Page 75 of The Faceless Queen

Where the hell was the Hermit? If he was here, I’d know what to do. Or maybe how to react to this sudden visit. But I supposed it was up to me to answer the door, based on Abigail’s silence. I just hoped that the real Olivay was still learning castle protocol, too. And would have acted as confused as I was.

“Enter,” I called back.

Slowly, the knob turned, and Brennan poked his head inside. “Princess,” he said, smiling shyly when our eyes met.

Abigail curtseyed low. “Your Highness.” Then she scurried into the bathroom and turned on the faucet to prepare my morning bath.

“My Prince,” I said, stiffly.

“How—” He coughed, clearly nervous in my presence, and pushed his fingers through his curls, a light brown in the sunlight streaming in through my windows. “How did you sleep?”

“Quite well,” I said. Mentally, I reached out to him, trying to feel his emotions, to connect to his mind. I needed a clue as to what this was, what he was feeling, what he wanted. But just like before we kissed, he was giving me nothing. No emotions at all.

“Good,” he said.

“And how did you sleep?”

“Well.” He smiled. He was already dressed in his armor, the steel plates gleaming with a fresh shine, and a new blue cloak flowed from his shoulders. The same sword he’d carried at the tavern was sheathed at his hip. “I’m sorry to bother you so early in the morning.”

I shook my head. “Seems inevitable, since we are to be married.”

He burst into laughter, one hand flying to his chest. “Ouch. You wound me, Princess.” He spun on his heels, reaching for the doorknob. “Shall I go?”

“Oh no,” I started, “No! Stay. I didn’t mean⁠—”

He waved me off and stepped back toward me. “I know exactly what you meant.”

For once we wed, our mornings would be shared. Our bodies would be tangled and naked in the sunlight, revealing the remnants of what passed between us in the night. His eyes met mine, bright and green, his jaw muscles working. It was on his mind, too. For a second, the Azete stirred, detecting that hint of want—of need—as his thoughts intensified to feelings.

He swallowed roughly, yet a small smile still tugged on his lips. “I promise, I shall try my best not to annoy you in the mornings to come. Not too early anyway.”

I cocked my head to the side, blinking slowly, a small burst of magic lengthening and darkening my lashes. “I will hold you to that.”

“Will you now?” he asked, his voice suddenly low and husky. Quickly, he shook his head, like he hadn’t meant to flirt with me.

My stomach tightened. “My Prince, I would hold you to any promise you make me.” My voice rasped. The Azete.

“Shall I make more for you then?” he asked.

“Make them all.”

He held my gaze, thoughts of the morning after our wedding flashing through his mind with greater intensity. His need for me was growing, and his want matched my own. He might have been hesitant the day before, his mind elsewhere, but the kiss had changed him, it had connected us with surprising intensity. So had every moment that transpired between us since. It was slow, but he was coming around to me in this body, turning his attention to me in this form. And I just needed to draw him in a little more–

He will die.

I took a step back, breaking our connection as my stomach turned. What the hell was I doing? Trying to seduce him? Feed from him? When Jaron suspected me? When I’d already taken too much?

Taking a deep breath, I tried to recenter myself. “Perhaps we shall put talk of promises on hold until our wedding.”

Brennan coughed before offering me a tight smile, his jaw muscles clenching. “A wise course of action.”

Bells rang outside, signaling a new hour. The tourney would be starting soon.

I searched his eyes. “Why have you come to see me? Will I not see you at the tourney today?”

“You will,” Brennan said. “I’ll be right out there, fighting to defend your honor. But, I’ve uh …” He frowned and stepped closer to me, so close the spice and musk of his perfume reached my nostrils. The Azete uncoiled in my belly, ready to strike. “I’ve been counseled not to share this with you. But you are to be my wife. I feel that I must.”

I nodded slowly, a sinking feeling in my gut. He knew. The castle knew. I’d failed.