The Marked Prince by M.A. Grant

Author:M.A. Grant [Grant, M.A.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2019-05-08T13:33:29+00:00

Sláine

“Morning,” Sebastian calls. He looks better this morning, not as pale. His clothes are a mess, too casual, but I suppose he doesn’t have plans to go out again. He must notice my nervousness because he holds up his hands and adds, “No glamour.”

Until he says those two words, I had no idea how much I expected him to hide from me. The relief of knowing this is him I’m speaking to lets me relax for the first time since yesterday’s disaster. “Morning.”

There’s a small pond behind the estate. The dark water is tranquil, a perfect mirror of the woods around it. Sebastian heads toward one of the edges, bending down to pick up assorted rocks as he goes. I’m not sure what he’s up to, but I slowly amble over to join him.

“You weren’t here this morning,” he says.

“I thought it might be better to give you some space.”

Only a few moments in and this conversation feels like a fucking chess match. He divides up the rocks and holds some out to me. I squint, not sure what he’s up to, but hold out my hands obediently. If holding some dirty rocks is the cost of talking to him, so be it. Sebastian deposits a selection in my hands and walks to the pond edge. This doesn’t make sense. I stare down at them and look toward his back. He’s gone back to ignoring me, focusing on his own rocks. He selects one, inspects it carefully, then throws it at the pond. The stone skips three times before it sinks into the water and he heaves a sigh.

“Why her?” he asks, looking through his remaining rocks for the next victim. I know who he means. As she left, Aislinn had warned me that Sebastian was going to talk to me. Well, the talking bit wasn’t the warning. That was when she said, He tries to avoid pain when he can. Be gentle with him.

“She’s the only faerie here who helped me when I...” I swallow hard and cut off the memories of the worst of Aoife’s abuses. This isn’t about me. “She cares about others and she acts on it. I didn’t want someone who would pay you lip service. I wanted you to know you’re not alone here.”

He skips another rock. This one goes farther. “You trust her.”

I examine the statement. Trust? There are so many implications in that word. I’m not sure how to explain my acceptance of the youngest Seelie princess. Sebastian glances over at me. He doesn’t say anything, just looks at the rocks I’m still holding stupidly in my hands, and then back at the pond. I grunt and come to his side, picking one of the stones randomly, and giving it a half-hearted toss. It plops into the water and Sebastian’s snort of amusement makes it easier to talk. “She doesn’t push me,” I say slowly. “And when she says she cares about something, she acts like it. She’s careful and kind. She understands the political nuances of her position.

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