“Because I must.” Hands gripped my waist, pulling me back against him once more, as if to demonstrate the futility of even a subtle flight. “It's always a struggle to wake. This time was more. . .difficult. When you find a patch of firm ground, you anchor your stake or risk being swept away by a tide.”
“Next, you'll tell me my beauty beckons you like a northern star.” My scorn lashed us both. I hid behind it to conceal my unease.
Another chuckle. “You don't think your beauty alone is enough to tempt a male?” He lowered his head, hair falling over my bare shoulders like gossamer silk, his chest brushing my back.
“I'm not beautiful.”
“Interesting. Perhaps that’s an invitation to demonstrate otherwise.”
I scoffed. “You don’t need to court me when you've already bought my body with the blood of my kin.”
Renaud stilled, shocking me a moment later with deep, musical laughter.
“No one speaks to me as you do. What is it?” He turned me and peered down into my face. “Has war robbed you of sanity? Is it your human blood?” His teeth flashed in the darkness, a warning in his half smile. “Or do you believe my favor insulates you from punishment?”
I stared into his pale eyes. “I'm not afraid of death.”
He pressed his lips on the curve of my jaw. A hand slipped into my hair, light at first, but increasing in pressure.
“My halfling, we both know there are far worse things to fear than death, and I am one of them. Take care in how you handle me. I will indulge your defiance as long as you don't challenge my authority in public.”
So Nora and Baba had said. How did he echo the thoughts in my head? I shuddered, afraid he felt my body's response under his hands. It made no sense, the lust rising as he looked at me, spoke to me in that low, quiet, musical voice, when he touched me like a longtime lover who had the right. How him holding me felt natural.
The expression in his eyes darkened, their flickering shadows growing as electric blue emerged, a flash of soul-deep hunger. Renaud inhaled, jaw granite, and turned his head away from me for a moment. I didn't move, didn't make a sound.
Then he exhaled, the tension leaving his body. “This is a test of my patience. I have outmaneuvered myself.”
I furrowed my brows. “I don't understand.”
“You will in time. Always, in time.” Bone deep weariness creased his face, then even that expression was banished. “So young. You never would have survived the—” he cut himself off.
“Survived what?”
Renaud shook his head. “You wear your every thought on your face. You need to work on that, my halfling.”
Like I could hide anything from him anyway, no matter how much I practiced. “I'm not one of those over-achievers. I don't waste time on hopeless causes.”
I'd seen a handful of years, and he'd seen centuries upon centuries. The weight of his years rested in the stillness of his broad shoulders, in the sculpted stone of his face.
“Try,” he advised. “Respect for those more powerful than you will keep you alive until there are none more powerful left. The inverse leads to messy death.”
“Well, if you just want someone to kiss your ass, bend over and let me get to it.” I'd do a lot more for Lavendre's return.
Renaud clucked his tongue against his teeth. He tightened the hand in my hair. I wasn’t certain if he meant to hurt me, but he did. I twisted, tugging my head, and his eyes flashed.
“Fearless. But charming nonetheless, like a rabid kitten.” He stilled, loosening his hand as if suddenly aware of the strength of his grip. His fingers massaged my smarting scalp for a moment, and I almost shuddered, biting my bottom lip. His voice deepened. “I don't quite know if I should drown you or collar you in jewels and pet you.” Pale eyes flared to blue.
My breath came a little faster. “Well, drowning is permanent. So I would go with the petting until you completely make up your mind. And that could take centuries.”
The Prince smiled again, his expression less remote.
“Come.” He took my hand and led me to an intimate table already set. “I thought we might serve ourselves so we might converse without my household overhearing your particular lack of manners.”
“So you don't have to kill me to save face?”
He pulled out my chair. “Indeed.”
I waited until he sat and poured wine. Then drained half the glass, gripping the stem. “Do you remember when you were fourteen?”
