“Will you tell me what’s wrong?” My voice drops to a whisper. “What’s changed?”
“Maybe I’ve come to my senses, Condesa.”
I make my way toward him, the water rippling against my moonlight-touched skin.
He eyes me warily, as if I were a predator. “Chaska told me about the king.”
That stops me. “What about him?”
I’m only a foot away from him. We stare at each other for a long moment. He’s breathing hard. From annoyance, nerves, I can’t tell.
“His name is Sonco,” he says flatly. “He’s looking for a wife.”
Is that all? I shrug. “So he’s looking for a wife. Why does that upset you?”
“Chaska told me how much they value seers here. She implied that you might have a lucrative future in the city.” He swallows hard. “You could be his wife—”
“Now, that’s ridiculous.”
“Is it?” he counters. “Take a moment and consider it.”
Everything in me resists, but the idea takes root unwillingly. The tribe thrives within the jungle, guarding untold riches. They clearly have an army—one I need desperately. I am a condesa without a throne, and here’s one available. I’ve been hoping for their help to march against the Llacsan queen. I just never imagined I could do it newly crowned myself.
It’s enough to push me to the other side of the pool. Manuel watches my retreat, half approving, half sad. “I knew you’d see the benefits.”
But even as I stand as far away from him as I can, I still want him. “I need to think.”
“What is there to think about?”
I throw up my hands, splashing water. “I don’t know. My feelings for you, maybe?”
“You’ll move past them.”
“Kindly refrain from telling me about my own sentiments,” I say stiffly. “Manuel, there might still be a way for me to acquire an army without my having to marry him.”
He inclines his head. “Maybe. This one is the easiest.”
But he doesn’t sound convinced, and even I have to agree that marrying Sonco would be a neat and tidy solution to all of my problems—all of my problems, save one. Manuel folds his arms across his chest. I hate how far he’s drawn away from me. I think about everything we’ve gone through, how he’s pushed me to my limits, encouraged and supported me.
I don’t want to give him up just yet. I glide forward, my toes skipping against the soft sand. Manuel stares at me in alarm. “What are you doing?”
“You know what.”
He shakes his head. “I’mwrongfor you. You know I am, and that’s why you’re pushing this to happen when it can’t. Not ever.”
I step forward and he sucks in a deep breath. His gaze drops to where the water laps against my neck. Drops lower to the swell of my breasts.
There might not be another time. I’ve been dreaming of a future that may never come to pass: ruling a kingdom, reconciling with my people, honoring my parents’ memory. And here’s Manuel, dependable, strong Manuel, who feels the same way I do. Here’s a future that still might happen.
“I know what I’m doing,” I whisper.
He leans closer, his expression tortured, and runs a light finger down my cheek. “You’d be making a mistake with me. You’re—” He breaks off and half turns toward the steps.
I don’t hear anything. “What is it?”
“Shhh.” He pushes away from me. “They’re returning.”
“No one is coming. You just want the conversation to end.”
