Defend the Dawn (Defy the Night #2)(16)

I’m sure most of them heard what he said, too.

“Lochlan,” Karri says quietly. “She’s my friend. Leave her alone.”

But she doesn’t contradict what he said.

Lochlan doesn’t move. His eyes don’t leave mine. “She might have been your friend before,” he says, “but you need to be careful now, Kar.”

I know they’re worried, but it’s hard to find any empathy when he’s standing over me like this. I don’t want to be afraid of him. If we were back in the palace, I wouldn’t be. But we’re here in a little confectioner’s shop, and I’m thinking of the moment he surged across the table at Consul Sallister.

“Why did you ask me to come here?” I say evenly. “If you didn’t want to talk?”

“Karri invited you,” he says. “I didn’t.”

“Then maybe you should let her talk to me,” I say, and my voice goes breathy. I can’t help it.

I see the moment my fear registers in his eyes, because he jerks back, his eyes wide. “You’re afraid of me?” he says. “You’re sharing a bed with the King’s Justice, and you’re afraid of me?”

Karri grabs his wrist. “Lochlan.”

My cheeks are surely flaming now. “I’m not sharing anything,” I growl.

“This is why I can’t trust you,” he says, his voice very low. “Because I don’t trust him. The prince is no fool. He convinced you that he was a rebel outlaw in the Wilds because it served his needs as the King’s Justice. And now, he’s figured out a way to give the people even less, and he’s convinced you that it’s for the benefit of everyone.”

His eyes fill my vision, but I refuse to look away. “My medicine works,” I say. “It’s not a trick, Lochlan. You can watch me measure the elixirs yourself. I can show you.”

“Maybe he’s just tricked you into believing that. Maybe all those people are taking double doses when you aren’t looking, just to give you your proof.” He studies me. “He certainly tricked you into believing you were helping. The poor, tortured prince who just couldn’t help himself. And you lapped it up, didn’t you?”

My chest is tight, and I’m dangerously afraid I might cry.

“I’m telling you to keep your eyes open,” he says. “I’m telling you what it looks like from here. If you’re not sharing his bed, someone is. He’s the brother to the king. As soon as you don’t suit his needs, you’ll be at the end of the rope, too.”

“You’re wrong,” I whisper, but there’s a part of his words that are pricking at my thoughts, sowing doubt in a way I wish I could shove aside.

He must see it in my expression. “Don’t you realize,” he says dangerously, “that you could disappear tonight and literally everything would go right back to the way it was?”

Fear seems to pierce my heart from both directions. “Is that supposed to be a warning or a threat?”

Lochlan smirks. “Maybe you shouldn’t have walked out of the palace without guards,” he says.

“Maybe she shouldn’t have,” says a voice behind me, “but I brought more than enough.”

My heart kicks to hear Corrick’s voice. Lochlan snaps back. I’m suddenly aware of the tense silence in the shop, how we are all the center of attention. I wonder how much everyone heard. I wonder how much Corrick heard.

If you’re not sharing his bed, someone is. He’s the brother to the king.

He must not have heard that part. If he did, I can’t imagine Lochlan would still be on his feet.

The people behind the counter are peering between towers of wrapped candies and tiny trinkets, and there’s an older woman a few tables over who’s openly gawking at the prince—who truly does have half a dozen guards behind him.

Lochlan’s eyes have darkened with hatred, but he takes in the guards who have filled the space behind the prince. “The girls were just having fun together,” Lochlan says. He pauses, then grinds out, “Your Highness.”

Corrick’s eyes shift to me. I watch his gaze sweep over my form, taking stock of me. “Exceptional.” His voice is rather cordial, almost warm, but I know better. “Are you having fun, Tessa?”

No. Definitely not.

But I can’t say that, because no matter what I think of Lochlan, I really don’t want to stoke the tension between them. “Karri sent me a note after our meeting,” I say. “We were just having a sweet drink.” I force a smile onto my face. “Like old times.”

Karri looks hesitant again, the way she was in the palace. She glances between me and Corrick and has to clear her throat. “Yes. I did. We were. Your Highness.”

Corrick’s eyes return to mine, and I give him a tiny nod.

“Very well,” he says. “I’ll leave you to your friendly chat. Please forgive the interruption.” His eyes cool as he looks to Lochlan again, but his voice is just as cordial. “Thank you for the wise recommendation. I’ll have the guards remain.” He glances at the table. “Perhaps I’ll have a drink while I wait.”

Karri looks to me, and her hands flutter. She abruptly stands, her chair scraping harshly along the tile floor. “No need, Your Highness. We were just about to leave. You—you can have mine. I haven’t even taken a sip.”