72

Eloive was out of bed the moment the sun was up in the sky. He wasn’t a morning person but if he wanted to escape the horrors of the palace today, he needed to be up and about. The Fae Queen would be coming today and there was nothing Eloive hated more than receiving visitors. He didn’t have a problem with the Vampire King since he was always asleep when the Lord of the Undead came to visit. Eloive was also glad when he heard that the girls had been driven away. He knew they would be back but he would every minute of their absence. A royal breakfast was mandatory on a day like this but he wasn’t interested in his grandmother’s rant. He didn’t want to be lectured about his behavior, and he certainly didn’t want to listen to her scolding Crinka for canceling the Claiming. Eloive smiled as he hurriedly scrubbed his skin. No wolf had ever dared to do that, and he was proud of her for being the first. With her presence in the iced mountains, there would always be something to look forward to but a royal breakfast didn’t make it to that list.
He didn’t towel off, slipping into his clothes quickly. He pulled his hood over his head and put on his worn-out boots. He didn’t look royalty, but he didn’t care. If you were sneaking out of a palace, you needed to look like a slave. Eloive turned from the mirror, filling the pocket of his tattered jeans with money in case he ran into Waxlyn. Eloive was mad anyways when instead of Waxlyn, was Yale. He hated Waxlyn’s unnecessary rule when it comes to money, but he didn’t find Yale’s stubbornness exciting either.
“Get out of my way Yale,” Eloive muttered angrily.
The young prince just rolled his eyes. “No. I want to come with you.”
“What? Look, you can’t come with me. You need to show up for breakfast.”
“Breakfast hasn’t been the same since mummy died.”
Eloive cursed. He didn’t know the kid was still hungover after his mother’s death.
“Yale, I know but you have your father.”
He scoffed. “Yeah right. He doesn’t even like me. Please let me come with you, Eloive. Nobody ever allows me outside.”
“That’s because you’re not old enough,” Eloive forced, through gritted teeth. The concubines would start coming around now, and he didn’t want to be here when they showed up. “Yale please leave me alone. Go play with Waxlyn or something.”
“I’m tired of tea parties. Eloive, I’ve always seen you leaving the palace, and I want to come with you this time.”
Eloive swore under his breath. If he had known that Yale had been spying on him, he would have stayed back. Who knows whether he snitched?
“I didn’t snitch if that’s what you’re thinking, but I might consider it if you don’t let me come along with you.”
Eloive swore for the third time today. What was his uncle thinking, bringing someone like this into this world?
“Fine. Go get your coat then we’ll go.”
Yale skipped happily to his room. Eloive followed closely and silently behind him. Once Yale was in his bedroom, he locked the door and threw away the key. There were always spares so Yale would be fine. Now, he needed to find a particular brunette.
Eloive breathed in the fresh air once he was outside of the palace gates. The villagers were just waking up but Eloive was certain the poorer side of the kingdom would be up by now, working. He had never been to that side of the kingdom before, and he didn’t know how to get there.
“Hey! You there! Whatcha standing there for? Come ‘ere there’s work to be done.”
Eloive traced the nasal voice, to a robust man whom he recognized as his village chief. Could it be that the man didn’t recognize him as the prince because he had his hood up?
“Didn’t you hear me? Come here!”
Eloive stalked towards him, hands in his front pockets. The village chief frowned.
“Just because we let you have so much leverage here, you think that you can do whatever you want?”
Eloive didn’t understand what the man meant by leverage, and he wasn’t going to try. He just pulled down his hood and pushed his hair out of his eyes. The man gasped, giving him a waist bow immediately.
“I’m very sorry my prince. I didn’t know it was you.”
“That’s fine,” Eloive said and looked around. He knew that the houses closer to the palace were the ones of the noble Icelanders, and since the kingdom was very large, he had a long way to go.
“Where can I find the workers? You know the ones that cook and clean?”
The man’s head remained low as he answered, “I’m afraid that they won’t be available at the moment my prince. They’re having breakfast.”
“I didn’t ask if they’re available or not. I just wanna know where I can find them.”
“They are based on the outskirts of the kingdom my prince, far away from the palace.”
Eloive scrunched up his brows. “But why? Things hadn’t been like that before. If they are there, where then is the royal army?”
“The army’s camp is to the east of the palace further down my prince far away from the palace. If you don’t, mind me asking, why are you showing interest in the workers? They’re not exactly well to do.”
Eloive frowned when he heard that. He didn’t understand the mountains anymore. The last time he was home they weren’t this large. And the council members didn’t have a tower for themselves. Things had changed! He would need a map if he wanted to understand it but he was too lazy to study one.
“It doesn’t matter. Just take me to them.”
The man signaled a passerby. “Hey, you! Get a horse from the royal stables! And get one of those girls working there too!”
Eloive’s frown deepened. He said they were having breakfast. His face lit up when he heard neighing. He turned to stare at the brown stallion they had gotten him. There was a girl beside his father’s horse, holding the reigns and it was on closer inspection he realized it was Toreh. Fuck what was she wearing? And why was she so dirty?
Toreh’s eyes widened when she realized it was the prince. What on earth was he doing here? If she had known he would be coming, she would have showered and put on something decent.
“The slave would take you to the workers my prince,” the chief said and walked away.
Eloive just stared at her. A slave? Since when were they slaves? He thought Father had abolished that years ago so what was happening? It then occurred to him that he had been kept in the dark and nobody thought it was time to bring him to the light. Not even Toreh. His face was etched in fury as he pulled his hood over his head.
“Meet me in my room by noon.”
Toreh frowned. “I can’t do that, my prince. I…”
He laughed bitterly. “So, we’re back to the formalities huh?”
She looked away.
“You could have told me,” his voice broke. “You could have told me that you were a slave. Why didn’t you?”
She didn’t look at him.
“You know what? It doesn’t matter. Meet me in my room by noon and don’t be late.”
“I’m sorry but I have to decline. The palace would be receiving visitors today and I can’t afford to be seen with you.”
He didn’t care. Fuck he didn’t. He wanted to talk to her and he couldn’t do it here not with so many people around.
“You think I give a fuck about that? Toreh, I want you in my room by noon. Is that clear?” he barked. She finally looked at him, eyes glistening with tears.
“You can’t just order me around. I understand that we are people of different entities but you can’t just expect me to obey you. You’re not my fucking owner!”
Eloive stared at her. Where was the wild girl he had kissed that night? Now she looked so…she looked so lost. The urge to pull her in his arms was so strong, he dug his hands into his pockets to resist it.
“Who is your owner huh? Tell me.”
She lifted her head, lips slightly parted. She couldn’t tell him. She knew what he would do if he knew and she couldn’t let that happen. Turning on her heel, she ran from him. Eloive cursed as he couldn’t find her in the crowd. The little ugh!
He would find her and force her to spill the beans. Now, he had things to do.
“I’ll be back Toreh,” he whispered as he played with the bracelet, he had snapped off her wrist the night they kissed. “And when I come back, you and I will have a little chat.”
“That’s if you would find me,” Toreh hissed as she watched him walk away. She would have to retrieve her bracelet and when she finally had it, she would flee from the prince’s life forever.
Unknown to Toreh, Eloive had no intention of letting her go.