“Right.” Kai clears his throat.
Subtle.
“Well, better get changed for tonight’s festivities.” He salutes us before following our friends out the door.
I lock eyes with Jace.
Furi was right. Getting up close and personal in our training sessions does not aid in our quest for wholesome, G-rated friendship. So this morning was a lot of me trying to limit physical contact, which isn’t very conducive to a productive session. And I’m sure he noticed.
“I should go too.”
“Are you avoiding me?” His question stops me before I reach the hall.
I turn back, offering him a humorless smile. “I can’t really avoid you when we train together every glorious morning.”
“You barely said a word to me this morning. I don’t think it’s fair of you to punish me for going along with an idea you insisted upon.”
“I’m not punishing you. And your marriage wasn’t my idea.”
“To have it in two days was.”
I limit my voice to a hissed whisper. “I’m sorry to impose on your busy schedule, my dear King Regent. We’re only trying to prevent war from breaking out.”
“Forgive me, maybe I’m still a little bitter.”
“You?”
“Yes, witch, me.” He leans a shoulder against the pillar, every inch of him packed with lethal grace. “I never did catch your answer.”
“Answer to what?”
He glances up, muttering a cruel laugh. “Was my proposal that forgettable?”
My mouth parts. “That was…hardly a proposal.”
“What else would you call me asking you to marry me? Please enlighten me.”
“First of all, you can’t ask someone to marry you when you’re already engaged?—”
“I did, guess I’m a rule breaker.”
“And second—I was giving you an out.”
“An out?” His eyes narrow.
“Derek had just died. You were in shock, and you were saying things you didn’t really mean. I couldn’t take advantage of that.”
His face hardens. “Don’t you dare tell me I didn’t mean what I said. I knew what I was doing, and you brushed it aside.”
“I’m sorry if you felt that way. But what did you expect?”
“Like a fool, I expected you to take the offer.”
“I couldn’t run away with you. Aren’t you the one who told me we can’t escape our fate?”
“Maybe I changed my mind. Maybe you changed it.”
“You’re getting married. You’re going to be king. Talking about this is pointless.” I don’t mean for my words to sound as harsh as they do.
