Dante explained to Prim that he’d be looking through Sol’s paperwork today and that he didn’t know if he would see her again before tonight. As he didn’t have to be at his post outside her door, Prim demanded he remain in bed with her longer than usual, cuddling and exchanging bits of information that they hadn’t yet shared--like the types of books they liked and who their first crush had been. Eventually, it grew late enough that the Royal Bench would be opened and Prim allowed him to leave. She needed to attend Kallia, anyway. She asked him to do her hair before he left, which he did, then she watched his little hummingbird form fly away before getting dressed.

Prim opened the door to find Sarasha standing straighter than usual, Roan at her side. “Good morning,” Prim said, smiling at each of them.

Roan nodded politely then his nostrils flared as he narrowed his eyes at her.

Great. He was in a mood again. Prim huffed. “What is it now, Roan?”

The shifter pushed himself off the wall to stand before her, tilting his head down to stare at her. He scowled, then pushed past her to enter her room, walking around and sniffing. He got to her bed and picked up the pillow Dante had slept on, crushing it between his hands before throwing it back on the bed.

Prim swallowed. Apparently Blukke had released his gifts.

Roan didn’t say anything to her as he returned to the hallway, his eyes focused on Sarasha. “Your services are no longer needed. Clear out your belongings and be out of the complex by noon.”

The fae woman gaped at him. “Excuse me?”

Prim gripped his arm. “Roan.”

He pulled it away, still focused on the fae. “If you can’t be trusted to report your partner overstepping his duties, you have no place here.”

Sarasha took a step toward him. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” she said with an impressive amount of vitriol.

Roan scoffed. “He must enter before the night guard comes and exit once they’ve left. You must have looked the other way and neglected to tell the night guards there was a threat in her room.”

Prim attempted again to get Roan’s attention, but Sarasha didn’t back down. “I’m not sure what crazy switch just flipped in your head, but Dante and I leave the castle together and arrive together. He has never been in that room alone with Prim.”

Roan threw his hand out, pointing back into the room. “Then why is his scent on every inch of that room? Why can I never find him in the barracks? Why does Prim smell like fucking cum?”

Sarasha blinked, dragging her gaze to Prim in question.

The obvious confusion had Roan’s anger receding as well.

But Prim’s anger was just beginning. She pushed Roan’s back with both hands, and he stumbled forward, Sarasha scrambling out of his path. “Why don’t you ask me? How dare you announce my business to everyone again?”

Roan caught himself and whirled around to face her. He opened his mouth to speak, but Prim pointed to her room.

You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

“We need to talk.” She turned her attention to Sarasha. “You will remain on guard. You’re not released from service. But you will keep what you learned here to yourself.”

The fae nodded hesitantly.

Roan didn’t make a move to her room. “You don’t have the authority--”

“I sure as fuck do, Roan Hollan. You may be a kern, but I am a handmaiden and the second hand to the princess. I speak for her. Now, get in my room before I release you from service.” They both knew that while that was technically not true, if Prim were to go upstairs and ask Kallia to save Sarasha’s job or to fire Roan, the princess would without question, trusting Prim’s judgment completely.

Roan’s face twisted in anger, then faded into something that made Prim’s heart ache. “Can we talk somewhere else? I can smell…everything in there.”

Prim searched his pain-filled eyes and nodded, slipping back in the room to clean herself off better, swishing minty oil around her mouth and rubbing lavender oil along her body. She had no desire to rub Roan’s nose into how she’d been spending her nights and mornings, though he already knew.

When she emerged, Roan lifted the corner of his mouth in a sad smile--just barely. “Thank you.”

They stopped by Kallia’s rooms to see if the princess needed anything presently. When Kallia looked over Roan and Prim suspiciously, but said no, Prim instructed her friends to save her some breakfast, then led Roan to the empty, locked room she met Helena in everyday, Sarasha staying outside.

Prim walked around the windowless room lighting the sconces, her boots scuffing the scattered straw on the stone floor. “Sarasha didn’t know anything about it. He comes and goes after their shift.”

Roan stood still in the center of the room, his hands clasped behind his back. “How?”

Prim took her place in front of him, crossing her arms. “That’s not my secret to tell.”

“He has many secrets, it seems.”

Prim shook her head. “Not from me.”

Roan stared at her a moment, his green feline eyes reflecting the candlelight. “Then you know he’s a half-breed?”

Prim took a step back. She couldn’t imagine Dante had shared that with Roan. “What makes you say that?”

Roan shook his head. “So, no? Imagine what else he’s hiding from you.”

Prim pursed her lips. “I knew that. He doesn’t hide anything from me.”

Roan shook his head again. “I can’t believe you’d rather be with him than me.”

Prim looked away to keep from rolling her eyes, focusing on the uneven dark grey stones of the wall. “You’re not dinner options. I didn’t just decide to have him over you. I--”

“What’s that?”

Prim looked back to see Roan was staring at her left hand as it lay across her folded arm. He shot his hand out to take hers, pulling it to him to look at the ring. His eyes raised to hers.

“You’re marrying him?”

Prim snatched her hand back, folding her arms again but tucking it under her arm this time. “He just--”

Roan shook his head, turning around. “Just give me a minute.”

Prim was going to explain it wasn’t a marriage ring--though she had been a little disappointed with how terrified Dante had looked when she slipped it on that finger and how quickly he clarified that wasn’t his intention--but she would let Roan have his minute first.

“His niece is nice. He said all the bad things he did, he did to take care of her.” Roan turned around, revealing shiny eyes. “Does he treat you well?”

Prim took Roan’s hand. “He treats me very well.”

Roan looked her over, then nodded in resolution. Prim decided she wouldn’t correct his assumption, realizing the absoluteness of her impending marriage is what he needed to let go of the hope that she’d ever be his.

“I won’t tell anyone your business. But that ring speaks for itself.” He nodded to her hand.

She shrugged. “It’s just a ring.” Though she had chosen that finger to send a message to Neros.

Roan licked his lips, looking down. “I’m sorry about making a scene with Sarasha.”

“Just…don’t do it again.” Prim reached up to cup his face, his eyes pressing shut at her touch. “I want you in my life, Roan. But if you don’t stop being an asshole, you’ll leave me no choice.”

Roan clenched his jaw, then wrapped his arms around her. He released a heavy sigh. “Congratulations.”