Page 48 of Glass Hearts
I groan falling to my knees, “Duchess, Arabella, my love! I was just saying that to get my brothers off my back. I can’t stand that woman. I haven’t been with anyone since meeting you. My sights are set on just you. Please, I beg of you, put me out of mymisery and let me take you out this evening.” I offer her my hand in a plea.
She tries hard not to smile, but resolves to grabbing my offered hand.Crisis averted.
I pull her towards the carriage that I had Wallace sneak off to the side so we could avoid any council eyes.
I would rather show off my girl than sneak her around—but I also don’t want her getting into trouble with the council and her evil stepmother. I kiss the top of her hand, still holding mine.
“What exactly are we going to be doing? I probably should have worn something nicer and not myShadowclothes.”
“Arabella, I want you to show me your world. Your people. I want to know what makes you, you. I-I desire to be part of your world, and I know Harsekeep is a part of that.” Digging into my pocket, I remove two newmatchingbandanas—because we are totally going to be a cute couple like that. “We probably should stay hidden, and I know you lost your other one.”
She squeals with delight as she ties the bandana over her face and under her braids.
“On second thought, that face is too beautiful to cover up. Take it off immediately.” She swats at my shoulder as she laughs.
“Maybe you can take it off me when we get back?” She winks. My poor boner will not be subsiding anytime soon. It’s a lovely torture.
We get to the outskirts of Harsekeep as Wallace slows down the carriage. I frantically get out so I can bow and offer her my hand to dismount, like a true gentleman. She giggles as she gets out. Totally nailing this gentleman business.
“Okay, where to, Duchess?”
“Come with me!” She runs and laughs, gloriously still holding my hand. It’s this wildness in her that has me so enraptured.
She takes me to the market, the community instantly brightening as they see Arabella—or I suppose,The Shadow.I tense up a little as so many people approach us. But she continues to hold my hand, squeezing it as every new person comes by.
“Shadow! We haven’t seen you around for the last few evenings. And after seeing those princes chasing you, we were so worried.”
The other patrons don’t seem to notice me. Not that they could tell I am the prince with my hood up and face covered.
“I am perfectly fine, Marcos, nothing I couldn’t handle. How has the business been holding up?”
“Really good now that Craiger has stopped inflating the price of ingredients. Thank you, Shadow. Please take these for you and your friend.” He hugs Arabella and hands her and me a doughy pastry dessert dusted in what looks to be sugar and cinnamon.
“Take care, Marcos!” She waves, her other hand taking mine as we walk off to an open bench.
“You helped him, too?” Awkwardly lifting my bandana, I take a bite of the dessert. The warm pastry and flavours explode in my mouth. It is the best thing I have ever tasted. Well, besides my duchess. She giggles at my groan, also taking a sneaky bite before answering my question.
“Yes, about a month ago, the supplier Marcos uses for his business inflated all the prices of ingredients. Just for the people of Harsekeep, of course. So, I infiltrated his warehouse with thousands of my mouse friends. Well, Kip and Bert’s friends. There is no way I could remember and ask a request of help from that many mice. But I digress. Once I got into the warehouse, I held my arrow up towards his heart and informed him I had thousands of mice ready to be unleashed on his goods. His ego and greed got the better of him, and he conceded to bringing his prices back down and offering rebates to those who had been affected. I, of course, also requested his jewels and coins he had on hand.” She chuckles and shakes her head, reminiscing.
“How could the supplier get away with that!?”
“Well, no offense, the crown has been quite unhelpful. My people have always brought it up to the council. Yet nothing ever comes of it. Do you guys even hear of these requests for investigation?”
“Fuck. Honestly, no. At most, they have told us there has been a bit of unrest in Harsekeep, but that’s it.”
An unfamiliar emotion, shame, fills me as I think about all that we may have missed in allowing the council to run things.
She nods, “That doesn’t surprise me. Almost makes me wonder if the council is also being paid off by these rich fucks too. But let’s not get into that. Would rather not spoil our lovely evening.”
“I do want us to talk about this soon, maybe with all my brothers in the room. I think they would like to hear it. But I agree—I want to focus on you. I am curious; where did you learn how to shoot a bow and arrow?” She snorts at my question, and I raise a pierced eyebrow.
“Honestly… I have never actually used it.” We both laugh as I almost choke on my pastry in shock.
“What? Why?!”
“Valak, a friend of mine, gave it to me. Apparently, it belonged to ‘The Great Art Thief of Endor.’ I always looked up to that guy. He successfully managed to steal and sell numerous art pieces. He gave to the poor. While I was struggling with my stepfamily’s abuse, he served as an inspiration. Valak told me about him, and when I was younger, my father would tell marvelous stories of the morally grey hero. Nobody knows what happened to him. Valak says he must have retired or moved on. Oliver had given him the set, and in turn, he gave it to me. Just so I looked a little more threatening when stealing.” She laughs. “I actually tried to practice once, and I almost accidentally shot Petra, my crow familiar and friend.”
“Maybe Sylas can teach you; he knows a lot about pretty much all weapons. I would offer, but I know about as much as you. I prefer knife play.” I wiggle my eyebrows at her as she blushes, that cute pink hue peeking out from under her bandana. How I wish I could see her beautiful face in all its glory right now.
