Page 46 of The Crownless Prince

When Lucien arrived at the sitting room, it was with Edwin and a female servant in tow. Edwin followed his lord in with his head bowed, and he didn’t acknowledge Adriana. He didn’t move as if he had been injured, and she didn’t see any new bruises, but where was Marcus?

She didn’t dare reveal her fear by asking what Lucien had done with him. Instead, she plastered on a smile and asked if Lucien had done much traveling. That got him started on the places he’d been and what he liked or hated about them, so she didn’t have to talk often—until he finally turned the question back on her, and, unfortunately, she hadn’t traveled much. Thankfully, Father and Jairus arrived then, and the three of them turned to discussing challenges with transitioning Aedyllan back into a singular monarchy after almost a century as a conglomerate of equal principalities.

Ensuring Lucien wasn’t watching her, Adriana caught Edwin’s gaze and mouthed, “Marcus?”

Edwin winced, but mouthed back, “Fine.”

The hours crawled by until at last it was time to sneak downstairs to meet with Marcus.

Chapter 21

Marcus and Edwin crept through the castle until they reached the sitting room at last. A bit of light showed beneath the door, indicating someone must already be inside. Marcus hoped it was Adriana. If anyone else was in that sitting room, it would be nearly impossible to justify their presence.

He opened the door to find Adriana pacing in front of the fireplace. Her relieved expression quickly fled, replaced by distress.

“Oh, Marcus…”

He’d gotten a glimpse of himself in the small mirror on a wall in the servants’ room, so he knew it wasn’t a good look. His right eye was red and blue and almost swollen shut, and purplish bruises mottled his jawline and left cheekbone. At least she couldn’t see the bruises on his ribs. Nothing that wouldn’t heal, but his entire head ached—although pain had been only part of the goal.

Thorne had interrogated him about whether he somehow had an illicit relationship with Adriana, which Marcus and Edwin had staunchly denied, but Thorne had noticed too much between them—too many stolen glances on both of their parts. He was convinced that although they hadn’t done anything yet, they were planning on it after the wedding. Thorne had vowed that he wouldn’t let Marcus nearAdriana, but he also had wanted to “mess up that face of yours she likes so much.”

Adriana hurried over to him, her lower lip trembling.

“I’m all right—”

The door behind them opened again. Marcus and Edwin spun around, Edwin placing himself between the intruder and Marcus. He braced himself, expecting to see that somehow, despite how careful they’d been, Thorne had caught them, but instead…

“Jairus?” Adriana gasped.

The crown prince closed the door and leaned back against it, his arms crossed. “You’re looking spry for a dead man, Prince Marcus Alimer.”

Something seemed to lodge in Marcus’s throat.

“It was bothering me,” Jairus said. “Marcus isn’t an uncommon name, so I’d dismissed it as unfortunate timing. Neither is Edwin, but the combination tickled my memories. Then with how Adriana was acting toward you…and the look you gave her before mounting her horse…” He wrinkled his nose. “I finally put it together and remembered that Adriana had mentioned Prince Marcus’s servant, Edwin. I wasn’t completely certain I was correct, though, so I kept an eye on the hall outside of Adriana’s room and followed her down here, then waited in the dark corridor.”

Marcus sighed, his shoulders drooping. To have gotten this close… At least Jairus wasn’t armed. Marcus could still warn them about Thorne before he was executed.

Adriana stepped around Marcus. “Jairus, please—”

“I’m not telling Father.” Jairus straightened and uncrossed his arms. “I’m assuming you’re all here to plan how to stop the wedding. I’m here to help.”

Had he heard correctly? Marcus blinked. Edwin’s stance eased, and he glanced back at Marcus as if askingdo we believe him?

“You…will help us?” Marcus asked.

Jairus’s eyebrows drew together. “Of course. She’s my baby sister. I want her to be happy, and I don’t want her to be with a man I doubt will treat her well.” He shook his head, his blond hair spilling over his shoulders. “But Father refuses to listen to me. I hope you have a plan.”

“Not exactly,” Marcus said, “but I have information.”

Jairus motioned toward the chairs around the fireplace, and they all sat down, Marcus and Adriana sitting beside each other on the chaise. She took his left hand, clasping it between both of hers in her lap.

“Lucien Thorne is…well, actually I don’t know what he is,” Marcus said. Why did every word have to make his face hurt so much? “Have you noticed he is always wearing that silver hair stick?”

Jairus nodded. “I found it slightly odd but assumed he was ostentatious. Why?”

“It’s enchanted,” Edwin interjected. “This morning it accidentally came out of his hair, and his appearance changed. He’s…it’s like he’s half snake or lizard or something.”

“What?” Adriana’s hands tightened around Marcus’s. Jairus looked skeptical.

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