“Give her my greetings in return.”
“She says hi back,” Cole says, the words muffled as he speaks away from the phone.
“That is not what I said,” I complain. “You make me sound as if I am one of you.”
“Aren’t you?”
No. I cannot be. Not if I wish to be a queen my people trust and respect. The thought of distancing myself from my friends further than I already have brings an ache to my chest, but it may be unavoidable. “Good night, Cole.”
“Good morning, Freya.”
After drinking a cup of abysmal tea, I dress slowly, trying to formulate the best way to apologize to Elliot. I accept that I was unfair to him, but I do not come by humility easily, and admitting my faults will be painful.Painful but necessary. If not for my sake, for my brothers’. I put them in a difficult situation and asked them to betray their friend.
I still have not settled on what to say when I step outside my room once my attendant, Runa, has seen to my hair. The single guard posted beyond the door stands at attention. I expected more from Elliot, and the lack of extra supervision almost feels like an apology. Clearing my throat, I wait for the guard to meet my gaze. He does not.
“Where is Mr. Reid?” I ask, unable to hide my annoyance in my tone. I did not think I would miss the way Elliot is not afraid to look at me, but I do.
The guard stiffens, as if uncomfortable with my question. “I believe he is at the training grounds, Your Highness,” he tells my shoes.
Intrigued, I thank the guard and begin my trek down the corridor with him a few steps behind. In the strangest way, he feels too far away, and I smile as I make my way through the palace. Only one day away from Elliot’s diligence, and I miss his methods.
Or perhaps I simply miss knowing I am safe, even when I leave him behind. To think what may have happened if he had not come to my rescue… A shudder runs through me as I descend the stairs to the exterior doors. It is probably best not to think about what might have been.
The morning is warm, the skies unusually clear as I step into the sunny courtyard. Many of the palace guards are out training today, but it does not take me long to find Elliot amongst his peers as he spars hand-to-hand opposite Hex.
He is holding his own against my unbeatable brother.
“So it is true,” I mutter as I come closer, standing near a few other guards who have taken to watching the fight. Like me, they have likely not seen anyone come this close to matching my brother’s talents, and based on some of the muttered comments, a few of the guards have wagered money on the winner of this skirmish.
Normally, I would bet on Hex, but the longer I watch Elliot, the more I understand why Derek recommended him for the position as my protection agent. Particularly because Elliot has removed his shirt and is showing off the intimidating amount of muscle on his body, all of it straining and stretching as he jabs and dodges. He is…impressive.
He is also showing off several tattoos that span the length of his left arm. His right displays one as well, but most of the images are relegated to the one arm. I have only ever seen Elliot fully dressed, with long sleeves to hide the ink, and I wish he would stand still so I could make out some of the banded designs needled into his skin. Liam is the only one of my friends with a tattoo, but his is small, the lines thin. Elliot’s tattoos are bold, broad, and seem to tell a story.
One of the spectating guards looks over at me and startles, dropping into a quick bow. “Your Highness,” he says loudly, prompting the others to mirror him.
Elliot looks over, and Hex wallops him in the face, nearly knocking him off his feet.
“Oi!” Hex shouts, grabbing Elliot’s arm before he loses his balance. “I thought you would dodge!”
Which means that hit was my fault. Wincing, I consider hurrying back inside because an apology after that distraction will not come across as genuine. But Elliot has turned his focus to me. With a tight jaw and a storm in his brown eyes, he shakes hands with Hex, then steps closer to me.
“Princess,” he greets with a dip of his head.
“Elliot.”
He tilts his head to the side, as if surprised that I would address him after last night. “You said my name.”
Oh. I suppose I did. I have been thinking of him by his given name all morning, though I did not realize until now. “After experiencing you up close and personal,” I say with a roll of my eyes, “it is more applicable,would you not agree?” Although, my time on his shoulders did not feel as intimate as this moment does, with his ridged torso on full display and his skin glistening with perspiration. His tattoos—I see now they are several Celtic knots twisting around his arm—are intriguing enough by themselves, but my stomach flutters each time my gaze accidentally drops to his bare skin and the way it stretches over taut muscles. He is entirely strong, more so than even Cole, and I have never seen a man like him.
“I thought you were going to stay in your room,” he says, pulling my gaze back to his face.
Heat rises up my neck, leaving me overwarm in the sunshine. I feel out of place standing next to this man, my fair and delicate skin contrasting his tan and weathered body. “Oh. Er, yes, well, I thought I should…” I shake my head. “Could you please clothe yourself, Mr. Reid?”
He chuckles and folds his arms. There is a chain around his neck, a set of military tags hanging over his chest, but the name engraved on them is not his.Joshua Griffin.But I do not get a chance to wonder who that is because Elliot speaks with that same sassy tone he has used before. “Is my state of undress bothering you?”
No, it is not, which is the problem. I should not be admiring my protection agent, no matter how impressive his physique. “I wish to converse with you, and I find your current state…” Oh, why did I begin this sentence? What can I say that will not sound ridiculous? “Distracting.”
Hex laughs and tosses a bit of black fabric to Elliot, who pulls the shirt over his head, unfortunately hiding his strength from view. “Methinks the lady doth protest too much.”
