**ASH**
It is just past dawn when Klyesque and I pass through to the Mortal Realm and stand beside the river. She will travel ahead toward the village, glamoured as her peasant counterpart to gather the town’s gossip, and I will make my way to the palace to collect the few belongings I have stored there.
“If I am not here by noon, ride ahead to the cottage,” I say, nodding to her as she ties our horses to a strong branch near the river’s fork.
These are not my usual horses, however, they are adequate enough for the time being. Back at my castle, Klyesque gave me a brief rundown of her meeting with Dionie, and given that Daphne’s life was supposedly in danger, I allowed her unwarranted barter of my two favorite beasts to go unpunished.
Goddess, that human girl will be my undoing.
Now I walk alone through the garden of Hadimere Palace, noting the unusually large number of guards that are lounging about the green.
“Where is your sire?” I ask one that sits outside the front entry.
“Ash!” He jolts to attention. “The king is expected anytime now, though Hayden awaits you indoors. The peasant slave! She has escaped.”
I do my best to look bored. “So? You can’t be telling me that all these soldiers are out here in search of her. She is only a slave.”
He laughs as if letting me in on a private joke. “Aye, that’s what we said. But Prince Hayden’s taken her escape a might bit personally.”
“I see.”
As quickly as I can, I head straight for my chambers. Not the hidden room I bedded Daphne in, but the actual chamber I’ve been assigned since a child. The one next to Hayden’s.
I am not surprised when ’I find him in there lounging on a settee and sipping from a goblet of wine.
“Well look who it is,” he chuckles, closing the book he was reading with a knowing smirk. My eyes fall over the title briefly. It is one his mother used to read to the two of us before she died ten winters past. “I suppose you’ve heard the news.”
“I have. Your guards seem to think searching for the chit is as silly as you are.”
He giggles, eyeing me slowly. “Where in the fuck have you been?”
“I told you,” I sigh, taking a seat across from him and taking his goblet to swallow the remaining contents. “I had need of female companionship.”
“Ah,” he slurs. “Your mystery girl from the neighboring village.” He laughs. “Pity you didn’t bring her with you, I’m in need of a good romp after the slave girl.”
My eyes narrow. A ringing, so acute and high pitched I nearly topple over, assaults my ears.
*What?*
*If he touched her...*
“What are you babbling about,” I say in an attempt to school the rage that is building inside of me. “Are you saying that you had Daphne?”
“Daphne? Oh, yes. You mean the slave Daphne. I forget sometimes that our slaves have names.” He grins at me as he stands, and it is in that moment that I truly hate him. He hisses, “I had her. Fucked her the day after you left. My father was gone, searching for her family’s killers - like a fool, might I add - and you were gone, searching for your village wench. So - I helped myself.”
I face him now, the cold dark magic in my blood tingling at my fingertips. “You are lying to me Hayden. At least, I pray you are. For your own sake.”
He steps up to me with a sinister smile that makes him look almost Fae. “Why do you think she ran? She fears my father will kill her for it.”
*Remember yourself!*
*Do not let him goad you into showing your power.*
“She is with child, and as I do not know whether it is his or mine, I sent her to my mother’s cottage in the north. My father will be led to believe that she escaped and will assume she is dead when it turns out that we can't find her.”
*She is with child?!*
*What?*
Impossible.
Unless...
He did in fact have her...
“How do you know she is with child?” I ask, smoothing my hands down my tunic in an attempt to contain myself. “It is much too soon to know such things.”
Unless it is a Fae child.
But it cannot be.
At least, not mine.
He ignores my question and pours himself another goblet of wine. “I have yet to decide whether I will keep her or not. She is so very delicious.” Then, facing me he loses his smile. “As you well know.”
My eyes jerk to his and I grit my teeth.
I have been careless in my attentions of her.
I already knew this.
But...
...He cannot possibly know that I bedded her.
“I have been watching you as well, Ash. Just as you have been watching me.” He laughs, “I know you are in love with her. I can see it. Soon, this kingdom will be mine. And should she carry my heir, and live long enough, she will be taken care of. But only, if she outlives my father. So naturally, I sent her into hiding.”
I smirk at him, because he’s just stupid enough to believe she would trust him.
“So,” I start. “You raped her after I left.”
*Please say no.*
*I cannot afford to kill you yet.*
*But if you raped her?*
*I will.*
He giggles yet again. “Call it what you want to. She seemed to enjoy it at the time. Perhaps my father broke her in enough for her to welcome my attentions more openly. Then, add that her knight in shining armor left to pursue greener pastures, and she was all mine for the taking.”
*That is not an answer!!!*
He has to be lying.
He must be.
I will see for myself.
And, if she is pregnant, well...
...she will fulfill my original plans.
I will sacrifice her and her child to appease the Winter Queen and lift the curse she placed on me before I was born.