“Say I believe you, then tell me, why did you come to Artria?” she asked, breathless.
“Why does anyone of royal blood visit another kingdom?” Courting was the perfect disguise, one that no one would question.
“Too bad for you, I’ve vowed never to marry,” she said with a smirk.
“Perhaps I could change your mind,” he said with swaggering confidence he didn’t feel. From the defiant tilt of her chin, he knew Princess Liane wasn’t easily swayed, but he needed her to think of him as an arrogant prince seeking a marital alliance.
“Are you the one spreading rumors of our courtship then?”
Erich scoffed. “I don’t need such petty tricks.”
She scanned him up and down again, assessing.
“I can ruin all your ambitions with a single word, you know. Aren’t you afraid?”
Not at all. But he’d play along. “And what’s that?”
“If I tell my mother about the stardust, you’ll never be welcomed at court again.”
“You said you believed me,” Erich said, trying to keep his voice calm.
“I said if I were to believe you. I never said I actually did.”
She’d caught him there, entangled him without realizing it. He must admit, he was impressed.
“What’s stopping you then?”
“I need you.”
Three words, but his body’s reaction was visceral. A tight, squeezing sensation filled his chest. When he’d shed his old life, he swore never to let anyone else in again. More for their protection than his. Erich licked his dry lips. But like it or not, he needed Liane.
“Is that so?” he said, voice husky and raw. Unpleasant thoughts floated too close to the surface: memories of blood and shards of bone. He closed his eyes for a moment, willing them to leave.
“Pretend to court me.”
His eyes flung open. “Come again?”
“Mother keeps trying to match me with men, and I can’t afford the distractions. If she thinks I’m seriously considering you as a suitor, she’ll let me be.”
And under the guise of courting the princess, he’d have access to the palace without misleading her. If he moved quickly, then he could steal the sword before word reached Father, and he’d avert political entanglement. But he couldn’t seem too eager, or else she might grow suspicious.
“I’ll agree on one condition,” Erich said.
“I don’t know if you have leverage for such a thing.”
“Humor me.”
She crossed her arms and gestured for him to speak.
“We don’t make our courtship public. If word reaches my father…” he trailed off.
“Deal. We’ll be seen together, let the courtiers speculate, but nothing official. And while we’re at it, let’s establish some ground rules. No hugging, no kissing, and no sleeping together.” She ticked them off one by one on her fingers.
“I’ll fight the temptation.” He winked.
She sauntered over to him, swinging her hips and a sultry smile on her lips. Grabbing the front of his shirt, she pulled him close, her lips brushing against his ear.
“See that you do. I can be dangerous when I’m crossed.” She patted his chin before letting him go.
