Page 40 of Only Flames Remain

It would be easier this way. I merely needed to secure a foolproof escape plan.

My gaze traveled down his tunic, which was embellished with ornate beading along the collar and down the chest, across the shoulders. Down, down, down. Again, there was no ancient relic dagger strapped to his hip as Queen Dyata had said there would be. This is the second time I had seen him without it.

He cocked his head to the side, a smile playing on his lips. “I never quite liked the word servant.” He said it with distaste. “Though, lady’s maid wouldn’t quite fit in this situation either…”

I inclined my head toward him in humor. “It wouldn’t? I could braid your hair, Your Highness. Help you dress—” My mouth got the better of me once more, and my cheeks flooded with heat.

The smile that had lifted the corner of his mouth turned into a grin. He appeared younger this way, a soft dimple in his left cheek, his eyes creased at the corners.

My own gaze darted to the flash of sharp teeth visible beneath his broad smile. He may be a halfling, and they may have appeared rounder to my human eyes, but they were equally as sharp as if he were full-blooded Vireth. He needed blood to survive, after all. Those teeth were meant to puncture skin.

Halfling or not—they required blood all the same.

He coughed, though it was merely a poor attempt to cover the visible laugh that had begun in his throat. “Perhaps we have gotten off on the wrong foot.” He suggested, squaring his shoulders. “I am Sorin Blackwater, crown prince of Gothryn. My father is King Mavros, my mother was the human Melantha Devoe. I am the black swordtail many in Myros have come to fear.”

If he was expecting me to quiver in my boots…he would be waiting a long time. It was easy to dissociate the man in front of me from the monster who had flown over Myros before summer solstice. With his wings safely tucked away like this, he almost appeared human.

Almost.

I couldn’t let myself forget that not only was he the enemy, but he was stronger than I could ever imagine. Stronger than any Veytari I had ever met. I needed to be careful.

There was an unending moment of silence until it finally dawned on me that he was waiting for me to introduce myself.

“Oh! Right…well, I am Aveline Drake.” I straightened as he did. “I own an apothecary in Myros with my mother, Lavanya. I have no father.”

His brows drew together. “You have no father?”

I shook my head, gaze dropping from his. “He left before I was born—I am an only child. I stopped searching for him long ago. He never wanted anything to do with us to begin with. I now feel the same.”

I bit my lip, second guessing my own words. Should I have left out the part about owning an apothecary? It was too late now. I figured I could offer a molecule of truth about my life before Gothryn. It would not only earn his trust but reveal I wasn’t an unskilled human. I made no mention of my position at court in Myros—or my relation to Kallias.

“I’m pleased to meet you,” he said.

My gaze drew back up to his. Once he realized I wasn’t going to say anything further, he stepped back, allowing space for me to step into the hall. He raised an arm, indicating the way down the corridor.

“Would you allow me to escort you to your first assignment?”

I nodded, swallowing hard. He was much more pleasant than I had expected. I was interested in exactly how far I could push him before this humorous façade broke, and he turned into the overbearing, hot-headed royal I had been warned to expect.

I raised a brow at him and grinned, furthering the playful dialogue he had initiated. “And if I'm too tired?”

He laughed, shaking his head. He was terribly beautiful when he laughed. I quickly bit the inside of my cheek again, chasing that thought away.

“I’m afraid you don’t have a choice. Unless, of course, you wish to buy out your indenture?”

“No, no,” I responded quickly. “I was only—”

“Joking. I know. After you,” he replied, indicating with his hand that I should start down the corridor and he would follow.

The moment I crossed the threshold out of the tiny room and disappeared out of sight, Quinnick came sprinting after me. He wove between my legs, gazing up at the prince with a question in his eyes.

“And who is this?” the prince asked, eyebrows raised as he gestured to the little white fox at my feet.

I bent down to scratch behind his ear, and he thumped his foot happily in response.

“This is Quinnick. He is used to going where I go. He is also used to having free roam of the ca—” My brain caught up with my mouth just in time to avoid saying castle and exposing myself.

Sorin quirked a brow at me when I didn’t continue. “He can accompany you, then…if you’d like.”