Prince Hawthorne turns back to me. “Let. Me. Help. Your healers can only handle half a dozen people at best before their magic is spent. I can do four times that, maybe more.” The Prince is confident, sure of his magic. Olive, mossy eyes plead with me. I want to help the injured, but what if this impacts Hawthorne’s ability to persuade the rebels that he’s on their side? What if this is some trick by the Velmarans? It’s too much to sort out this quickly, especially as my heart beats faster with every second we don’t move to action. “Can we speak about this privately?” the Prince asks. Carex interrupts before I even open my mouth.

“You’re insane if you think I’m going to leave you alone with Her Majesty,” Carex spits. I turn angry eyes on him. I wasn’t going to agree, but now I will, just to spite Carex and his protectiveness.

“I decide where I go and with whom I speak, Carex.” Before he can respond, I walk away.

Before following me out of the room, I hear the Prince murmur lowly to Carex with thick insinuation, “Don’t worry, we can bring you along another time.” Did he just imply that we’d have a threesome? Right now, of all times? This male is absolutely insufferable.

When we’re in the hall outside the Council chambers, Prince Hawthorne smirks as he leans against the wall with a cool confidence that makes me hot all over, though with anger or something else I don’t want to admit. How can he be relaxed at a time like this? “Make this quick,” I hiss to hide my reaction to his imposing presence.

“I know what’s going through your mind, witchling.” He reaches for my face, as if he’s going to touch it, and I step out of his reach. He drops his hand quickly, trying to cover the gesture by running his hands through his hair. I’m not affected by the way the movement makes his hair fall back so perfectly across his handsome features. I can’t be.

I scoff to hide the awkwardness of the situation. “I highly doubt that.”

He leans against the wall again, crossing his arms over his chest casually, eyes sparkling. “You’re wondering whether bringing me will hurt our chances to convince the rebels of the ruse. And whether you can trust me. But you also see the sense in another jaw-droppingly powerful healer there with you. And you’re annoyed at how protective Carex has been acting lately. Plus, you can’t keep your eyes off my handsome Velmaran face,” he says with a grin.