Page 27 of Bound to the Shadow Prince

He snorts and gestures down at the short leather kilt he wears that barely covers his massive thighs. Right. He doesn’t wear human clothing. In fact, he wears very little clothing at all, it seems. “Blankets? A cloak?”

Nemeth shakes his head again, those strange horns of his making the action seem exaggerated. “You have nothing.”

Despair curls through me. “Please,” I say, reaching out and touching his hand. “I need one desperately.”

He stares down at my hand on his arm, and then his wings twitch.

I don’t move.

Neither does he.

Oh.

Oh. I look down at my hand on his arm. I suppose I do have something to bargain with. He’d stared for a very long time at my breasts, after all, when I was in my bath. How much will I be willing to do for one of those globes? To have light constantly and easily?

I’d be willing to do quite a lot.

I look up at him and carefully put my hand on his thigh. Even as I do, I use my other hand to tug down the neckline of my chemise, revealing my cleavage. “There’s nothing I have that you want?”

Nemeth jumps up so suddenly that the bed shakes. “I do not wantthat.”

Oh.

Gods, I’m horrified and full of shame. I can’t believe I just offered myself—aprincess—for a magical light source. Worse than that, I’ve offered myself to theenemy. My face burns and Ijerk away, grabbing my neckline and hauling it up high. I snatch my candle off the bed and race out of his quarters, humiliated.

I don’t know what embarrasses me more. That I offered myself to a Fellian so cheaply or that he refused.

Or that I’mdisappointed.

I retreat to my quarters—now a familiar path in the oppressive darkness—and slam the door shut.

The next day,I kick a trunk set in front of my door. I grab my toe, wincing at the pain, and wondering what new humiliation is awaiting me today. Is Nemeth going to throw it in my face that I practically flung myself upon his beastly cock? He’s a hideous-looking creature, and not one that I would ever consider touching otherwise. He’s not attractive. He’s not even pleasant.

Is this an apology? If so, I’m not interested.

But I’m also curious to see what he’s offered. If it’s food, I’d be foolish to turn it away. I kneel down before the box, searching in the darkness for a latch of some kind. My fingers locate it and I flip the lid open, hesitantly feeling around inside.

It’s something rounded. And cool.

Holding my breath, I tap it twice, like Nemeth did last night. The box floods with light, nearly blinding me, and I lift the globe out of its case. He’s…giving one to me?

My heart squeezes and I smile, clutching the rounded, glowing stone to my chest. It’s the most generous thing anyone has ever done for me. He’s apologizing for last night. I know he is. And this is the best way to do it. Beaming, I pull the stand out of the box. It’s a lot like a candlestick, but with claws on the end that the orb can fit into and be carried around. I snap it intoplace on the end of the candlestick and smile at the light that pours through my doorway.

No more sitting in the darkness for me.

I should go down and talk to Nemeth. Thank him for his thoughtful gift and apologize for flinging myself at him last night. Clearly my advances weren’t welcome, but he wants us to remain friends anyhow. I’m fine with that.

I’m just about to close the box when I notice there’s a small, cloth-wrapped bundle at the bottom.

I pick it up, and the moment I do, my blood goes cold.

I don’t even have to unwrap it to know what it is. That comfortable heft has been my companion ever since I entered this tower. I know the shape of my knife without even looking at it. I pull it from the wrappings, scarcely daring to breathe, and stare down at the small blade, still in its sheath.

The bastard lied to me. He claimed he didn’t steal it, and yet he’s had it all this time.

All of my goodwill disappears in a flash. Eyes narrowing, I tuck the blade into the front of my gown in its old familiar spot. “Did he steal you away from me?” I ask the blade.

Yes.

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