Though I would like to hang the amethyst dress his mother gave me before I wear it again, it will have to do. I pull it on and glance in the large mirror as I struggle with the ties. I frown at my hair, which falls around my shoulders in partially dried spirals. It’s too bad I don’t havetime for a maid to tend it. I twist it in a simple braid and coil it up with pins.
Once dressed, I take a deep breath and open the door. Waiting for me, Galinor looks out a floor-length window, his hands clasped behind him. I clear my throat, and he turns. His eyes light with appreciation, and he offers me his arm.
I feel giddy and nervous. I’m worried my blush is going to extend all the way from my cheeks to my chest, leaving me ugly and blotchy. If it does, Galinor doesn’t seem to notice.
He escorts me through the hall, down the stairs, and into the balmy sunshine. An open-top carriage waits for us, but I hesitate when Galinor leads me toward it.
“You didn’t expect to explore on foot, did you?” he asks, his tone light.
I’m not sure what I expected, exactly. But I can’t take a long walk through the town with my leg still healing, and I certainly don’t want to wear this dress on a horse.
Galinor helps me step into the carriage, gives the driver instructions, and then sits down next to me.
I’m forced to look up because he’s so much taller than I am, even when we’re seated. “Where are we going?”
Galinor leans close, his eyes shining as he tilts his head to whisper near my ear, “It’s a surprise.”
Chapter 15
My heart races—as much from Galinor’s nearness as his words.
He doesn’t seem to notice the way he affects me, and he only smiles before telling the driver we’re ready. Here in Triblue, where all the colors are amplified, his eyes shouldn’t be so startling.
But they are.
We drive through the city, and I take in the sights with shameful exuberance. There’s so much to see.
I can’t tell if there’s always this much hustle and bustle in the streets, or if the villagers are knee-deep in festival preparations. Our driver moves slowly because of the foot traffic. People dart this way and that, and children run across the street. Everywhere, someone is calling a greeting to someone else.
It’s mesmerizing.
Galinor laughs, gently tugging me into my seat. “You’re going to fall out of the carriage.”
I hadn’t realized I was leaning so far over the side, butnow I sit back, feeling foolish. “There’s so much going on. It’s entirely different from Primewood.”
“And Glendon,” Galinor agrees.
We pass the western pier, and when it seems we’re leaving Saltwreath altogether, I ask Galinor again where we’re going.
He sits back, stretching his legs in front of him. “I told you, it’s a surprise.”
Feeling brave, I nudge him with my shoulder. “You said you’ve never explored Triblue.”
“I haven’t, but Dristan mentioned something I think you might like.”
The suspense is killing me. I’ve never been good with surprises or secrets, and I can barely contain myself. I glance at Galinor, wondering if I can coax a hint out of him. He must read my thoughts, because he gives me a cocky grin and raises an eyebrow as if daring me to try.
I inhale softly. The change in him is remarkable. Just over a month ago, he was sullen, but now he’s open and happy and completely at ease. Apparently dining with fairies, traveling amongst the troupes, and being tossed out of a kingdom was all that was needed to raise his spirits.
This beautiful sunshine can’t hurt either.
Galinor tilts his head to the side. “Why are you looking at me like that?”
Under that confident exterior, I think he might be as nervous as I am.
He smiles, waiting for my answer. My mind travels from thoughts of his smile to thoughts of soft kisses, and from soft kisses to soft embraces, and before Iknow it, I’ve flustered myself into forgetting what he said. I shake my head, acting as if I didn’t hear him properly.
“I asked why you are looking at me like that.”
