Prim stood alone with Sarasha in the stone hallway outside Roan’s room as Dante searched it, just to make sure there was nothing he could pick up with his heightened senses that she’d missed. No other guards were roaming the residential hallway this time of day and her second escort had been dismissed in favor of Dante.

The fae guard nudged Prim’s arm with her wing as she leaned against the wall beside her. “I thought you would be happier with him back.” She had her arms folded across her navy-uniformed chest, her chestnut hair tucked behind a pointed ear, and a look of concern on her face.

Prim huffed through her nose and dragged her eyes toward Roan’s room. As if Dante being in the dungeons was the worst of her problems. She’d known it was just a test and known he’d been well-cared for, though she did miss him. Especially as she had sat in Kallia’s bedroom all night, looking through those records of gifts.

But what really concerned her was the murder of her friend. And not just because she’d never see Roan again, never get to make up, but what that meant for Kallia. Which is why she stayed up all night in the princess’s chamber; she would have done it even without the task of going through the records. If someone had so easily gotten to Roan, they could just as easily get to the princess. Tears welled in her eyes again thinking about her friends--both the one gone and the one still in danger.

Sarasha’s frown deepened as she glanced at the room Dante was in--the door closed after being replaced. “I didn’t realize you cared so much for the kern.”

Prim shook her head. “You’ve only been here since I left. He wasn’t acting like himself lately.” Because of her. “You didn’t know the real Roan. If you had, you would have cared for him, too. Everyone did. Outside of Kallia and Bristol, he was my best friend. He was close with all of us.”

Indeed, when they had laid him to rest this morning, nearly all the guards had come to show their respect. Many walked away with tears in their eyes. Prim had stood by Kallia’s side as she always did, near the front of the procession as the king and queen commended Roan for his years of service. There was no mention of how he’d died, though Prim was sure word had spread throughout the complex. Even the visiting royals had stopped by. Neros had looked quite sympathetic at Prim’s exhausted eyes and tear stained cheeks--though he didn’t attempt to kiss her hand. Torra had gripped each of the trio’s hands as she passed. Egan had looked just as uncomfortable as he always did.

“I’m sorry,” Sarasha murmured, the first time she’d offered any sympathy for Roan’s death despite witnessing the display Prim had put on upon finding him dead. “I had no idea he was so beloved.”

Prim decided right then that she didn’t care for Sarasha. The fae was friendly enough and seemed to be courageous enough--she’d stood up to Neros for Prim and to Roan for herself--but the fact that she only offered her condolences when Prim specifically told her Roan was her friend proved the woman had no empathy.

Dante exited the room, closing the door behind him. He caught Prim’s eye and shook his head. She let out a sigh.

Back in the castle, Dante suggested he walk Prim to her room and let her go to sleep early--or at least rest for the hour until dinner. But she refused. Instead, she accompanied him to the dungeons to interrogate the twelve suspects whose gifts might allow them to enter and exit a locked room. She listened as Dante asked the questions, eventually offering Prim a shake of the head when he was certain they were innocent, which he determined they all were.

They had started with a shifter guard who could move things with his gift, meaning he could have locked the door back from the outside. Then a human servant who could lope short distances--but not cast things into the void like Prim. Then a fae guard who could change himself into any state of matter, so he could have slipped under the door as liquid or gas. Sarasha interjected to ask what use such a gift was, though Dante shot her a look and the man didn’t answer. By the time they finished with the last suspect--another guard who could move things with her mind, this one a human--it was well past dinner.

On her way back to her room, Prim stopped by Kallia’s chambers to find the princess already in bed asleep and extra guards posted around her chambers--one even in her bedroom. She’d have to trust them, at least for tonight, because she wanted to sleep. She wanted to sleep in her bed curled up with her man and just forget about everything that had happened. Just for a few hours. Just long enough to not feel like a walking corpse.

Her night escort was already at her door waiting, Sarasha and Dante’s official shift having ended a while ago. Prim asked Dante to order up some food for her on his way out--though it was really for him as she had no desire to eat--then slipped in the door and readied for bed while waiting for him to fly through the window and their food to arrive at her door.

Dante arrived first, just a few minutes later. He shifted into his natural form and was actually wearing a shirt for once as he’d been given a uniform top made for fae after his big reveal. Gods, it was so nice to look at him and see his face all day. He wrapped both hands around her neck and tilted her head up to kiss her, and she accepted the distraction willingly. When he pulled away, he guided her to the bed, and she laid down as he sat upon the edge, stroking her now unbound hair.

“Just because none of them did it doesn’t mean we won’t find out who did,” he said softly. “Sleep. Tomorrow we’ll talk to Helena to see if she has any suggestions.” That wouldn’t be the only thing they’d talk to her mentor about, she knew.

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Prim nodded, squeezing his hand, as a knock came upon the door. She didn’t want to get up. “Can you unlock the door then shift into something tiny so they can bring in the food?”

Dante kissed her forehead before standing. “Of course, Bear.”

Before he made it to the door, however, the rolling accented voice of Prince Neros called, “Lady Primrose, I hope you don’t mind but I intercepted your meal.”

Dante stalled, turning back to Prim with furrowed brows.

