Lone Prince (Royally Unexpected #7) - Lilian Monroe Page 0,28

when I got here and I’m not quite as jolly about it as you are.”

“You’ll learn,” Vikki replies, hooking her arm into mine. She leads me through a back staircase up to my room, opening the door and leading me to the closet. “Coats, pants, boots. Your grandmother made sure we had it all ready for you.” Vikki bites her lip. “I’m sorry about your arrival, Rowan. I don’t know if I ever said it. We all feel really terrible about leaving you at the station. It was just with everything with Mrs. Reed and the Prince arriving…”

“I get it.” I nod. “No hard feelings. At least I got to meet the Prince.” I roll my eyes, and Vikki giggles. She hands me the bright red jacket. It’s big and puffy with a fur trim around the hood, and it looks warm. Much better than my favorite peacoat.

It’s…appropriate. Like it belongs in Nord.

I squeeze the puffy jacket and smile. “My grandmother picked this.”

“How did you know?”

“The color. She knows I love red. I’ve had red jackets since I was a little kid. My first rain jacket was red with matching red boots.” I smile, running my fingers over the fur trim. My grandmother might not be here, but her influence is everywhere. I miss her. She’d know how to handle the Prince, and she’d make sure I felt comfortable in the castle. She’d remind everyone that I’m her granddaughter, and I’m a child of Nord—even though I feel like a stranger here.

Vikki helps me get dressed for the cold, handing me a thick hat and gloves before leading me back downstairs. We stop off at the staff quarters to grab her things, and then make our way to the kennels.

Vikki pushes the door open. “Har-vey!” she calls out in a sing-song voice. “Can we take the dogs out? Rowan wants to see the visitor’s cottage, and I am sick of being inside.” She stops dead in her tracks, dropping into a quick curtsy. I bump into her, causing her to stumble. She catches herself, yelping, her face so red it’s nearly glowing.

At the other end of the kennels, standing tall with Chief at his feet, is the Prince of Nord himself, looking at home among the dogs. Feral and beastly and every bit a monarch in this wild, unforgiving place.

I square my shoulders. “Your Highness.” I give him a quick nod. I’m not sure where we stand. Last I spoke to him, he seemed to be warming up to me. I thought we were making progress.

Then he ignored me for the better part of two weeks.

The Prince smirks, eyes flashing. Ah, so he’s back to being arrogant. Lovely. He combs his fingers through his hair, letting his eyes drift down my body and back up again. “Miss Reed.” He looks at Vikki, then gives her a wave of dismissal. “I’m taking the dogs out. I’ll take Miss Reed to the visitor’s cottage.”

“That’s okay,” I say, shaking my head. “We can go later.”

Vikki’s eyes widen as she gives me a loaded stare. I guess people don’t usually talk back to the big bad Wolfe.

The Prince’s lips pinch. “I insist.”

“Of course, Your Highness.” Vikki curtsies and shuffles out the door.

“Vikki,” I hiss, staring after her. She arches her brows and shrugs as if to say sorry, but doesn’t slow her exit. Traitor.

I lift my eyes to the Prince’s, who’s still wearing that insolent smirk. He jerks his chin at my new clothing. “I see you’ve learned from past mistakes.”

“Are you disappointed you won’t get to undress me this time?”

“Never say never.” His eyes flash and heat rips through my core. Damn him and his amber eyes. Damn his sexy smirk. Damn his broad body that looks like it would feel a bit too good pressed on top of mine.

And most of all, damn my own body for betraying me. This man is hot and cold. He tortures me with his presence, then teases me with his absence. He’s here to hide away from tough memories and using me as a punching bag for his emotional immaturity.

A coward, and an arrogant one at that. Winning combination.

I definitely shouldn’t be feeling hot and bothered by him. My nipples shouldn’t be tightening to stiff peaks beneath the multitude of layers I’m wearing. My underwear shouldn’t be clinging to the space between my legs, already damp with arousal.

Wrong, wrong, wrong.

I pinch my lips together, taking a step forward. Chief lifts his head, trotting over to nuzzle