Lana
The door closes softly behind me as I creep into the hallway. Two soldiers in Latridian white uniforms still stand guard. If they’re the same ones from last night—my cheeks heat at the prospect, and I hurry down the hall.
I turn the nearest corner when someone grabs my wrist.
“Where do you think you’re going?” Kyte pulls me to his chest, his arms wrapping around me as he nuzzles my hair.
I laugh. “I want to try and draw some of this. I mean, I saw a lot of the palace in your memories, but nothing compares to seeing Latrides with my own eyes. It’s been so long since I’ve just sat down and drawn something.” I sigh and run my hands along his arms, then realize his warm skin is against my back.
Turning in his arms, I find he’s naked except for a thin strip of cloth around his hips.
“Where are your clothes?” I grip his biceps.
“I couldn’t let you get away.” He kisses me, his tongue soft and sweet against my own. “Don’t worry, the guards have pretty much seen all there is to see over the years around here. I was never much for covering up.” He shrugs.
“You’ve always been a bad prince, hm?”
“Definitely.” He kisses the tip of my nose. “And I’d like to do some more bad things to you, maybe rip this dress off you this time around. Come back to bed.”
“No.” I want to go with him and fall into the same bliss that consumed me last night, but I itch to create something with pencils and paper.
He sighs, and I can feel him relenting. “Fine.” Turning, he whistles a high, sharp note.
A guard appears in a blink.
“Please fetch drawing pencils, paper, and art supplies for Lana.”
The guard bows then hurries off as Kyte takes my hand and leads me down the long hall.
“You really don’t care that you’re practically naked?” I keep glancing over at him, thinking I’m about to catch a glimpse of his private bits with each of his steps.
“My only issue is that you’re still wearing clothes.” He tsks as he turns a corner and pushes through two opaque, white doors.
The sun hits me through the mist, and I take in a deep breath. “This is …”
“My mother’s garden.” He points to a bench deep in a thicket of green vines and huge blue blossoms. “She used to sit out here for hours when she wanted to think, to get away from fleet troubles and palace life. No one else was allowed to set foot in here except the gardener and me. It was her sanctuary.”
His deep current of heartache rises again, but with it are fond memories of sitting and talking with his mother.
“I’ll be fine.” He leads me to the ornate golden bench as the guard arrives with an array of canvasses, paper, pens, pencils, brushes—it’s an entire art studio.
I eye the supplies. “I’m not so great at painting.”
“Do whatever your heart tells you. Draw, paint, nap away the night’s excesses.” He kisses me again and sends a burst of heat rushing through me. “I’m going to take Jeren and Ceredes for a trip to my favorite cliff and challenge them to a diving competition.”
“I can’t swim, remember?” Jeren’s thought floats past.
“You can dive. The swimming part is just extra, really.” Kyte grins.
“We shouldn’t leave Lana,” Ceredes grumbles.
“If Latrides isn’t safe, then nowhere is. You three go have weird competitive Alpha fun.” I mentally wave them away. “I don’t need you interrupting me with sexy-times thoughts.”
“What if it’s not thoughts and just straight up sexy-times?” Jeren offers.
“Go.” I send the word hurtling back at him, and I can feel his laughter.
Kyte stands and nods. “When you’re finished, come back to bed. We’ll be waiting.”