Prim sighed, pulling off her covers and padding to her wardrobe to wrap a robe around her. She kissed Dante’s cheek as she walked past. “Stay close.” As if he wouldn’t.

Dante grabbed her, turning her around. She stared at him, waiting for him to kiss her to remind her he’s the only one who could please her, waiting for him to say something snarky about the prince visiting her bed chambers alone at night. But he did neither. He gently swiped his thumb over the inside edge of her nostril, his rough fingertip too big to fit entirely inside.

Prim took a step back, batting his arm away, snorting a laugh.

“Can’t entertain a foreign prince with a booger in your nose,” Dante teased.

Prim playfully slapped his chest. “I did not have a booger. You just did that to throw off my impeccable seduction skills.”

Dante chuckled breathily. “Right. Just like you don’t snore.”

Before she could retort, he shifted into a mouse and scurried under the chaise. Prim rolled her eyes, still smiling as she opened the door.

Her night escort stood in the way of Prince Neros who held a tray full of fruit, vegetables, meat, and bread. Prim allowed the guard to step aside and the prince entered her chamber to place the tray on the table in front of her chaise. When he didn’t make a move to exit, she pursed her lips but closed the door.

The prince straightened, smiling pleasantly and tucking his hands behind his back. He wore no crown over his dark hair, and only a simple white shirt and dark pants. “I had gone to the kitchens to fetch myself a late snack when I heard they were preparing some food for you. I missed you at dinner and thought this would be a good opportunity to discuss some things on my mind.”

Prim remained standing across the room, her arms folded over her chest to ensure her robe stayed closed. “You think it’s appropriate to visit a lady’s room alone in the middle of the night?”

He took a step closer. “No. But you are no lady.” Prim blinked, unsure if he meant it as an insult or simply the truth. Before she could respond, he added, “And we are not alone.”

Prim swallowed. “Thank you for delivering my meal, but whatever is on your mind will have to wait for another time.”

The prince still made no move to leave. Instead, he padded across the plush rug to take a seat on the chaise, crossing his legs. “Some of our guards have gifts for our protection. Others have gifts for our intelligence. You can tell your guard he can come out. I know he spends his nights here.”

Prim stared at the prince, but she didn’t tell Dante to reveal himself. Neros could be bluffing. “What is it you want to discuss?”

Neros ran a hand over the arm of the chaise without looking at her. “I want to apologize for any unsavory comments I may have made toward you. Believe it or not, I never intended to find myself alone with you. Not in this way or any other more…intimate way. I was only trying to ingratiate myself with you.”

Prim remained where she stood, squeezing her arms as she held them in front of her chest. “I’m sure.”

Neros brought his gaze to her. “It’s the truth. Your guard can attest to that, can he not?”

Apparently the guards he brought as spies were very good at what they did. Still, Prim didn’t ask Dante to reveal himself.

Neros smiled again as he realized she was not going to confirm anything. He leaned over on the chaise to pull a piece of parchment from his back pocket and extended it to her. Prim looked at him hesitantly, then walked close enough to grab it with her arm outstretched, but no closer. She immediately walked back to her spot across the room before unfurling it and reading.

She sucked in a breath. “Twins?”

Neros smiled wider, nodding, bouncing the foot crossed over his other leg. “I am now the proud uncle of two healthy boys. Making them the third and fourth in line for the Lanhami throne. Making me fifth in line.”

Prim watched the flickering light from her fireplace guild the handsome prince. “You wanted to win my favor so I would talk you up to Kallia?”

Neros nodded. “Egan is not fit to rule. He has no desire to rule. He doesn’t want to marry Princess Kallia. I do. We tried to tell my parents to wait. The healers have been saying for months that there would be two babies. But they wouldn’t listen.”

Neros stood and walked toward Prim. She took a step back, right into the wall, the cold stones digging into her back through her thin robe and nightgown. A mouse scurried out from under the chaise to come closer, though the prince didn’t notice. Neros paused then held out his hand for the parchment. Prim quickly passed it back and Neros again retreated but didn’t retake his seat.

He waved the paper, smiling genuinely in a way that made him look even more handsome than he usually did. “But now, we don’t have to wait. Help convince Princess Kallia and her parents that I am the worthy choice. I can be everything you said she needed. More. You’ve been around my brother. He can’t--won’t--be a good husband for her or a good king for Wassalia. I can be both.”

Prim stared at him, still pressed against the wall. “You sound like an evil mastermind. How do I know he’s not dying to marry Kallia and he’s just too timid to express himself?”

The prince’s smile became more subdued, arrogant. “Ask him yourself. Or just ask your guard after I leave if I was telling the truth.” Neros bowed low and walked to the door, laying his hand on the handle but keeping his eyes on Prim, his face now serious. “I am the correct choice for Kallia, Lady Primrose. I will be a good husband to your friend. I swear it.”

With a nod, Neros slipped through the door. Prim rushed to throw the lock in place, then turned around to find Dante already shifted back.

“What do you think?” she asked.

Dante ran a hand over his hair, shaking his head. “He either has excellent control over his breathing and heart rate--which is possible--or he’s telling the truth.”

Prim groaned. “Great. One more thing to deal with.” She stuffed some fruit into her mouth, annoyed that Neros hadn’t brought any pastries, and went to bed.