Aleissande’s brows rose as she leaned against the far wall. “I was teasing, Princess.”
Princess.
A single word, and something sparked in Josie’s blood. Suddenly, she was all too aware of just how much space was between them, like white space on a canvas, just waiting to be filled.
Weeks ago, an utterance of that word from Aleissande would have sparked a much different sort of heat in her. The change was dizzying.
Or maybe, I simply did not recognize this spark for what it was.
“Why did you loathe me so vehemently?” Josie nearly startled at the question that came out of her own mouth.Aleissande cocked her head, the sun streaming in from the sea-facing window glinting off of her usual sharp bun.
“That’s what you think?” she asked softly. “That I loathed you?”
Josie lifted a shoulder. “You were harder on me than any of the others.”
Aleissande mulled over that for a moment before she carefully said, “One might think that speaks to the potential I see in you.”
“Yes, all of that weaponry polishing surely spoke volumes of your faith in me,” Josie deadpanned as she dropped into one of the stiff wooden chairs at the table. She toyed with the corner of a map sprawled out on its surface.
“I admit I might have also found you…frustrating,” Aleissande conceded. “At first, I opposed the idea of the princess joining the force. You used your brother’s influence, and I thought, perhaps, you did not belong there.”
Josie bristled at the insinuation, but Aleissande continued before she could argue. “A week of training proved me wrong.”
“And yet you were still keen on making me miserable,” Josie pressed. She wasn’t sure why she suddenly needed to know. She hadn’t quite cared before. Perhaps it was because she was finally able to recognize that stirring in her stomach whenever Aleissande was near.
“Why? I’ve never done anything to you.”
“You existed, Josie,” Aleissande sighed. “That was enough.”
Josie’s head reared back, something twisting in her chest, but Aleissande stepped closer, her face softening as she continued.
“You are the king’s sister. I am the king’s Second. He trusts me to lead his armies and protect his kingdom; he trusts me to protectyou. That is much easier to do if I am not distracted by…”
Aleissande trailed off, her gaze dragging down Josie’s figure. Josie felt every bit of her stare, her skin heating as if it were Aleissande’s fingers trailing across her.
She swallowed hard, but it did not clear the husk in her voice as she said, “I do not need protection.”
“Everyone needs protection,” Aleissande refuted. “Without it, we’re alone. I think you and I would agree that is a far worse fate. Besides, it’s a natural inclination to want to protect those we…care about.”
Josie pushed herself up, frowning as she took in the dusting of pink across Aleissande’s golden cheeks. “So you hated me because I was a distraction from your duties.”
A breathy laugh escaped the general, light and exasperated and fond. “Are you being willfully obtuse or have I truly lost my talents in wooing?”
“Is that what you think you’ve been doing? Wooing me?” Josie laughed.
Amusement stayed fixed on Aleissande’s face, but something else flickered beneath it. Her brow furrowed in contemplation, the soft smile on her lips fading as she considered Josie.
“Or perhaps you’re simply not ready to be wooed,” she murmured, more to herself, as if she was just realizing the truth in the matter. Josie’s blood cooled at the mere suggestion, the playful energy between them vanishing into thin air.
Josie straightened, her stomach tightening in displeasure. “You think I’m still hung up on Viviane.”
The words escaped her like a bitter accusation, but Aleissande did not balk at it. Nor did she answer. Instead, she continued to watch her, as if she knew there were more words waiting on the back of her tongue.
“She betrayed my family,” Josie bit out. “She betrayedme. I want nothing to do with her.”
Aleissande’s voice was far too gentle and understanding as she said, “Hatred is not the same as indifference.”
Josie knew that. Sheknewthat. But she did not know what todowith this hatred. She did not know how to become indifferent to someone who shattered her trust and used Josie’s own love to do it.
