“The body’s gone. Burned. Ashes. We’ll never be able to prove your innocence now.”
“What does that mean? Am I going to be punished again?”
“No. Just going through with the marriage thing and?—”
Relief floods me before he can finish his sentence and it has nothing to do with not being punished.
“—I couldn’t get your sunstar back. I’m so sorry. I tried. I’m sure we’ll find some other angle.”
“But not by tomorrow.”
He shakes his head. “Not by tomorrow.”
All I feel is more relief. “Why are you devastated?”
He places his hands on my hips. “For you.”
I put my arms around his neck and tug, signaling I want up. He responds, lifting me so that his hands are under my ass, and I have to wrap my legs around his torso, locking my bare ankles together. Has he always been able to read me this well?
“Guess you’re stuck with me, huh?”
“I was anyway, Treyu. I just like this version better, where you wear my ring and other people know you belong to me too.”
My fucking heart beats a surge of heat through me. “That’s hot. I’m sure that’s a trope of some kind.”
“I thought you didn’t want to be a trope, hmmm?”
“No, I definitely do, but it has to be one I like.”
The king enters without knocking, as he does. That has got to stop. Zhang releases me and my bootless feet hit the cool floor.
“Zhang, what can you tell me about the Guild telling me you went to them early this morning and accused them of framing the Orion?”
Zhang steps forward, running a hand through his hair. He’s frustrated. I can read him. I like that I can read him. “That’s a bit of an exaggeration. I had reason to believe the child’s body was planted. As the conduit between the royal family and the guardians, it’s my duty to investigate if I suspect foul play. Hell, it’s my duty to follow up even if I don’t.”
“You should have run it by me, and I would have told you not to bother. I am not pleased with either of you. I don’t want any more trouble with the Guild. You two are forbidden from leaving this room until the wedding. Am I understood?”
“Yes, Father,” Zhang says.
Idon’tsnarl at the king, which is progress and all anyone can hope for from me at this juncture.
“Good.”
He turns and storms out. I burst into a fit of giggles. “I’m not having a positive effect on your life.”
Zhang exhales so hard, that his red hair flies upward. “Once this blows over, he’ll be fine. I’m worried that this is the sign of something bigger, Treyu.”
“Maybe, or maybe our marriage will solve everything. I just wish I knew who I pissed off.”
“Do you want me to answer that?”
“Don’t say it, Centaurus.” I piss a lot of people off. There’s probably a whole Facebook page of people dedicated to wanting me dead, or at least petty revenge, and that’s just within the human realm.
He tosses his sword on the bed. “Guess we’re stuck here.”
“Oh dear, whatever will we do?” He stops my advances with a hand on my chest. “Oh, c’mon. The wedding is tomorrow. Mere hours from now. Do you need a ring on my finger that badly?”
“Yes. Behave. I’m going to have a shower. A cold one.”
