Cursed by the Phantom Prince (Once Upon A Curse)

Chapter 20

20

TOREN

S hit.

“Yes,” I answered quickly, my voice gruff from the anxiety of the situation.

I flicked my gaze quickly to Larek but I realized belatedly that doing so was pointless. He couldn’t see my action or respond accordingly. It was frustrating how easily I forgot about his blindness. Larek didn’t look surprised at all, which annoyed me further, but I pushed that to the back of my mind. I had other things to worry about.

Rhan kept facing forward, her eyes ablaze with purple fire but I couldn’t tell if it was my father’s accusation or the fact that she suspected that he was right. This had been my plan and it had all gone to shit faster than I could have expected. Maybe I was losing my touch or maybe my father had suddenly become more observant. I doubted that but for the first time in years his eyes looked clear and sharp. He looked like a wizened old man but his posture and the way he carried himself told me that something had changed.

“Are you the Moon Court Prince in disguise that King Helio is suggesting that you are?” The queen asked, her attention turning to me.

I took a moment to consider everything. If I refuted the suspicion that I was the prince all my father would have to do is command me to remove my hood. However, at the moment I was a Black Guard. One that had been, supposedly, sent by the prince to protect the princess until an agreement had been made and a date set for marriage. Technically once I crossed the border into the Court of Dawn I became a subject of the court and beholden to the princess and only the princess.

It was a weak option. I could go along with it and pray that Rhan would play along, keeping my identity a secret for now, or I could reveal myself. I could claim that I’d come disguised as a guard to get to know my possible future bride better. I’d claim it was a young boy’s curiosity, though I hadn’t been a boy since my mother died.

“I am what I claim to be,” I responded, answering while not really answering the question. I’d claimed to be Lir of the Black Guard handpicked to protect the Princess. Back home I proclaimed to be the prince but boundaries wiped the slate clean, at least I was hoping that it did.

“Your Grace, if I may interject,” my father spoke before the queen could respond to my statement. “May I request that the guard remove his hood.”

The request made Rhan stiffen and her attention returned to the King while her mother’s hold on her changed. It was no longer for comfort but rather to keep her back.

“That is a request I cannot ask of the guard,” the queen answered, then turned to the Princess at her side. “Since the guard, on the prince’s orders, was sent to my daughter only she has the right to request it of him.”

My stomach tightened but Rhan wasn’t looking at me; her smoldering stare remained on my father. I wondered what she saw. Did she see an old Fae or did she see the conniving king? Did she see concern for his son in his eyes or could she see past it to the hatred and anger?

I wasn’t sure why the distinction mattered so much to me. This had started out as a reconnaissance mission that had morphed into something else. I’d gotten to know the princess a little bit and found that there was more to her than what was on the surface. She was good at presenting a contrite princess in court but I’d witnessed her courage. I’d watched as she’d faced the Dark One. She’d come out of that situation with her head held high with only a touch of madness, which was better than I had hoped for.

After several long moments the princess finally turned her gaze to mine. We didn’t know each other well but I could see it clearly written on her face that she knew the truth. Somehow she knew that I wasn’t Lir. Maybe her visions when we touched showed my father. Knowing who he was would point her to the only conclusion that made sense.

She was more than just a princess and that thought made me determined to figure this out. For her and for me.

I met her violet eyes with my dark ones, letting her see a little of what I kept hidden deep inside. She didn’t even blink and I prayed it was a signal that she trusted me to get us out of this predicament without sparking a war.

My chuckle broke the silence, all eyes turning to me as I approached the princess with my hand outstretched to her. She placed her hand in mine without hesitation, making me smile, though it was hidden under the cowl that still covered my face.

“We’ve been found out, dove,” I said, pulling her until she was forced to drop the queen’s hand, her body pressed to mine. I ignored the way her soft curves molded to every hard edge I possessed but I found it extremely difficult.

Rhan’s hand rested on my chest in order to steady herself but to everyone else it looked like an effortless gesture that one would do to their lover. I wrapped my arm around her waist, preventing her from retreating even though I knew that she wouldn’t. I lifted my opposite hand and gently stroked her cheek, marveling at the way she sucked in a breath like my touch was everything she had ever wanted.

If she was acting she was damn good at it. A part of me hoped that she wasn’t pretending but actually affected by my touch.

Before I could say or do anything else, Rhan reached up and pulled the hood from my head, then ripped the mask down like she couldn’t wait to see my face. My hold on her tightened while my heart surged at the action and I had to remind myself that we had an audience.

“So, it’s true,” the queen said, drawing our attention away from the other. “You are the Moon Court Prince.”

“I am,” I answered, covering Rhan’s hand that was still on my chest with my own and squeezing slightly.

“How long have you known, daughter?” The queen asked, standing up and looking at us both with light green eyes that didn’t believe a thing that came out of my mouth.

“Since the first night,” Rhan said, breathlessly, her eyes narrowing as everything from the past two days fit together like a puzzle piece.

“Why are you here? Why have you hid your face? Did you come to spy on us?”

“Mother,” Rhan spoke harshly like she was barely able to contain her anger. “The prince came in disguise for me. If we were to wed, the last thing we both wanted was to marry a stranger. His deception was for me… us and no one else.”

Her words made the queen pause and she took a moment to consider but I could tell that she didn’t believe a single word. She could have her suspicions but the person I really needed to sell this to was my father.

I leaned down and nuzzled her throat, biting back a groan as she immediately tilted her head so I could further gain access. I would be analyzing my reaction to her as soon as I got a chance.

“May I kiss you?” the words brushed against the skin of her neck so quietly I was afraid she wouldn’t hear it but her imperceptible nod made my stomach clench with desire. She was playing along so beautifully that I wondered if her reaction was actually genuine. Did I affect her? Was her heart racing because of my nearness? I’d have to figure it out later because we were still embroiled in a problem that I was desperately trying to get us out of.

My lips ran up the column of her throat, her nearly silent inhales urging me to continue. I nipped at her jaw, letting the groan I could hear low in her throat spur me on. I removed my hand from hers, using my palm I cupped her cheek just as my lips found hers. She kissed me back, hesitant at first but then she relaxed, surrendering to me as I attempted to put on a show.

I drank her in. I inhaled every one of her exhales. I was lost in her, forgetting that there was an audience, forgetting that I was trying to save us both. This was everything I had only dared fantasize about in the moments when I was alone. When just the thought of her made me lose my mind. In a short amount of time this girl, this princess, had somehow gotten under my skin.

“Ravishing,” I praised, needing her closer, needing her in every way I could get her.

“Lir?” Rhan whispered against my lips, her chest rising and falling with every breath, her full breasts brushing against my chest making a shiver run down my spine. “We’re alone.”

“Hmmmm….” I broke the kiss but kept my arm around her to keep her close.

I looked around and found that the room was empty except for a sneaky falcon who was pretty well hidden.

“Oh.”

I shook my head, trying to get my brain back on track. I’d been lost, so consumed by the feel of Rhan in my arms that I’d lost every single one of my senses. This was supposed to show that we were acquainted but now, after my display of affection, that we were closer than we actually were.

This had gone from not good to worse in the space of a couple minutes.