She crossed her arms across her chest. “Do you normally call upon rulers at midnight?”
He matched her frosty expression before looking over her shoulder, into her room. “May I enter?”
Her chest tightened. There were many things in her room that would give her and her secrets away. Her starstick. Her reliance on elixirs. But she couldn’t say no. It would only make him suspicious. “I suppose.”
She should have anticipated he would seek her out. Hehaddecided to pair up with her—for whatever reason. Isla had excused herself as soon as possible, fleeing to her room, fearing everyone in the hall would be able to hear the unsteady beating of her anxious heart if she stayed too long.
He strode past her and frowned at the state of her room.
It wasn’t even that messy. There were a few dresses she hadn’t managed to put away strewn across the furniture, and teacups littered her nightstand, but, what, was the king’s room perfect?
She closed the door and didn’t stray far from it. “Yes?” she said flatly.
Oro carefully picked up one of her dresses, placed it on the bed, and took a seat on the chair that it had previously occupied, leaning back as if it was his own room. And Isla supposed it was.
His fingers trailed the curling sides of the seat as he said, “I would like to make a deal.”
For a moment, Isla considered grabbing her starstick from its hidden place in the wardrobe and portaling somewhere far away. It would be so easy ...
Somehow, she forced herself to stand very tall and say, “Oh? What is it you propose?”
They were already paired. She didn’t understand why he wanted to make a deal on top of that but decided it would be best to allow him to speak. Perhaps she would finally get some answers.
He laced his long fingers together. “I have a theory about the curses, one I’ve been working through the last half century. And I believe you are able to help me.” She wanted to laugh and say if it was power he needed, he should ask someone else. She wanted to make any excuse she could. “You see, I require a knowledge of nature. One you clearly possess.”
So that was why he had saved her that first day. Why he had paired them together. Hedidneed something ... “What is the deal?”
“You are, of course, aware of the second-to-last line of the oracle’s riddle. One of our realms must fall for the curses to be broken.” Isla nodded. “As we are a pair, I cannot harm you. And, if you help me find what I seek, I will do my best to protect you from the other rulers as well.”
Protect.
She hated that word, though she clearly needed to be protected.
She wished she didn’t.
Also—his best?
She gave him a withering look. Her unfiltered thoughts came out. Why bother playing the game she did with everyone else, acting a part, telling them only what they wanted to hear? Every time she looked at him, all she heard was the first step of her guardians’ plan in her head. To seduce him. To steal his powers.
Did they think so little of her?
Did thekingthink so little of her that he believed she needed his protection?
“Youwant to protect me? I thought you were dying.”
Oro’s eyes turned hot as fire. She imagined if he didn’t need her, or wasn’t forced to adhere to the rules, he would have lit her aflame with a single look.
“Is it a deal or not, Wildling?” He spit out the last word like it burned his tongue.
Isla smirked. “I disgust you, don’t I?” she said. She took one step toward him. “Is it the heart eating?” she asked, pleasure blooming as his frown deepened. “Or the dresses?” She feigned compassion. “What a shame the only person who can help you with your supposedtheoryrepulses you so much.”
Oro stood.
He didn’t answer her question, but she could see it clear on his face. Hewasdisgusted by her and her kind.
“You are wasting my time,” he said through his teeth. “Do we have a deal, or not?”
For a moment, she considered.
