The Broken Kingdoms of Osvolta (Kingdoms of Osvolta #1)

59. The Prince’s Irresistible Charm

Chapter fifty-nine

The Prince’s Irresistible Charm

“ Y ou think whoever, or whatever, is killing the elementals is still out there?” Adira mused from behind their desk, gripping a steaming mug of black coffee. Early morning light filtered in through the balcony doors, casting soft shadows across their face.

“If it were just one person, the deaths would have stopped.”

“And the reason you could no longer look into this from your own kingdom?”

“Whoever is doing this is close to my family. They got to the prince at the ball, mere hours after the new perpetrator was supposedly…”

“Executed.” Adira supplied, mouth in a thin line.

Solveig nodded. “None of it adds up. There are eyes everywhere in Torrelin. I couldn’t risk someone finding out my suspicions.”

Adira studied their friend for a moment. “You realise this puts me in a difficult position? Farrenhold and Torrelin are still allies. If word gets out that I assisted an unauthorised investigation into the Torrelinian Royals, there will be the pit to pay.”

“I understand,”

“Good.” Adira placed their mug down, reaching out a hand to her. “Then make me understand. Give me a reason to allow this.”

Solveig swallowed, her gaze falling to the floor as she whispered, “I have documents to support my theory, but in truth, the reason I’m here?” She sighed; head bowed. “I think I’m next.”

“What?” Adira blinked, their mouth slightly agape.

“The signs are all there, nose bleeds, coughing blood. At first, I thought it was exhaustion, but when they went after the prince too, I realised they could be after me. That he may have been attacked by association?”

Adira stood, circling the desk to pull their friend into a hug, and Solveig held on tight, burying her face in Adira’s warm neck. “I can give you access to the Royal Library. If there’s information to be had, we’ll find it there.”

“Thank you,” Solveig whispered.

Adira pushed back, holding Solveig at arm’s length. “Now then.” They smiled, popping a slice of honeyed melon into their mouth. “Onto more pressing matters.”

“Such as?”

“What is going on with you and that oh so handsome prince?”

“Nothing.”

“Careful now,” Adira laughed, “you don’t want to sound too defensive; it could make the wrong people suspicious.”

“They forced us to work together, that’s all. He was getting too close. I tried to put some distance between us, left without saying goodbye, hoping that he would get the message and return home.”

“He doesn’t seem the type to give up without a fight.”

“There’s nothing to fight for. I’m engaged, and he’s the enemy.”

“No one said it had to be a permanent deal,” Adira winked. “He would be a damn good time, at least for a little while.”

“I made a vow, and I intend to hold to it.”

“You made that vow barely six months after Aldrik’s death. They can’t hold you to it. It’d be a healthy distraction.”

“No,” Solveig repeated, “I will not stoop to their level, not again.”

Adira chose not to push the issue further. “I have some work I need to finish up this morning, but I can escort you to the library this afternoon, say one o’clock?”

“Sounds perfect.” Solveig nodded before taking her leave.

In the more southern city of Trivellian, autumn still hung on. The sun blazed hot enough to allow the northern princess to sun herself out on the patio beside the pool. She lay in a one-piece bathing suit. Hair twisted on the top of her head; a glass of sparkling wine with a dash of orange juice on the table beside her. She drifted off to the sounds of the lapping waves against the moss-covered stone steps. She could get used to this life. Even in the summer, Marrelin City was rarely warm enough to allow this sort of activity. Those months brought rain, though they couldn’t complain. The rain kept their lands fertile and the rivers full to bursting year-round. Unlike Farrenhold, they didn’t have to rely on Hydromancers and Earth Breakers to survive.

Just as she was about to fall into the comforting embrace of sleep, Solveig sensed a shadow move over her, covering the upper half of her body. Praying it wasn’t a building storm, she cracked one eye open to find the one person she had no desire to see standing over her.

“Nice to see you’re keeping busy, Princess,” Prince Emmerich quipped,

“Who said I came to Farrenhold for anything other than a holiday?”

“You’re hasty disappearing act suggests otherwise.”

