Chapter 21

Ember

I can’t stop my mouth from dropping open at Prince Kaine’s words. “She’s mine.” What does he mean by “she’s mine.” He had made it perfectly clear that Bianca was the only woman he would allow himself to marry.

I peer around Prince Kaine and see that Prince Jasper’s face is quickly turning an unflattering shade of purple, outraged at Prince Kaine’s interruption. “Brother, I am sure that your fiancé would be none too pleased to hear such a declaration. Besides, who I date is none of your concern.”

Prince Kaine growls as his brother takes a step toward us, but he doesn’t speak. I hear Prince Jasper’s feet come to a stop at his half-brother’s show of intimidation. My heart pounds in my chest and I feel Nara’s excitement as Prince Kaine’s earlier words continue to echo in my head.

He could tell I was upset and nothing more. His claim of ownership combined with his status as Crown Prince means that Jasper will have no choice but to retreat and he knows that. Nara is unconvinced.

Another moment passes as the brothers continue to stare each other down and the only sound in the corridor is the thudding of my heart. After a beat Prince Jasper sighs. “As you wish, brother.” I feel myself exhaling as he begins to walk away, thankful that I won’t be forced to go on a date with him.

My relief is quickly suppressed as the weight of what has just happened catches up to me and I can’t shake the effect of Prince Kaine’s words on my soul. “She’s mine.” I wipe my face of all expression as I regard the prince now. He can’t know how much his words have affected me.

I wait for him to say something, to explain the reasoning behind his words, but it never comes. Instead, he takes my arm and places it carefully on his own before leading me down the corridor in the direction of my room.

My mate mark begins to burn as he continues to lead me toward my room and my head swim, the physical contact making it hard to resist the pull of our bond. I slow, forcing him to soften his pace as I try my best to keep my wits about me.

I stumble as I continue to fight the pull he has over me and the prince pauses, concern evident in gaze. Still, he does not speak. “Sorry, I’m still recovering from the last effects of the poison,” I lie before Nara convinces me to say something I will regret.

We continue in this manner, arriving at my room as the last of my self-control begins to falter. The point of contact between us sings in shocking contrast to the burning sensation I feel in my mark at my continued resistance. My body longs for more contact, for him to run his hands along my arm until he reaches that aching spot to soothe the pain.

I feel his eyes on me, and I fight back a shudder before nodding at the prince and quickly slipping into my room before I do something I can’t take back. My mark continues to burn, the pain taking precedence as the pleasure I felt from his touch begins to subside.

I run to the bathroom and turn on the shower before getting in, fully clothed, and sitting on the cold floor. I let the icy water flow over me, temporarily soothing the burning of my mark. The potion is getting weaker by the day.

I feel Nara’s disapproval for a moment and then she speaks. “You can’t deny him any longer. He knows.”

I shake my head and the cold water drips down my face. He doesn’t. He can’t.

Nara pushes, “Maybe not with his brain, but he knows. You cannot deny his words.”

He doesn’t know.

Nara whines at this. “I can feel his wolf. It may be instinct, but he knows.”

Then I will have to get more potion.

I feel Nara’s anger with me, and guilt rises, another emotion threatening to overwhelm me. I fight to push it down. I don’t mean to cause Nara pain, but being rejected by Prince Kaine would cause me to lose her. I cannot allow that to happen.

I turn off the water as my mark is soothed to a tolerable level and pull myself up from the shower floor. I strip, rushing to put dry clothes on as the chill finally catches up to me. I allow myself to collapse into bed, pulling the overs over my face in an attempt to block out the world.

My mark has calmed but my mind races as I think about everything that has happened in the last hour. The final effects from the potion are fading rapidly. If Nara is right then I need to get more potion now, before Prince Kaine’s instincts become conscious thought.

I toss in bed as the confrontation between Prince Kaine and Prince Jasper replays itself in my head for the millionth time. Why hadn’t Prince Kaine said anything after his brother left? Would Prince Jasper continue to be a problem in the future?

These questions swirl around my mind until I eventually fall into a fitful sleep.

I wake up the next morning, exhausted from my lack of sleep and the effort needed to resist Prince Kaine as the effects of the potion continue to wane. I do my best to keep up during training, but every drill feels like torture to my fatigued body. I need to get it together.

I didn’t make it this far to be seen as weak. I grit my teeth and push through another drill, finding the strength to keep up this time. My smile at the small victory falters when I spot Jake standing off to the side, motioning for me to join him.

I move to join him, following his lead as he begins walking silently toward Prince Kaine’s office. This must be about last night. He probably realized that he never explained his comment, or perhaps he is going to lecture me about getting involved with Prince Jasper.

I wouldn’t see Prince Jasper willingly but if Prince Kaine didn’t pick up on my discomfort with the situation, our date could be seen as a conflict of interest. I prepare myself for a lecture.

We reach Prince Kaine’s office and I’m surprised when Jake steps in with me, pulling the door shut behind us. Prince Kaine looks up from his desk and meets my eye. “You need a promotion.”

My eyes widen at his unexpected words. “I’m sorry Your Highness, I don’t understand.” I had been expecting an admonishment, not a promotion.

“Our questioning of the assassin has proved fruitful. He has claimed to have been working in conjunction with my stepmother.”

I look at the prince unsure what his words have to do with me as I reply, “that is quite the accusation.”

Prince Kaine nods. “It is. That is why I am promoting you. You’re one of the few people I can trust to see things how they really are. I am placing you in charge of the investigation. You see things that others don’t.”

I hesitate for a moment, resistant to the idea that I am ready to head such an important investigation, but as I meet Prince Kaine’s gaze my heart stutters. He believes in me in a way no one else has. I nod.