The Hidden Prince Read Free

very impressive,” I said.
    Lord Chuter smiled proudly, but kept his tone serious. “Something must be done about shine. It might as well be my dogs that help make the breakthrough, and if I happen to make another fortune thanks to the demand—well.”
    â€œThat’s quite the selfish way to look at the problem.” Chey glanced up from a speared strawberry. “Father, lives are being lost to this, and you’re thinking about the family treasury. How embarrassing.” Her gaze flitted to me, and then back to her plate.
    â€œHush, Chey. This isn’t a discussion for you.” Lady Chuterscowled and motioned for her younger daughter to sit up straight.
    â€œWith that new variation of shine on the streets, it’s more important than ever to think about alternative ways of halting the problem before it grows worse. The Flags are tearing themselves apart. Unfortunately, policing the city isn’t free. We train the officers who patrol the streets; they’re paid, as are their commanders. Like it or not, protection of the kingdom is a business, as is everything else.” He turned back to me. “If you want to speak to your father about the possibility of training dogs for shine raids, I’m more than willing to discuss it. I’ll soon be testing a few of the better noses in Two Rivers City. . . .”
    For a heartbeat, I wished someone would save me from this. Louis and Ebony were unforgivably rude to Chey, but they were also among the most elite of Indigo Kingdom nobility. As much as it pained me to ignore their attitude toward Chey, I couldn’t speak my mind without risking my own father’s ire. Besides, training hounds to hunt shine wasn’t a terrible idea, only his attitude about it.
    â€œAs you’ve said, this is a business transaction. I’m sure my father will want to hear your ideas, but not until you’ve proven the worth of your dogs in our efforts against shine.” From the corner of my eye, I caught Chey’s faint smile. “Please do test them in Two Rivers. It is, after all, your city to manage, burden though it is.”
    Lord Chuter only nodded, and his eldest two offspring went on with their oblivious activities, but Clint and Ebony caught my tone. One smirked. One frowned. Meanwhile, Chey sat there, miserably enduring her mother’s pokes and prods, but even the most patient of creatures would eventually strike back.
    The chime of the clock tower signaled the end of breakfast, rescuing me from the Chuter family and their charms.

THREE
    PROFESSOR JOHN KNIGHT waited for me in the office where we usually studied.
    It was a handsome space, with built-in bookcases along the west wall, a pair of oak desks in the center, and huge, multi-paned windows on the north wall. The velvet curtains were thrown back to let in a cheery glow.
    â€œYou’re late.” Professor Knight leaned against his desk, his arms crossed and his expression stern. He wasn’t a small man, exactly, more like compact. Streaks of gray dashed through his dark hair and neatly trimmed beard, which covered scars from a childhood encounter I wasn’t supposed to know about. Though he wore the same tailored suit every other professor did, he never quite managed to look comfortable in it. Like he was always self-conscious of what his dress told the world about him.
    â€œI’m the crown prince.” I lifted my chin and pressed my fists to my hips. My jacket flared open, letting in a gasp of cool air.I couldn’t wait for summer to be over. “I’m arriving precisely when I mean to.”
    â€œYou’re spoiled is what you are.” Knight’s expression didn’t change, except for a slight tug at the corners of his mouth.
    â€œAll right.” I heaved a sigh. “Fine. I didn’t want to bring it up.” I paused for dramatic effect. “Today’s my birthday.”
    â€œYet I have no intentions to lighten