Page 57

He must have sensed my urgency because he didn’t press any further. The guest house was unlocked, as it could only be locked from the inside. When we were inside, I locked it.

“Upstairs,” I ordered.

The bedroom wasn’t as grand as mine but it would do. I closed the door behind me and advanced on Rourke, who stood still in the center of the room. In the dim room, he was a shadow looming over me.

This was it. We were alone, away from all the servants and knights. If it was retribution he wanted, now was his chance. I desperately needed to know if he would take it or not.

“Do you hate me?” I asked bluntly.

Rourke didn’t respond and my stomach tightened.

Finally, he muttered, “I should.”

I met his gaze, neither of us blinking.

“But I don’t,” Rourke said. “And I don’t know why.”

I inhaled a small, sharp breath. Some ugly feeling bubbled up inside my chest—guilt, perhaps. It affected me so badly I tore my gaze away from him to stare at the floor. Rourke didn’t say anything, like he was waiting for me.

“I… overreacted,” I said quietly. “I shouldn’t have…”

I couldn’t bring myself to say the words. Why was it so hard?

Rourke waited, ever patient.

I was a prince. Princes didn’t grovel. But Rourke deserved to know how I felt. I raised my head to face him.

“My actions were not… conducive to maintaining a decent relationship,” I finally muttered.

Rourke was stone-faced for a moment before he laughed. “That’s your big apology?”

I had him here, alone, and my mind was awash with a lustful haze, and I could barely think, let alone make words into a proper sentence. I let out an irritable huff, narrowing my eyes. “It’s the best one you’re going to get out of me right now.”

He regarded me, then took a step forward. Was he mad? Was he going to release his pent-up anger on me?

“I’ll take it, Your Highness,” Rourke said.

“That’s not my name.”

“I didn’t know I was allowed to say your name.” With a dry smirk, he added, “The last time I used it, you seemed pretty upset with me.”

“I was not thinking straight.”

“And why was that?”

“You had just kissed me,” I said.

“Underyourorders,” he shot back.

I glared at him. “Are you trying to annoy me, Rourke?”

There was an impish flicker on his face. “Maybe a little. Is it working?”

“Tell me, right now,” I said. “Tell me you don’t feel anything but hatred towards me and I will leave right now. I’ll remove the collar.”

Rourke’s eyes widened slightly. He didn’t reply.

“Tell me and I’ll let you go,” I repeated, gesturing to the door. “You can go back to your brother.”