“They certainly did.”
“Even covered in dirt from head to toe—”
“You were still stunning,” he interjects. “I’ll never forget you kicking up and fighting me. Gorgeous, tough, and full of surprises. I was instantly smitten.”
My face turns hot, and so does the rest of me. “It’s unbecoming of a prince to fawn over ladies.”
“You’re not just any lady,” he says, low in my ear.
“I wasn’t any kind of lady, when we met. I was fighting for my life.”
“Quite capably, too. This Lorcan who trained you must have been highly skilled.”
“He was.” I swallowed. “Is. Will be again, when he wakes up.”
Tovian is quiet.
“I did try to help them, towards the end.” Tovian has no reason to know what I’m talking about. I’ll blame the concussion for the fact that my brain is messed up and I’m having a hard time tuning out the past.
One specific memory stands out right now.
If I hadn’t talked Zosia into wearing that green dress that looked perfect on her, she would’ve gone to the Louvre wearing the pink one that made her look fifteen. It worked better than I expected. She had an idea of how she wanted to present our country to the world—as strong and beautiful instead of the weak and cowering nation King Rohan portrayed us as.
It was the first time I saw a glimpse of the queen I know she’ll someday become.
If she’s alive.
If this entire situation isn’t hopeless.
“Have you considered, Arianelle, that their relationship wasn’t something you could control?” Tovian asks softly, the words warm puffs from his lips near my temples. Using the name I gave him as a gentle reminder that I haven’t always been truthful with him. He brings me back to the present.
“I know it wasn’t. But have a lot of regrets. I thought I loved him. I mean, I still love Lorcan as a close friend, but not like—like I’m…” I trailed off.
Like I’m starting to think I could love you.
I bite my lip. Telling your new possible-boyfriend that you’re still hung up on your long-term crush has got to be high up on the list of unforgivable faux pas. I didn’t mean to. It just slipped out.
In my defense, my brain is still bruised.
We stop in front of my tent. Tovian turns me to face him and presses a kiss to my forehead. “Being queen doesn’t mean being in control of everything, Raina.”
“Good thing I’m not queen, then.” I smile wanly, wondering what the protocol is for inviting a man into your tent.Want to come and make out on my palletseems like a pretty lowbrow thing to offer a fellow royal. Although, given the state of Auralian royalty at the moment, a tent seems appropriate. “Do you, uh, want to come in? I know it’s not much, but it’s a little more private than sleeping with the rest of the crew.”
He strokes his thumb over my cheek. “Not tonight, Sunshine.”
Disappointment streaks through me, as hot as falling ash.
“Tomorrow, then?” My disappointment deepens when he shakes his head.
“I need to get back to my people.”
“Do you think there’s any chance you can convince them to fight for us?” I plead, knowing I should shut up. “It might turn the tide.”
Something in his eyes shutters. I feel him closing down like a passing shadow.
“I’ll see what I can do. Try not to get into any more scrapes, Arianelle. You can’t always count on me to be there to rescue you.”
“Pfft.” I scoff. “I’d have been fine.”
