Her Off Limits Prince

Blythe wasn't used to being called out because well, she didn't often get it wrong and she never judged people the way she had Tor earlier.

"I can be, I suppose."

"Tor isn't spoiled."

Blythe forbore arguing that point. She was pretty sure Else saw the brother of her heart with rose colored glasses on that score.

"Everyone thinks he is, because he's the youngest, but they all abandoned him."

"Blythe's not interested in my life story," Tor said from behind her.

He reached around and put the water and medicine on the bedside table. "Take those and drink that whole glass of water when you wake up in the middle of the night feeling like death warmed over."

Else mumbled something and then turned over to sleep.

The prince turned off the lights and then exited the room, making sure the hallway was clear first.

"Won't the security cameras catch you leaving her room?"

"There won't be anything on them come morning."

"They erase that quickly?" That didn't sound very secure to Blythe.

But Tor just shrugged. "Goodnight, Blythe."

"Wait."

He stopped. "Yes?"

"I am sorry, about earlier. Really."

"All right."

When Blythe realized he wasn't going to say anything else, she said, "I don't think you're spoiled per se."

"Just spoiled by my position in life. I got the message."

"That's not what I meant."

"I think it is."

Maybe it was and maybe Blythe needed to seriously rethink her opinions about the young prince. She realized she'd formed them with her own self-protection in mind, so she'd let herself believe what she needed to about him to protect both her heart and her relationship with Janice.

"What did Else mean when she said they all abandoned you?"

"Nothing that would interest you."

"But I am interested."

"I am not interested in talking about it."

That told her. And she understood, but she didn't want to leave it there.

"I know I said I wasn't your friend, but I'd like to be," she said. "I understand if you don't want to though."

Blythe hadn't shown herself to be good friendship material for him up to this point.

He inclined his head. It was such a regal move, she wondered if he even realized how royal he seemed in that moment.