Page 73 of Bride of the Midnight Prince

“I didn’t mean for her to be hurt,” she sobs against my chest.

I sigh as I wrap one arm around her. “I know.”

I should berate her for her foolish behavior. I should give her a list of things she should never do again. But my stupidly soft heart cannot let those words pass my lips. Instead, I hold her close and let her cry.

Chapter 23

Kat

“Wakeupandgetdressed.”

The prince’s voice startles me from my sleep. I bolt upright, my hand instinctively going to my chest to ensure I’m still wearing my binding.I am.This proves my insistence upon always wearing the binding, even while sleeping, is necessary. I exhale.

His words process in my mind.

“You’re back. Is everything alright?” I ask. It’s very early. I get up and gather my uniform but dare not change into it with him still in the doorway. It took me a long time to fall asleep last night after the way the prince rushed off after receiving that note. “Is your sister alright?”

“She is fine for now.” He considers a moment, then adds in a quieter tone, “I’m glad I arrived when I did.”

I lick my lips, something inside my chest easing. “Then I am glad too.”

He steps outside of my room briskly. The honesty between us seems to make him almost uncomfortable. When he speaks again, it is in his usual tone. “The queen has summoned me. I want you to come along.”

“The queen? Is she going to try to kill you again?”

He lifts one shoulder. “It wouldn’t be wise. I’m prepared now.”

I dress quickly once the door is closed, shake out my hair, and hurry to grab a quick breakfast from the kitchen before we leave.

The sun rises as we take the main road out of the city. It doesn’t take me long to figure out where we’re going when we veer onto a dirt road, and a cold shiver like ice descends, slowly covering my body.

We’re going to Caphryl Wood.

Why are we going to Caphyrl Wood?

Has he . . . discovered me? How could he have? It’s been days since I even touched the Wood!

A hand lands on my knee. I jerk away from his touch even before I process that it is Rahk. I look up quickly. He withdraws his hand, his brow pinched, his scrutiny sharp as it roves over me.

“I’m sorry, Master,” I manage.

“Are you—” He stops himself abruptly, his eyes widening. “Your mother. Nat, I—I am so sorry, I forgot you had such terrible memories of this place.”

Is he . . .sputtering? I didn’t think a fae could sputter. Much less the infamous Prince Rahk of the Nothril Court.

He yanks open the curtain and shouts out the window, “We must go back at once!”

“What?” I blurt.

He leans back in to say to me, “This is my blunder, so I shall fix it. You need not go near the Wood.”

“The queen’s caravan is already there!” Edvear shouts from where he stands on the footboard of the carriage.

Rahk releases a low growl of frustration. He looks back at me, and that appears to be genuine concern flashing in his black eyes. “Very well!” he calls to the driver. To me, he drops his voice and says gently, “You can stay in the carriage. We’ll draw the curtains, and you won’t have to look at the place.”

So . . . he has brought me here for a different reason. He doesn’t know I’m the Ivy Mask. I breathe a little easier, my body unwinding from its tight coil.

The carriage comes to a stop. Rahk looks at me again as he moves to exit the box.

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