Page 37 of Elf Prince

“Tonight.” Weylind strode past him, then halted for just a moment to meet Farrendel’s gaze. “I am sorry.”

As the door clicked shut behind Weylind, Farrendel let go of Essie’s hand, her warm fingers sliding free and leaving his hand so very cold and empty.

The last two days had been golden and beautiful. But, as always, such a life was not Farrendel’s. No, he had been born for bloodshed and war, as was proved by the terrible magic flowing through his veins.

Essie glanced from the door to Farrendel, then reached out to grip his arm. “What happened? What did he say?”

Ice settled into Farrendel’s chest. Already, he was mentally pulling away from Essie’s warmth and happiness and, instead, clung to the cold he would need when he faced the troll army camped at Tarenhiel’s border. “Trolls have raided the border. The border guards have asked for my help to end the raids.”

Essie’s face twisted, her eyes widening, for just a moment before her expression smoothed into that composed, perfect princess look he had seen when he first married her. “When do you leave?”

“Tonight.” It was hard to even get that one word out. Now that he had been summoned, all he wanted to do was grab his things and leave. Dragging this out would just make it harder to hold onto the cold inside him.

As if sensing the churning inside him, Essie lifted her chin, resolve glowing in her green eyes. “Don’t worry about me. I’ll be fine here. Just stay safe and come back to me, all right?”

It was cruel, leaving her here alone in a foreign kingdom. Perhaps he should have taken the time to introduce her to his family properly so that she would at least have someone to look after her instead of keeping her so much to himself for the past two days.

But Farrendel had no choice. And if anyone could land on her feet and survive here in Tarenhiel, it was Essie.

He forced himself to turn around and walk away from her, each step growing harder.

At the door, he halted, his feet frozen. Everything in him churned, rebelling at the thought of just leaving her like this.

If only he was not Laesornysh. If only he could simply be Prince Farrendel, enjoying Essie’s company and experiencing the peace found in Estyra, far away from the border with Kostaria.

He half-turned, glancing over his shoulder at Essie. She hugged her arms over her stomach, her composed expression slipping.

She was cut off from her kingdom, her friends, her family. The least he could do was offer her something, anything, to make her feel less alone. “If you want to write a quick note for your family, I will make sure it is sent before I leave.”

He could not bear to hold her gaze. It hurt too much as it clashed against the ice in his heart.

Instead, he turned and retreated up the stairs to his room. By habit, he changed into the black trousers and green tunic he wore underneath his fighting leathers. Those fighting leathers were already in a trunk on the train, waiting for his next battle. All he had to do was gather his weapons, and he was ready to go to war once again.

He was Laesornysh. Death on the Wind. He did not have the luxury to experience happiness or smiles or anything approaching a normal life.

Essie might enjoy his company now, but how would she react when he returned from the battles and his nightmares struck in full force? There would be no hiding them. Once Essie realized what he truly was, then she would hate him. This camaraderie between them would end once and for all.

What else had he expected? He was Laesornysh. The illegitimate son of the elf king, cursed with terrible, deadly magic.

When he re-entered the main room, Essie was sealing her letter with wax. With wide eyes, she held out her letter, a white look to her face. “I kept it short.”

The cold settled even deeper in Farrendel’s chest and veins. With his black clothing and weapons, he was scaring her.

If he was scaring her now, then she would be terrified if she found out what he could do.

The last few days had been wonderful. But of course they had to end.

Farrendel took the letter and forced himself to stride past her. He could not pause. He could not give in to the temptation to ease his hold on the ice.

“Farrendel?”

Essie’s voice was soft, yet it still had the power to halt his feet. It took all the courage in him to glance over his shoulder at her.

“Stay safe.” Essie’s large green eyes held his gaze. “I thought you should know. I’ll miss you.”

If she kept looking at him like that, then he would crumble. He didn’t have the strength to deal with what she was offering him.

Hope. Life. Happiness.

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