Page 140 of Hateful Prince

“The last time you wielded a blade around me, you shaved off my beard.”

I patted his cheek. Yes, I had to reach as high as I could to do so, but still. “And you never looked better. Beards are gross and unhygienic. I did you a favor.”

He raised a pointed brow.

“Present look excluded, obviously. Horns really work with your bone structure.”

Rolling his eyes, he held out one large, meaty palm. “Tread carefully. I’m not as... stable as my brother. The beast is prone to act first and apologize never.”

“You won’t hurt me. Your freedom depends on it.” I brought the blade to his open palm and locked gazes with him. “The ritual requires my blood to successfully strengthen the spell. I’ll still perform it, but without the necessary ingredient, nothing will happen. Your blood will be my decoy. No one has to know.”

“And when they figure it out?”

“Hopefully by then, my coven and I will have figured out how to break the spell for good. The Council already has a prison. It doesn’t need another. Blackwood is supposed to help rehabilitate people, not act like a dirty little secret. This cannot be allowed to continue. I won’t let it. You have my word, Tor. So will you help me?”

He clenched his jaw and nodded before I dragged the steel point across his palm. His harsh breaths and deep growls would’ve frightened me if I hadn’t known him so well. It took all of a few minutes to collect his blood in the small vial I always carried with me. As long as I was careful and performed some solid sleight of hand, I’d be able to pass his blood off as mine.

Once I finished collecting his donation to the cause, I corked the vial and placed it in my bag.

“What now?” he asked, licking his palm clean.

“Gross,” I said, wrinkling my nose. “You’re an animal.”

“Yes. Haven’t you been paying attention? I’m a beast.”

I rolled my eyes. “So you say. You still seem like the Tor I know and tolerate.”

A serious cloud hovered over us as we half-heartedly played with one another like we used to.

“To answer your question, the spell will still be in place, but it will continue to weaken now. Just like with any weak barrier, the more you test it, the easier it will become to get past it. Be careful though. There are always eyes watching, and someone will catch on if you aren’t on your guard.”

“I’m always on guard.”

“Yeah, yeah, I get it. You Tor. You big, strong man. Super impressed, I promise.”

“Miss Belladonna,” the ginger troll intoned from the doorway leading to the ballroom. The man could not have sounded grumpier if he tried. He certainly gave Caleb a run for his money. “They’re ready to begin the ritual.”

“Coming,” I chirped before giving Tor an intense stare, hoping everything I couldn’t say out loud was conveyed in my eyes.

Stay safe.

Be careful.

Don’t do anything stupid.

“I’ll be in touch,” I promised.

He nodded. “Looking forward to it.”