Page 48 of Midwinter Night's Prince

“But yes, my upbringing facilitated my predilection for being excellent in whatever discipline I choose to partake in.” Fuck, he would have punched a guy for sounding half as arrogant, but haughtiness was his primary refuge.

“Oh, bullshit, Seth. Both of you were neglected and abused, and you ended up screwed up in different ways.” Chloe caressed her daughter’s hair, and the anger flashing in her eyes disappeared. “Great food, though.”

Abused and neglected. He supposed the latter was accurate enough, although, by the grace of the sexism Cat had mentioned, he hadn't suffered much of the former.

But he was an attractive, powerful prince, head of his household, ruling over the Stormhale clan. He could have ended up much worse.

“You want more?” he asked when Blair finished polishing off her plate.

Her eyes lit up. “There’s more?”

He grabbed her plate, served her a second portion, and placed it back in her still-open hands. “Eat.”

“Thanks.”

He returned to his wall, wondering why the hell he wasn’t sitting. There were plenty of comfortable options in the bright, purple, green, and gold sitting room. An armchair quite to his liking, with a high back and large, deep arms, was left empty. There was enough room on the large sofa—right next to Blair.

But from this wall, they all remained at a distance. Sitting with them felt like a step he couldn’t take. He was Seth Stormhale, and he needed no one.

Although the seats did look comfortable.

26

UNCERTAINTIES

Blair might have been hungry just half an hour ago, but she couldn't even remember what the sensation felt like. She'd eaten so much they’d have to cart her out of this seat if she was required to go anywhere.

She yawned, fatigue suddenly hitting her without preamble.

“Oh, sweetie,” Chloe fussed. “You have to get to bed. I bet it’s been a while since you’ve had a chance to get your beauty sleep.”

That was an understatement. Blair had never been one of those people capable of catching a couple hours of sleep and somehow functioning the next day, yet she’d had to do just that for months. Twenty-four hours of sleep wouldn’t have gone amiss.

That said…

“We need to get ready for Aveka. Sleep can wait.”

“The only thing you have to get ready for is some quality time with your pillow.”

Blair started to object, but Levi carried on the argument. “Greer won’t be done with her spell for hours. Your mission is to rest. You’ve been through so much, and soon, we’ll be putting you in danger again. We need you at the best of your ability.”

Suitably chastised, Blair could only nod and stand up. “Well, I’ve missed my bed.”

“It may not be the best idea for you to sleep in the dorms,” Mikar put in. “Aveka already infiltrated them once. It’s best if you stay on the hill tonight.”

“You can come with us,” Chloe was quick to offer.

“That may not be the best idea either,” Levi admitted. When his mate glared, he pointed out, “Ruby wakes up through the night for food.”

Blair had become a light sleeper given the recent events. She winced. “The dorm’s just fine. I can stay in Gwen’s room—there are fewer students in her wing of the manor.”

Dangerous sups stayed separate from the rest of the boarders for obvious reasons.

“Stay with us,” Cat said. “We have plenty of empty spare bedrooms.”

“Blair will remain here.” Seth’s pronouncement was met with silence.

Finally, she narrowed her eyes. “Will I now?”

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