Prince of Cats - Tasha Black Page 0,29

making a friend in the fae realm.

“Thank you,” Piper said. “I feel the same. You’re the first person here that I feel like I can really talk to.”

“It must be so lonely for you,” Ashe said. “With no one of your own kind.”

Piper opened her mouth to say that she had Kieran, but she was distracted by the sight of a serving boy dashing up.

“There you are,” he called to Piper in an irritated way. “It’s time for Prince Kieran to be fitted for his gown.”

“Oh dear,” Piper said. “We’re coming.”

“It was so nice to meet you,” Ashe told her.

“It was good to meet you too,” Piper said, lifting her sticky son into her arms and scurrying off after the serving boy who was already hightailing it to the castle.

20

Killian

Killian stood frozen in place for a long time, looking out over the rose garden where Ashe sat alone on the picnic blanket.

Ruthyr had let slip that the nurse had brought Kieran here for a picnic. So Killian had snuck out of the castle like a little boy to surprise her and share a meal together.

But when he arrived, he found her talking with Ashe. And her words had broken his heart.

You’re the first person here that I feel like I can really talk to.

He believed her.

Besides Killian, not one member of the court had taken any notice of her at all.

And he had just watched a simple serving boy scold her and send her running to do his bidding.

Meanwhile, she had just told Ashe about the wonders of her own world, how she had been permitted to do anything she liked.

And he had not known that she was a competitive archer before… before he impregnated her and disappeared. Although she’d certainly shown him the fruits of her labor.

He was a monster, no better than the hellhound.

He had chased an innocent woman from a happy life with a bright future into a nightmare where she was held hostage by her love for a child she had not asked for.

And to top it all off, he was sleeping with her, expecting her to sneak around and forgo the comfort of a husband and family of her own so that she could warm his bed when he could be bothered to sneak away.

Waves of sorrow overwhelmed him, and for a horrible moment he wished he had never spotted her through that mirror, never touched her. It had brought unhappiness to them both.

Even baby Kieran would never know a life where his parents could love and be proud of him, together and openly.

So far, Wynter showed no interest in the boy, which was honestly a relief. But when she finally did, he would learn nothing good at her feet.

“I’ve ruined everything,” Killian murmured to himself.

But he couldn’t undo it.

They couldn’t run away or thousands, of fae would die.

He buried his head in his hands.

There was only one thing in his power to do to ensure her happiness, or at least to ease her misery somewhat.

If he let her go, allowed her to be just the nurse, and not his lover, then perhaps she could find another love. He would find her someone, an honorable man with a comfortable home, and encourage him to court her.

It would hurt Piper not to acknowledge her son as he took his seat at court.

But she could have other children, a home of her own, happiness.

Though Killian knew it would be like knives in his heart each time he thought of it, her happiness was more important to him than his own.

And all this sneaking around was not honorable. It was beneath her. And it certainly did not suit a Prince of Autumn. He was a man, not a foolish boy. Putting the kingdom’s needs first wasn’t something he could do by halves. He would pour all the love he felt for Piper into his people. It would have to be enough.

He could just see her figure, tiny in the distance, disappearing into the castle. And even from such a faraway sight, his heart throbbed helplessly, in spite of his good intentions.

21

Piper

Piper bathed carefully in the cold tub in the corner of her room.

It was late, the sky was black outside the window, and the candlelight gleamed on the surface of the bathwater.

Kieran had fallen asleep quickly tonight after another busy day. And Piper had a feeling Killian would be coming to pay her a visit tonight.

She’d hoped to see him last night, but she heard the party went