Page 9 of The Promise Born
“I'm sorry to hear that, but I must admit that the way you get under Domin’s skin gives me such joy.” She winked. “He is a pain. He takes his job far too seriously. It’s as if he thinks something or someone will kick him out of the picture.”
“Is that what it is?” I pursed my lips. “That honestly makes sense when I think about how he responds to me. He’s overprotective of his position.”
I thought Domin was just a jerk. But maybe he was a jerk who was afraid of losing his job. A prince finding a bride could do that. Often when royals married, there were staff changes to accommodate the couples’ new needs.
“I used to think he was just being overprotective. Just trying to make sure his role was secure. But now I'm not so sure. All I do know is he gets on my nerves and seeing someone get under his skin the way you do, makes me so very happy. So, thank you.”
“Well, I’m glad to know something good has come from all this.”
“I'll let you get settled in. The others will bring your things in a few moments. We like to let the Stagnants rest before unloading. They’re a lot less agitated that way. Let me know if there's anything you need.”
“Thank you. I appreciate that.”
Uradis walked out of the room, leaving the door slightly ajar. Because I didn’t want anyone peaking in on me, I headed over to close it. Then I heard it, whispers of a passing pair of men. I held the door as still as possible, hoping they would pass quickly. I wondered if every court had this many gossips.
“The trolls have made another approach.”
“Do you think she will let him go?”
“After losing his brother like that, I doubt it. The queen wants the prince to focus on what’s important.”
“A wife and child.” The shorter guy scoffed. “Prince Asante wants no wife and child. The sooner his mother accepts it, the better. He enjoys coaching those dragons for the games. Maybe she should let him get it out of his system.”
“She will never accept his refusal to continue their bloodline. Who would rule if that happened?”
I waited until I could no longer hear them before finally closing the door. And once again, the hinges sang like birds in the morning as I pushed it closed.
With my back to the door, I sighed. “What the hell did I get myself into?”
The knock on the door startled me. It must have been the aides dropping off my items. I straightened and opened the door. But it wasn’t the women I’d left my items with. It was the prince.
“You’re here.” He smiled as if I would be happy to see him.
“As if I had a choice in the matter.” I rolled my eyes and stepped back from the door to let him enter the room. “Come in.”
“You did have a choice.” He stepped inside. “But you chose wrong.”
“According to you.”
“I need you here. It’s important to me.” He looked around the room. “I even gave you one of the best spots in the place.”
“There are plenty of people here who can make you those sweets.” I lied. “And I liked my own home a lot better than this.”
“I don’t want anyone else to make them. I want you to make them. Must you be so difficult? I pulled you out of there, wasting away. Now you can live here.”
“Trapped in these gray walls instead of free to roam in nature like I love? Oh yeah, you’ve done me a great favor here.”
Asante frowned at me. “You do know who you’re talking to, right?”
“Yeah, I do.” I tapped my chin with my finger. “The prince running from his responsibilities to play coach.”
“Who are you to talk about my responsibilities?”
“I’m no one. That is what your people say.” I reported part of what I heard rumored in the hall, leaving out the troll attack.
“My people.” He narrowed his eyes. “What people have you heard say that?”
“Oh, I don’t know their names. I just got here.” It would be foolish to tell him about the passing men. He might find out who they were and then retaliate against them. And that might stop people from gossiping, and I needed the intel if I was going to figure out how to get away.
