Page 83 of Between Smoke and Shadow
“What are you doing here?” I ask, stumbling back a few steps. “Why are you up this early?”
“I never went to sleep,” he says. He closes the door behind him and leans against it, and I realize he’s still wearing the same clothes from last night. I flush at the reminder of what we did, only to shake my head.
“What are you doing here?” I repeat. “Someone might see you and think?—”
“Whatwillthey think, Rune?” He asks, giving me an almost goofy grin. He’sgiddy, I realize, like this is somehow a joke.
“I don’t know, but I’m the one they’ll punish,” I say. My arms start shaking without my permission, only for Harrick to press his hands to my shoulders, steadying them.
“No one is going to touch you,” he says. Despite the severity of his tone, the easy smile remains. “Because by this time tomorrow, you will be their queen.”
I stumble a step backwards, surprised at the high laugh that bursts from my lips. I can’t remember the last time I’ve laughed at all, but this sneaks up on me. No one has ever said such ridiculous words.
“Is that right?” I ask. Despite everything, I smile at him and his inexplicable excitement. He’s proven time and time againthat he’ll keep me from danger, so if he’s not worried for my safety, I’ll trust he knows what he’s doing.
Harrick freezes, staring at me with wide eyes and a parted mouth.
“What?” I ask. I shift on my feet, feeling the weight of his gaze scouring over me. I suddenly worry I didn’t check for egg yolk well enough.
Harrick grabs my waist, pulling me against his. His mouth crashes against mine, and he tangles his hand through my hair, tugging gently. He pulls back all too soon, breathing hard and eyes bright with electric energy.
“You are so beautiful when you smile,” he says. “Most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen.”
I blush, feeling the heat everywhere. I want to say something back, but it all feels inadequate. Before I can think of anything, Harrick breaks away, pulling a few folded documents out of his coat pocket.
“I found what we need,” he says. He speaks with hesitant excitement, as if he’s not sure I’ll feel as happy about this as he does. “Well, technicallyTorafound what we need.”
I know she’s his sister, but hearing him refer to the princess so casually is strange.
“After I left here last night,” he continues. “She and Joran helped me do research. It took us hours, but…”
He trails off as he unfolds the documents. After handing the stack to me, he waits with lifted eyebrows. My stomach pulses uneasily as I look at the different texts. I squint at the top section, because that’s a trick Vale taught me. Focus on the first paragraph and hope it gives an insight to the entire page.
Event. Illegal. Crown. Honor.
Shame heats my face.
“I can’t read,” I finally admit. My voice cracks, but I tell myself not to cry. It’s not my fault I was taught too late, and that my teacher barely knows how to read himself.
Harrick doesn’t laugh or tease me. He gently takes the papers from me, laying them on the bed beside us. He takes my hands and leans in, our lips almost touching.
“It’s how we can be together,” he says. His warm breath fans over my skin, tickling softly. “All those papers say a variation of the same thing: if we’re married before I’m made king, you’ll be queen. So long as we keep it a secret before I’m crowned, there’ll be nothing they can do.”
Harrick dips to meet my eyes, and my breath catches. When he said Tora saw the way he looked at me—and that’s why she suspected us—I’d shrugged off the comment. Now though, I think maybe it’s true. I think he might look at me differently than he looks at anyone else.
“Married?” I repeat. The word ricochets between my ears, refusing to settle in one place. A strange and lovely numbness burns through my chest. Still, there’s no way he’s being serious. He hasn’tactuallythought about marrying me. It’s absurd and unrealistic and pathetic…and yet, my shredded hope begs that’sexactlywhat he means.
“That’s not how I planned to do it,” he says, blushing. His words shake, but his gaze is as steady as ever. “Marry me, Rune Ealde. Nothing makes me feel half as brave and worthy andgoodas you do. Let me spend the rest of my life making you happy. Safe.Powerful.”
I don’t realize I’m crying until he’s wiping at my face again. But for the first time, these are hopeful tears. Stunned tears. Completely and utterly happy tears.
“Are you sure?” I ask. I move my hands to his neck, unable to stop their trembling. “Don’t do this because you feel guilty or because you feel like you should. You don’t have to?—“
“I’m in love with you, Rune,” he says, cutting me off. “Iwantto marry you.”
I rise on my toes and pull him down by the collar until he’s close enough to kiss.
“Yes,” I say. It comes out as a quiet breath, but by the way he surges to kiss me, I know he’s heard. I lean into him, chasing his tongue with mine, tasting him and losing myself in the way he holds me. My usual insecurities are shadowed by pulsing adrenaline and the unbearable need to get closer.