Solveig shrugged, reaching for her perspiring glass of wine. “It was a spur-of-the-moment decision.”

“Bullshit,” the prince’s retort echoed in her mind for a moment before she cracked both eyes open this time.

“Pardon me?”

“You heard me.”

Solveig rolled her eyes. “I don’t answer to you and I’ve no obligation to explain myself. Now if you don’t mind, you’re blocking my sun.”

“I heard you’re going to the library this afternoon.”

“Your point?” She sighed, sitting up on her elbows.

“Whatever you’re researching, I deserve to have input.”

“If you want to come along and watch me select a few temperature raising, heart stopping romance novels, be my guest. But I doubt you’ll find what you’re looking for.”

“Perhaps not,” Emmerich whispered, “but you’ve provided me with an entirely new incentive to join in.”

“And that would be?”

“Getting to watch that flush travel across your skin again when things get too… hot for you.” His eyes blazed across her exposed skin. “I wonder if it travels beyond your cheeks and neck, lower perhaps. What I wouldn’t give to uncover that little secret.”

Solveig sat up hastily, grabbing her wrap to cover herself. “It isn’t your secret to claim.”

“Says who?”

“Says me and the engagement ring on my finger.”

The prince only shrugged. “Nothing’s official until you have the matching wedding band on. Until then, I won’t stop until I’ve unravelled every piece of you. Little by little, chipping away at those walls you’ve so expertly built.” He leaned closer, forcing Solveig to lean back as she stared at him. “I want it all, Princess.”

“You can’t have it all.” Anger flashed through Solveig as she jumped to her feet, pushing the prince back a step, a hidden dagger pointed straight for his neck.

“You think you’re so charming and irresistible, don’t you?” she seethed. Stepping closer as he stepped back, gaze wary on the shining steel. “You’re forgetting one thing.”

“And that is?” He gulped, feeling the point of her blade graze his neck.

“That I’m not a prize to be won. I’m not a piece of furniture you can own. I belong to me and no one else. The answer was no yesterday, it is still no today, and it will be no tomorrow. There is nothing I want, nor desire to give you, and no reason for you to stay any longer.” She ripped the blade away, hiding it once more. “Go home, Your Highness.”

She turned to pick up her drink when the prince finally spoke on a shaking breath, “I’ll go home, when you agree to go with me.”

“Did you not listen to a word I said?”

“Oh, I heard you, Princess.” It was his turn to step closer now, “But see, we aren’t in Torrelin anymore. The only person who can command me to leave is rather entertained by having me here. So, you want me gone, fine, come with me.” His eyes sparkled at the idea, “let me sail you around the coast of your beloved country, see it from another point of view.”

“I can’t stand to be in the same room as you, never mind aboard that miniscule boat forced to be close to each other for days on end.”

“Liar,” he quipped, not missing the slight tremor of her hand as she raised her glass to her lips.

Solveig did not respond this time; instead, resorting to the same tactics she had engaged in the previous night. Flinging out a hand to summon control over the water in the pool. Except today the prince was waiting. Anticipating her exact manoeuvre. He built a wall of solid air around them; watching as the water crashed above them, refracting the light from the sun in rainbows across her pale skin.

“That wasn’t very nice, Princess.”

“I never claimed to be.”

“Come sailing with me.”

“Fire will sooner reign down from the beastly maw of the Ignis Mountains than I will set foot on your ship.”

“We’ll see about that.” He shrugged, dropping his hand. A few stray droplets of water splashed atop their heads. As he sauntered back toward the palace, he called over his shoulder, “What time are we going to the library?”

“Drown yourself and save me the trouble.”

“That’s your power, not mine, Princess, and I’d hate to damage one of those priceless books.”

“The time,” he repeated when she didn’t respond.

“If I tell you, will you leave me alone?”

He pursed his lips. “For now, I suppose.”

Solveig rolled her eyes, “two o’clock, here on the patio, don’t be late or we’ll go without you.”

“I won’t be. I’d hate to keep you away from all your heart stopping reads.”