“What do you mean?” I crossed my arms, hugging myself.
“The Cai you know isn’t the one I went to battle with. He became solely focused on being a good soldier and now a good king, the perfect king. He... he changed.”
“Back in Everness, he told me that he was in love with me. Do you think he lied?” I couldn’t help but wonder out loud.
Jack’s eyes slowly receded from that faraway place and turned towards me.
“I think Cai was completely unprepared for you. You took him by surprise, and despite his better judgement, he liked you more than he wanted to.”
“That’s not answering my question.” I raised my brow.
“No, I don’t think he lied, Your Majesty,” Jack admitted, and I felt some sense of relief. “I think—” He hesitated for a moment. “I think Cai would marry you in a heartbeat if he wasn’t so afraid.”
“Look, Jack.” I sighed. “I know I don’t exactly have a good reputation or a track record to accommodate it. But my intention was never to hurt Cai, not even in Everness. Lie to him, yes. Steal from him, yes, and occasionally want to murder him because he made me so bloody mad.”
Jack released a knowing smile at my words.
“But I never wanted to hurt him.”
“I know that. Cai isn’t afraid of you hurting him. He’s afraid of you getting hurt. He killed Aries’ younger brother and Aries is going to want to retaliate, and he’ll use you to get back at Cai.”
“What was her name?” I asked.
“I don’t know.” Jack didn’t meet my gaze. “Cai never told me.”
I took a deep breath, trying to comprehend everything I’d just been told. “I’m sorry about what happened. I wish I could erase the pain he went through, that all of you went through. But,” I added, “I’m not an Argonian girl who needs to be saved. And I’m not going to spend the rest of my life fearing a stranger across the ocean.”
“You and I know that, Your Majesty,” Jack replied. “But I wouldn’t bet on changing Cai’s mind.”
“The treaty still needs to be written and signed. Cai can change his mind about this alliance.”
“Cai loves you,” Jack said earnestly.
Cai loved me and I loved him. It was as simple and as complicated as that.
Chapter 26
Cai
Though it was still the early hours of the morning, the sun burned hot and bright. The sweat made my shirt to cling to my body. I looked over to where Elara sat astride her mare. Her hunting attire reminded me of our time at Fairfrith camp. A time now lost and long gone with the wind.
When Elara had suggested a hunting trip, I wasn’t convinced it was a good idea. We would be far away from the palace, while leaving Lance in charge once again. And although Elara seemed content with the arrangement, I didn’t trust him.
Yet she seemed so excited at the prospect of spending a few days in the woods that I would have said yes to anything when she looked at me with those pleading eyes. I suspected she knew just as much.
“You’re lagging behind,” she called over her shoulder. “At this pace, we’re not going to catch anything,Your Majesty.” Her tone of voice was flirtatious, teasing as she used my title.
“Just admiring the horse’s flanks.” I made the same joke as I had in Norrandale, and she let out a laugh.
“Do you know where you’re going?” I asked, urging my horse forwards so that I could be next to her, our small group of guards riding behind us. Jack and Rhen were in conversation with Cordelia (who’d arrived a few days prior), and Alastor was his usual quiet self.
“Of course I do,” she scoffed, as if I’d just asked the most ridiculous question.
“Just checking, Your Majesty.”
The weather of the morning changed, and the afternoon grew dark and cold. We caught a few pheasants but nothing ofmerit, and after a few more hours of riding, we finally set up camp for the evening.
“Everything in order, Your Majesty?” Jack checked up on me again for the umpteenth time in the last hour.
