“How did the Hale Prince come to take you in?” she asked, rolling onto her side to look at him. She propped her head on one hand and watched him, eyes roving up and down his body.
His expression darkened a little and he clenched at his jaw, before exhaling a deep sigh, remaining oblivious to her roaming eyes. “There…was an incident involving my father. The Hales took me in, for I was already friendly with Derek, despite our social differences. They became the family that I had lost.”
“In my — where I come from,” she said, slowly, “the knights are lords of their own castles, though they owe fealty to Lord Argent. But you will not allow your lord to give you lands?”