My heart slammed against my ribcage, motoring away at top speeds.
I wanted him to keep me, and I raised my chin, but he turned his head a heart-wrenching angle away, before he got up and went to his room, shutting the door between us. It was a cruel punishment that the first time that I felt a real crush, it wasn’t reciprocated.
nineteen
Reeves
I was the biggest jerk for not kissing her.
I wasn’t sure if the pounding in my chest was the excitement of the attraction, the anger about my failure, or a flat-out heart attack.
Part of me wished it was a heart attack so I wouldnothave to face her again.
Or King Aswell with his army.
I didn’t want to explain to her how I couldn’t handle being in the room with her for even another five minutes.
I knew my limitations. If I kissed her, I’d pay for it for the rest of my life. And maybe it would have been worth it? Maybe that would be a highlight I could brag about when I’m eighty.
The day I kissed a princess!
But I wasn’t who she needed.
She was off-limits.
I could be wrong.
Maybe I was wrong.
Could I be wrong?
I shut my eyes and rubbed my temple, trying to tamp down the pressure. There’s no way anything would ever work between us.
We were stir crazy from being cooped up together for so long.
Yeah, that’s it.
It would be better in the morning.
I flattened out on my bed, letting my hands rest behind my head and forced my eyes to close. Just one more night and she’s gone tomorrow.
“There he is!” King Aswell unsheathed his sword, pushing the tip to my neck. “You thought you could get away with stealing my bride.” He threw his head back and laughed the cruelest of laughs. I didn’t dare move because I was pinned. He jabbed the tip of his sword into my neck.
Drip. Drip. Drip.
Frigid drops plucked down on my neck, springing me awake, and I jolted to an upright position. Panting, my thoughts popped in my head like fireworks.
It was another nightmare.
Water was falling from the ceiling.
I’m not being executed. Only drowned!
That’s the best news ever!
I grabbed my chest, my shirt soaked all the way through, but not from roof water. It was clearly hot sweat. I slipped off my shirt, but still didn’t settle. Instead, a cough tore up my burning lungs, and my eyes glued to my bedroom door. I needed water to drink, but she was out there.
She had to be sleeping.
