Total pages in book: 169
Estimated words: 156210 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 781(@200wpm)___ 625(@250wpm)___ 521(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 156210 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 781(@200wpm)___ 625(@250wpm)___ 521(@300wpm)
My mind takes a moment to circle back to what Reiner just said. “Other Dark Companions? The prince told me no other royal is allowed to marry one until he has.”
Reiner clears his throat and kneels in front of me, holding a pair of boots made with soft leather in a shade that matches my stockings and adorned with silver buttons.
“Other shadow-wielders can have Dark Companions, but no one is allowed to take one when the heir apparent remains unwed to one of his own. So all of His Highness’s cousins have been waiting for almost a decade, but their seniors, those who obtained their Companions during the reign of the previous Lord, they just aren’t allowed to be at court until His Highness marries you. It’s tradition.”
“How many are there?”
“Only two,” Reiner says, and he gestures for me to sit down on a dainty chair in front of a mirror. “There were eight, not counting the Lord’s Companion, but they all died along with their wives and husbands, attempting to fight off Heartbreak. It was an incredible sacrifice on their part, and while the Lord didn’t survive his wounds, no civilians were hurt. Heartbreak didn’t even reach the shore.”
My stomach drops. My arrangement with Kyran is that he will only call on me when he deems it necessary. I’m guessing that Heartbreak’s attack will be one of such situations. As much as that gives me a chill, I do still feel it’s a fair agreement.
“How often does this beast come?”
“Not that often. Perhaps once every ten to fifteen years? There was one time when it returned after just three, but another time, we lived in lazy peace for over forty,” Reiner says as he sprays something onto my hair. The mist smells of the sea, and I close my eyes, not wanting to get any salt in them.
I’m still getting to grips with him being almost two hundred and fifty years old. He has more energy than I do some mornings.
He must notice I’m tense, because he strokes my shoulder before getting back to coiffuring my hair. “We have alchemists and scholars working on the secrets of when and why Heartbreak arrives. You shouldn’t worry about things that cannot be helped,and focus on your role at court. When a storm comes, all we can do is open our umbrellas.”
“How old is Prince Kyranis?”
“He will be thirty-five years young later this year,” Reiner says with a fond smile. “Don’t tell him I said that, but you seem to be a good influence on him. He’s… different now. In a good way,” he adds, unaware it’s not the behavior that’s changed, but the whole man. The original prince really sounds like a piece of work.
“May I?” Reiner asks, leaning over me with a tiny brush loaded with red paint. I’m guessing the question was only a formality, because he then goes on to grab my chin and applies the color under my eyes.
“Is there a reason for all the red, or am I just your personal fashion doll?”
Reiner purses his lips. “It’s a special occasion, for the prince to disclose.”
I smirk. “Does it have to do with our courting?”
“My lips are sealed.”
As if Kyran knows he’s being discussed, he walks in, dressed in a coat with wide, pleated skirts and a tight-fitting outfit of black shark leather with many buckles. My heart leaps when he smiles and places his hand on his torso. “Oh, you are perfection,” he states as Reiner drops the brush, lowers his head, and steps away from me as if he wants to turn invisible. I just hope he isn’t about to beg for Kyran’s forgiveness too, because it was awkward enough to witness that once.
I get up so he can get a better look at me, and yeah, I do a slow twirl, showing him how the breeches hug my ass. “I do kinda love it.”
“If I may, Master Luke, the finishing touch,” Reiner says and approaches me with a red silk scarf. He then ties it under the collar of my shirt into an intricate bow. “All as you wished, Sire,” he says and once more backs away.
But my… fiancé⸺or should I say “promised”?⸺doesn’t seem unsettled by Reiner’s actions and pulls me into a kiss that makes me fall into him as my knees weaken. “I’ve been missing you.”
I smile, rubbing my hands up his leather-clad chest. “Big same.”
For a moment, he seems unsure of my wording, so I add, “as in, I missed you too. A lot.”
I know he won’t get the reference, but his smile is like sunshine in the middle of summer. Nobody has ever been this happy about my presence, and I can’t help enjoying it.
“I wanted to be with you sooner, but I was busy preparing your gift.”
“My gift?”
“Yes, it’s a surprise,” he says and kisses my hand before entwining our fingers and leading me out of the room.