“Regret is a luxury for those who can afford to question their decisions.”
Renaud's eyes went flinty. “You're wrong. You cannot afford not to question.”
“I would literally go insane.”
“Yes. That is often how it begins.” A cruel smile bloomed. “Welcome to the first price of rulership, my halfling. Making the bloody decisions, facing the consequences, and living with them. And if you are wise, learning when rule by fear alone is enough, or when you must unsheathe your blade.”
“And what of love, Prince?”
* * *
Our anger broke—orrather, we agreed to set it aside—and we walked through gardens along a stone path, my hand resting in the crook of his elbow.
“Love,” he said finally, “is the pretense of youth. Fear is stronger.”
“And I thought the Old Ones were wise. Evidently not. Evidently they have merely survived.”
He chuckled. “Many have agreed with you.”
“But you don’t. Does that mean you have never loved?” I didn’t know what possessed me to ask that question, especially when his arm tightened under my hand.
“I have loved,” he said, and I knew well enough to closethatsubject.
He halted at a tall water feature surrounded by awideledge. Another small table sat spread with a cloth and two dessert settings, delicate slices of decadent chocolate cake with a generous helping of whipped cream and raspberries, little gold flakes on top. Strains of music began somewhere in the distance. He'd arranged for musicians, but far enough away to still give us privacy.
“You didn't have to do all of this.” Apprehension, and a strange thrill I suppressed thrummed through my body. I tried to restrain the hostility in my voice. “The wine and dine. The romance. It's not necessary for just a. . .”
No one had ever made an effort to seduce me, and it was disconcerting. Only a blow-up doll would remain unaffected by the intensity of his regard, by the casual sensuality in each of his movements, the open promise in his gaze. And though I wouldn't consider myself shy, I also hadn't prepared myself for. . .Renaud.
“For a what, Aerinne?” He paused by the table, resting a hand on top. “Are you opposed to romance?”
I loathed the amusement in his voice. “That word is wrong coming out of your lips.”
“Hmm. So no, you're opposed to romance with me. Or perhaps it's not the romance that disconcerts you.”
Definitely amused.
My jaw ticked. “What do you want, Renaud? Is this your kink? Seducing your enemy's daughter so you can tell your House you conquered—” I bent my fingers in air quotes “—Faronne?”
His mouth thinned as he stepped closer, his silk-clad chest brushing against mine. Iwouldn'tretreat, not when dominance spiced his eyes.
“You use a word you know nothing about, but then you often do. You don't want to know the madness that howls in my blood, what it demands I do to you. I keep myself contained because I refuse to hurt you until you beg for it.” He cupped my face. “No, my halfling. When you submit to me, I will not crow your submission to my kin.”
Renaud lowered his head, feathered a line of kisses down my jaw. I slapped my hands on his shoulders, nails digging in, my pulse a rapid flutter under the thumb pressing into the hollow of my throat.
“I'm not interested in breaking you, Aerinne. I'm interested in making you stronger. What I want from you, the weak cannot bear.” His voice lowered to a hiss. “I see inside you. I see what even you don't. Ask me. Ask me what I know.”
He was playing a game on a hidden board. I pushed away, trying to breathe air not scented with him.
After allowing me a moment of respite, he took my hand and brought me to the table, pulling out a chair. “Sit.”
“I don't want—”
His eyes flashed. “Sit.”
I plopped down, crossing my arms over my chest. “You're so damned bossy.”
“I am going toenjoyfucking that defiance out of you.”
