her head down. “Yes, your highness.”

She ran the bath for me before leaving and closing the bedroom doors behind her.

I stared at the water, my hands twisting together.

I couldn’t see it—the good in the monster.

Gods, no I could not see it. I would not allow myself.

After shutting off the tap, I left the bathing room, turning to the doors Olen had guided me through my first day of captivity.

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