“And because of that, he lets me in on his monthly card night with his friends at Basecamp.”
“You’re insufferable.” I playfully push him away. “And a terrible dancer.”
He laughs as he gives me a sweeping bow. “And the most intelligent, cunning, and dashing soldier you’ve ever met.”
I turn my back on him to hide my smile and shake my head as I walk away. Rowan is a skilled soldier, but that was always expected from the great General Mansi’s son. A day will come when he both takes up our father’s mantle and finds the love he’slooking for. Until then, he has a career he loves and newfound friends to bide his time.
I pass by Salone and squeeze her shoulder. She stops dancing to dip in a graceful curtsy and sayYour Majesty. She loves the formalities of court, the balls, the extravagant dinners, even the council meetings, they all inspire her creative side. Sometimes I think she would be better suited for this life than me.
Terro dips his head, that bright warm smile that I loved from the moment I met him stretched across his face.
“Keep an eye on this one, general. She has a habit of fancying a man in uniform,” I say, my gaze shooting to my sister.
My sister rolls her eyes and shakes her head. “I’m teaching the general how to dance.”
Terro’s grin doesn’t falter. “She’s trying to at least.”
“You’ll get there with a little more practice,” she says, holding her hand out to him before they twirl into another dance.
I continue on, looking over the crowd. Leif and Wel are tucked in a corner deep in conversation. Ashavee rolls her eyes as she watches Ulric gulp down a flute of champagne. I stand on my tiptoes and search for my favorite dance partner, but he seems to have disappeared.
“If you keep searching for Kyron like that, people are going to question my tutelage. What type of queen feels lost amongst her subjects without her king?”
My lips happily turn up as I bump my shoulder into the man who has snuck in beside me. “Perspective, my dearest Borin. I’m not a queen in search of her king, but a parah who misses the company of her other half.”
He hums while straightening the lapel of his maroon and gold jacket. “A perspective I wholeheartedly sympathize with.”
“As I knew you would.”
He turns to face me. A deep line forms between his brows, and his dark-brown eyes soften. “Micah and I told you countlesstimes about how proud we are of you. But this, Raelle.” He sweeps his arm in front of him, gesturing to the joyful faces all around the room. “This was his dream. You accomplished what he believed only you could do, and this would have been his proudest moment.”
I know that. It’s a topic that finds its way into Kyron and my conversations regularly. We both have worked hard to build a kingdom Micah would be proud of, and we will continue to do so.
“And what about you, Borin? Have I made you proud?” I ask.
He goes silent, lost in his thoughts. The seconds tick by and then a tear slips from his eye, leaving a glistening trail down his face. He runs his finger along the dark red ruby in the center of my crown and traces the swirls of iron around it. Slowly, his lips pull into a rare bright smile. “You have, precious girl. No doubt you will continue to make me proud.”
I position one foot behind the other, spread the sides of my black and silver skirt, and lower my head. “It is my honor to work to do so, your grace.”
He hooks his finger under my chin and lifts my head to see the tender smile adorning his face. “No. It’s my honor to now serve you and continue to make my parah’s dream a reality. We are so close to it, and I look forward to seeing that perfect day.”
“Me too.”
With a curt nod, he releases me. “Your parah slipped into the gardens looking... contemplative.”
My brows raise as I repeat, “Contemplative?”
“Take it from a man who was married to a king, those are the moments that they need time with their partner the most.”
“Thank you, Borin,” I say, squeezing his upper arm.
“You are welcome, my queen.”
I inch through the crowd to the back wall and follow it to the double doors. Some eyes turn my way, but no one stops meas I slip outside. I walk the winding paths through rose bushes and trellises of night blooming jasmine, to where life-size marble statues guard the sleeping blossoms. Soft floral perfume floats on the cool spring breeze and fireflies sparkle just above the low hedges. The magic found in the gardens make it the ideal place to get lost in thought.
I continue on, ducking under the branches of the wisteria trees and weaving through the orchard lining the back of the property. A gentle force guides me forward until I reach the furthest wall. Hidden in the vines, a door stands open. I step closer and glance inside. The narrow passage is just how I remember and a lit torch on the wall acts as an invitation to enter.
I take the light and start my journey to the earthy tunnel. It isn’t a coincidence that this passage was primed for me to find it. I know who waits beyond the door on the other side. It’s open when I reach it. Lifting the hem of my dress, I step through and scale the rocks leading to the covered overlook on top.
