Cursed by the Phantom Prince (Once Upon A Curse)

Chapter 13

13

RHAN

“ A re you planning to answer them?” I asked, crossing my arms over my chest and glaring into the shadows.

“I am,” Lir answered, truthfully.

I remained quiet, unsure what I should ask first. There was so much I wanted to know about this sickness and the Moon Court. Talking with Larek had been easy, almost natural. Speaking to Lir was different and I thought it was because of what had happened the night before. I wanted to ask about what I had seen in his mind but was scared to reveal my ability to him. Larek had taken the revelation quite well but I had no idea how Lir would take it. It was an invasion of privacy, not that I had any control over it.

“Do you know about the realm sickness?” I watched him closely, hoping to discern something besides indifference, but his hood was up and the shadows were too thick.

“I do,” he answered, taking a step toward me and awareness pricked my skin. I shivered, doing my best not to recall how his skin had felt on mine. The iciness that lived just under his flesh, not to mention the darkness that he seemed to wear like armor.

“Is this part of your orders? Answering my questions?”

“Yes, the prince’s orders were clear.”

My heart sank and I hated that the mention of the prince’s order’s bothered me. From the little I knew he seemed like a decent sort of Fae, but there was no way to actually know if what I was being told was the truth. I wished he was here instead so I could ask my questions and study his reactions and features. He wasn’t here however, so his most trusted Black Guard would have to do.

“Why do you hide your face?” My eyes narrowed as I tried to force my vision to see more than just a dark silhouette surrounded by more darkness.

“It is customary for the Black Guard to hide their faces,” he answered but I could tell that he hadn’t expected me to ask about his appearance. Good to know I could unsettle him just as much as he unsettled me.

“I see.”

Maybe I could use this opportunity to learn more about him. I was intensely curious about what I had seen when he’d touched me. The dying and the glowing tree were the two things I couldn’t get out of my mind. Being alone with Lir made me want to find out every detail from what I’d seen. Telling Larek about my ability was one thing, but telling the person whose mind I’d been in was entirely different.

“Will you sit with me?” I asked him, gesturing to the settee that was still out here.

Lir nodded but didn’t move, so I settled myself on the cushions, watching as he joined me. I arranged my skirts over my legs to stave off the chill that the night brought with it. Lir shifted in his seat so he could better watch me.

“What is the extent of your orders?” Once again surprising him with my question, judging by the lengthy uncomfortable pause.

“I am to protect you as if you are already part of the Moon Court and answer any questions that might arise during this negotiation period.”

“So the answers will stop once an agreement is struck,” I mused; his silence was all the answer that I needed.

There was a time limit on my questions. I needed to ask everything now or risk being kept in the dark if negotiations failed or were agreed upon. Either outcome would stop the honesty that Larek and the prince seemed to value above all else. I’d find it strange, but Larek had explained that whatever this sickness was it was sentient and connected to the prince in some way, which meant there was a loophole somewhere.

My head ached as question after question bombarded my thoughts, each one getting more and more elaborate as the seconds passed. Frustrated, I picked a question at random and turned my attention back to the Fae male who was sitting, patiently waiting for me to speak.

The question died on my tongue when his intense dark eyes met mine, stealing my breath away. Every thought left my mind and I wished that he would pull down his cowl so I could see his full face. Lir was attractive like all Fae were but there was something foreboding, almost dangerous, about him that drew me in. His large body took up most of the cushions and I felt so small in comparison.

With his black eyes focused on me, I imagined reaching across the space and pulling the cowl down and pushing the hood off of his head. The desire to see this Fae clearly was overwhelming to the point that my fingers tingled with anticipation. What was he hiding?

Before I made a conscious decision about what to do I found myself scooting closer. The distance between us felt like a gaping chasm that I couldn’t allow to separate us a second longer. I blinked and was suddenly right next to him, our bodies inches apart. My lips parted as my breathing sped up; we were so close I could feel the heat from his body radiating around him. The look in his eyes changed from mild curiosity to something darker, like he was daring me to remain this close.

