She paused at the bottom of the trail and the bond in her chest pulsed to life at the same time Teddy turned and spotted her. Something like relief broke over his face as Stella walked toward him. She had no idea what to say, so she fell back into their old familiar pattern.
“You summoned,Your Grace? I must admit, I thought the royal commands would cease when you ceded the throne.”
Teddy shrugged. “Glad you didn’t ignore it.”
Stella was suddenly so nervous. She couldn’t begin to find the words to say to him. It had been an hour since his shocking request was granted by the gods and her heart still hadn’t ceased its racing. Perhaps it never would.
“What did your father say? Was there yelling? Honestly, I can’t imagine King Xander yelling.”
Teddy laughed. “He doesn’t ever yell. I think he knows the silent disappointment is worse. He said it took me long enough. I guess he’d been waiting for me to make a hard decision. That’s why he left me that memory, apparently. He saw me floundering, and he wanted to remind me that the hard decisions didn’t end once you become king. They just get harder. He said that they fought to take out the Sons now so that I could have the choices he always wanted me to have. My mother reminded me that I’m not in the same position that he was in because I have three other siblings who could do the job.”
“Teddy, I’m so happy for you. I don’t know what to say?—”
“Don’t panic.” He smiled sheepishly and pressed his fingers to his chest. “I can feel how nervous you are. I didn’t do it for you—or, rather, I didn’tonlydo it for you. I did it for me, because I neededtime to get to know you. Gods! I need time to get to knowme, Stella. My entire existence has been about keeping other people happy. I’d like to finally learn what makes me happy and you were the first thing that came to mind.”
“I make you happy?” Stella asked skeptically.
He sighed. “And crazy and honest and curious and brave, Stella. You make me brave.”
Tears pressed against the backs of her eyes. “That’s not true. You mademebrave.”
Teddy took her hand and placed it over his heart. “I mean in here.” He lifted her hand and pressed a kiss to her palm. “You gave me the courage to be honest with myself—to listen to my foolish heart.”
Stella couldn’t quite process everything he was saying—everything that had happened in the past hour. Her heart was racing and her nerves were completely shot from the ups and downs of the day. Much as she had wanted to deny Desiree and say that she was just messing with them, Stella had seen the wisdom of her aunt’s vision. More than that, it was suddenly so obvious how they just fit together.
“It was this dress, wasn’t it?” Stella asked.
Teddy bit back a laugh. “It’s a spectacular gown, but no. It wasn’t the dress, though I like seeing you in it almost as much as I’d like to see you out of it.”
“The swords, then?” she teased. “Double-wielding blades usually catch some attention.”
He blew out a breath. “It was the swords and the wearing my shirt and nothing else—and the rain.”
Stella burst out laughing. “I knew it. That recipe always works.”
Teddy ran a hand through his hair and smiled. “It was more than that, although the sheer amount of nudity certainly didn’t hurt with helping me see you in a new light.”
Stella pretended to flip her hair. “A wise man once called my ass legendary.”
“Maybe if you do him the honor of allowing him to court you, he’ll write a drinking song in its honor,” Teddy said.
“Your Grace, have you been hiding musical talents?”
“Absolutely not, but I’m nothing if not determined. I’m sure I could whip something up with the right motivation.”
Stella’s chest clenched. This playful side of him was so new and disarming and she was thrilled at the prospect of seeing him this relaxed all the time now that the pressure of perfection was gone.
He tilted her chin up so she would meet his eye. His smile was teasing. “I’m going to need your help, Stella. I have so little practice being imperfect, but you’reso goodat it.”
She slapped his arm. “Shut up and kiss me, you perfect liar.”
Teddy kissed her and all the nervous energy from the day bled from her muscles until there was nothing but the urgent press of his lips, his hands in her hair, and his firm body against hers. The bond in her chest pulsed, and she wanted to draw him in, to have him closer. She wanted him to lay her down on the sand and make her forget the stress of the past two days.
When he finally pulled away, Stella was breathless. The orange glow of the sun, low on the horizon, was almost blinding.
“I thought we could finally go on a date that doesn’t involve people trying to murder us.”
“Sounds boring.” She glanced down the empty beach. “Why here? Why not bring me flowers or ask me on a proper courting date?”
