Prince of Cats - Tasha Black Page 0,10

stumbled a few yards away from the statue.

The remaining fragments of vine on her sizzled and turned to ash, their dust shimmering slightly as it fell to the ground.

“What was that?” she asked.

“Dream root,” Killian said gruffly. “I told you this place was dangerous.”

Kieran chuckled and put his arms out to him.

He never did that to anyone. He was usually very wary, especially of strangers.

Killian’s fierce expression melted into a lovesick smile.

“I thought you were trying to trick me,” Piper said, clutching the baby closer.

“That tracks,” Killian said, glancing up from the baby to make eye contact with her. “I’ve been known to be dangerous myself.”

A frisson of awareness shot through her and she looked away from him.

“Come on, love,” he said quietly. “Let’s get back to the Autumn Court. We have a long way to go.”

“I will not go with you if you are trying to make me go home without Kieran,” she said softly. “I would rather die right here.”

8

Killian

Killian sighed and ran a hand through his hair.

As a child, he had learned courtly manners as well as hunting and trigonometry. He knew agrarian practices for his region and even how to command a ship at war. The education of a fae prince was nothing if not rigorous.

But none of his tutors had ever taught him what to do in this situation.

“I’ll explain while we walk,” he told her at last, figuring the truth was his last resort.

She was too fearless to accept anything less, and she wasn’t ready to leave without the child. Maybe if he could make her see how important Kieran was to be to this world, she might begin to understand.

“There are four courts of the seasons,” he began. This part was easy, every school child knew it. “My kingdom, the Court of Autumn, is the domain of the harvest, of change, of golden light before the winter.”

He glanced over and she nodded her understanding. She wasn’t a dullard. That was good.

“The Court of Summer is a riotous kingdom,” he went on. “It is the court of color, of excess, of unfettered pleasure.”

They reached a small ravine and he offered her his arm.

She shook her head and jumped over, baby and all. She was surprisingly strong and agile for a human.

Killian used his stick to launch himself over. She wasn’t the only one who was athletic, even if his leg slowed him down a bit. That was hardly his fault. He hadn’t shot himself.

“Your realm impacts ours,” he went on. “Your careless poisoning of your environment blurs the line between fall and winter in your world. And then it happens here as well. The Winter King and the Autumn King are feuding.”

“What does that have to do with Kieran?” she asked.

“I am a Prince of Autumn,” he replied. “It is my sole duty to take a Winter Princess as my betrothed and sire an heir on her.”

“If you do that, what do you need with my son?” Piper demanded.

My son… our son.

He pressed his lips together. This part was surprisingly hard to tell her, even though he knew how much she hated him.

“I am already betrothed,” he said quietly.

“Wait, you’re engaged?” she asked incredulously. “Were you… never mind.”

“It was arranged by our parents before we ever met,” he explained. “There is a prophecy that tells of the mounting animosity among our courts. It is said that a daughter of Winter will bring peace to both kingdoms. It is her destiny.”

Piper didn’t look convinced. Mortals never were much for prophecies.

“But yes,” he told her. “Princess Wynter will one day be my wife. You would probably get along with her well. She hates me almost as much as you do.”

Piper only scowled at him.

“At any rate,” he continued. “The fae are not always known to be fertile. And as I said, my betrothed despises me, which further complicates matters. Our marriage has not been, and will not be, consummated. As my only recourse, I came to your world to father a child which will serve as our heir. Kieran will be adored by everyone in both kingdoms. He will live a life of luxury you cannot imagine. And he will save our kingdoms from war.”

He glanced over.

Her brow was furrowed, her lips brushing Kieran’s dark curls unconsciously.

She wasn’t saying no.

“What if I said I would allow this,” she said at last. “But only if I can come with him?”

He opened his mouth to roar at her, and then closed it again.

She was closer to a yes