The Commander's Desire by Jennette Green Page B

room that held her blades. Or perhaps
she would search out keys to the lock. No matter. In either case,
she would retrieve her daggers without delay.
    “ Princess Elwytha.” A
helmeted, armored guard with a lance at his shoulder appeared
before she had taken five steps.
    “ Yes?” She frowned. Had the
Commander forgotten his promise? With what further orders would he
besiege her now?
    “ The Prince requires your
presence. Follow me, please.” He turned and headed down the hall.
Clearly, she was to follow immediately.
    Elwytha didn’t like obeying the Prince’s
orders any more than the Commander’s. However, she had to admit
curiosity. And suspicion. What did he want?
    The guard ushered her into the throne room,
and Elwytha saw the Prince sitting upon his royal throne. Did he
sit there all day? She mentally rolled her eyes at his utter
vanity. Did he need constant adulation to prove his worth as a man,
and as a ruler?
    She curtseyed. “Prince. You requested my
presence?” Never mind he had demanded it. She felt it key that he
understand that she had graciously granted his request.
    The Prince reclined on his throne, his pose
relaxed. He inquired, “You are enjoying your stay in my
palace?”
    “ It has satisfactory
comforts,” she allowed.
    He smiled. “You have a cutting tongue,
Princess Elwytha.”
    “ I would speak the
truth.”
    “ At all times?” His words
seemed testing.
    “ Verily, as much truth as
you speak yourself, Prince.”
    He smiled again and then stood, to her
surprise. “I will show you something. Stroll with me.”
    She followed the Prince, mindful of the
lance-carrying guard accompanying them. Of course, her brother had
ordered no attacks upon the Prince. So he was safe from her.
    “ You are accustomed to fine
things?” the Prince inquired over his shoulder. He opened the door
to a room flanked by armed guards, and she followed him
inside.
    “ We have a few precious
objects.” Elwytha would allow no detailed descriptions to pass her
lips. The Prince needed no further encouragements to attack her
land. She cast a quick glance about. Sunlight filtered in through
slitted windows.
    “ We harbor prized objects as
well. As a princess, I thought you would appreciate their
splendor.” With a languid hand, he gestured toward a black vase,
veined with gold. “From the far east,” he said.
    The gold sparkled in the ebony, as did
sparkles of blue. The Prince smiled as she peered at it more
closely. “A treasure, is it not?” He strolled next toward a
pedestal topped with a blue velvet box.
    Elwytha followed, and wondered why he was
showing her these prizes. For pride’s sake? Did he feel no threat
from her, as an enemy? Perhaps he wanted her to feel awe for the
splendor he possessed. Likely, she decided. From what little she
knew of him, humility did not appear to be one of his
strengths.
    He lifted the velvet lid. A necklace of
glittering diamonds and sapphires sparkled on black velvet. Elwytha
gasped, despite herself.
    “ You like it?” He grinned at
her. “It was my father’s mother’s.”
    Elwytha was annoyed—both by her response, and
for the Prince’s blatant boastings. He showed her more objects of
art, including sculptures and paintings. Several were of his
ancestors. Last of all, he stopped before a portrait of a man in
full warrior regalia. He looked huge and fearsome, with flowing
black hair and eyes as black as midnight.
    “ This man loved battle.
Unfortunately, one too many.” The Prince eyed her. “My father,” he
said.
    Startled, Elwytha looked from the portrait to
the Prince. The current crown regent was a good height for a man,
but finer boned than this, his sire.
    He smiled. “I favor my mother.”
    “ But you share his black
hair and black eyes.”
    “ And his affection for the
ladies.”
    Elwytha frowned at the Prince, who watched
her, his black eyes intent. Why would he shame his father with such
a word? Not to mention sully her ears with such tripe?