I inhaled, breathing in the scent of night along with something cold that reminded me of snowy mornings back at the orphanage. Lir shifted, drawing closer to me like he couldn’t help himself. There was something magnetic between us and while I was hesitant to touch him again, I was also eager.

“Princess?”

“Rhan,” I corrected, the title on his lips sounding wrong.

“Rhan,” he breathed, his eyes studying my face.

I gasped softly, the sound drawing his gaze down to my mouth. Without thinking, I licked my lips, watching as the skin around his eyes tightened. Slowly I raised my hand toward his face, watching him closely for any sign that I should stop. Emboldened by his lack of reaction, my fingertips brushed the material surrounding his face, finding it cool to the touch.

Biting my lip I paused, holding my breath as I pinched the material, a desperate need to see his uncovered face overcoming my senses. Gently, I pulled the cool silky material down, exposing his nose that was just as perfect as the rest of him. With deliberate slowness, I continued to pull the cowl down until it was well below his chin.

His features were striking and completely different from what I had come to expect from the Fae. His face was rugged and weathered like he spent much of his time outdoors. He was handsome, a word I never used to describe Fae males but it suited him. He was different from any other Fae I had encountered and the thought intrigued me.

The sound of my bedroom door opening startled me. I scooted back to my original spot on the settee as Lir pulled his cowl back up to cover the lower half of his face.

“Princess?” Rea called, strolling onto the balcony dressed in armor.

“What’s happened?” I asked, jumping to my feet as Lady appeared trotting to me.

“I’ve just received word from Fiskh,” Rea began as all of my previous thoughts evaporated. “He’s discovered another infected soldier and he’s requested your presence.”

“I see.” My mind whirling with what needed to be done. This was my chance to see this rot for myself and hopefully figure out why it’s targeting me. “Notify Lua and have her attend me, then go and request a portal mushroom from the guard commander on duty.”

“Consider it done,” Rea said, bowing, then turning on her heel and leaving the room.

“What’s going on?” Lir demanded, touching my shoulder, careful to keep the material of my dress between our skin.

“We’re going to the Sun Court,” I replied, walking swiftly back into my room heading for my closet.

“You know about the sickness?” Lir asked, following me and I wondered why he sounded so surprised. Hadn’t Larek told him about the gardens.

“Yes I do,” I answered simply, throwing my closet door open and making a beeline for the chest that contained my own armor.

“It’s too dangerous,” he protested, following me into the small space. “What are you planning to do?”

“I need to see this with my own eyes.” I debated telling him about what the last Fae infected had said about me but decided against it. I had to keep my humanness a secret and regardless of whatever moment we just had, I couldn’t trust him. Not yet at least. “Lady, please retrieve Prince Larek.”

Lady turned and ran from the room, her nails click-clacking on the marble floors. I turned back to my chest of armor; my fingers grabbed the edge of the lid when I heard the closet door slam shut.

I whirled around, expecting to see Lua standing there ready to lecture me about going on another late night mission, but my willful maid wasn’t there.

“My orders to protect you prevent me from allowing you to do…whatever it is you are planning.”

“Why?” I asked, hoping that his orders to answer my questions would supersede his orders to protect me.

Lir froze, his dark eyes glaring at me as he tried to decide which order to obey.

“It would seem I’ve found a loophole. Your prince should have anticipated this eventuality. But I’m assuming his intel about me was the carefully constructed persona I’ve painstakingly created.” I turned around, giving the Black Guard my back as I lifted the lid to my chest and withdrew a dagger before turning back to face the dark Fae. “I was not raised to be passive. I have royal blood running through my veins from both of my parents. I won’t stand by while my realm is under attack or send a vassal in my place to preserve my safety.”

I could be mistaken but for a moment I thought I saw admiration in his eyes, then he blinked and it was gone.

“We don’t know each other and regardless of honesty, manipulation, or loopholes the truth is our people are in danger and it’s up to us to stop it.” I tossed the dagger upwards, watching as it rotated through the air as gravity pulled it down. I caught it by the blade, the calluses I’d developed after years of practice stopping the sharp edge from slicing my skin. “Now stand aside so my hand maiden can attend to me.”