She met me halfway, her lips soft and yielding against mine. The kiss was gentle at first, explorative, but quickly deepened. And as Kailin wrapped her arms around my neck, I pulled her closer, my hand sliding to the small of her back.
When we broke apart, her cheeks were flushed, and her eyes were bright. "I just kissed a prince for the first time, well, technically it wasn't our first kiss, but I didn't know that you were a prince before. Shouldn't there be music playing in the background?"
"I can sing," I offered, then pressed another quick kiss to the corner of her mouth.
"I'd rather you tell me more about your life in Vedona, about your family."
I owed her that. I knew nearly all there was to know about hers while she knew next to nothing about mine.
"My father is a good man, but politics have made him cautious to a fault. He values stability above all else, which means maintaining the status quo even when change is necessary. My mother does her queenly duties with grace and dedication even though she's a private person who would have preferred a less public life."
"Are they happy together?" she asked.
I nodded. "They have a good marriage."
Kailin smiled and leaned to kiss my cheek. "I'm glad that you grew up in a happy home. The gossip section in our newspapers doesn't always portray the Elurian nobility in the best light."
I laughed. "That was a very diplomatic understatement. I appreciate the effort." The Elurian court shenanigans were legendary, and my parents were the exception.
"What about your brothers?" Kailin asked. "Were they mean to you when you were little, or did they spoil you rotten because you were the baby?"
"A little bit of both. No one took me seriously. Arlen, the eldest, is our father's son, diplomatic, measured, content to let the wheels of government turn at their own pace. Aric and Aden are twins, more interested in the social aspects of court life than governance. And Avren, fourth in line, is the military man of the family. He's finishing his last year in the Vedona elite military academy."
"Doesn't Avren see the Shedun as a serious threat?" Kailin asked. "As someone who probably studied the history of military conflicts, he should be better informed."
I shook my head. "They believe that as long as Eluria supplies Elucia with weapons, Elucians will successfully fight the Shedun, and we won't have to. They don't deem the threat imminent, which is true, but in my opinion, which is in the minority, kicking the can down the road leaves the threat for our future generations to deal with. Not doing everything possible to prepare them and the country to deal with this threat is irresponsible."
She nodded. "You are smarter than all of them. Your eyes are wide open."
It was the best compliment she could have given me. "Thank you." I leaned over and kissed her lips. "Your eyes are wide open as well, my wise Kailin."
64
KAILIN
"Classified information is a weapon. Keep it secure, or it will be turned against you."
—Commander Ravel Nidar
The afternoon wind whipped across the roof of the Citadel, carrying the crisp scent of spring and the hint of an approaching rain. I stood beside Alar, his hand warm in mine, waiting with the other cadets for the dragons to arrive.
I smiled and nodded hellos to our friends, doing my best to appear relaxed and hide the emotional whirlwind Alar had stirred in me by his shocking revelation during lunch.
My head was still spinning, trying to reconcile my humble background with the fact that I was holding hands with a prince.
I was a village girl who had grown up on a farm, and although my family had never lacked for food on the table or warm clothing for winter, we hadn't enjoyed abundance. We hadn't exactly pinched linnets, but we'd always carefully considered every expense. Alar, on the other hand, had grown up in a palace, surrounded by luxury I couldn't even imagine.
"You're very quiet," Alar said, his voice low and meant for my ears only. "Is it jitters before the flight lesson, or is it something I've said or done?"
I squeezed his hand reassuringly. "You've been perfect."
He chuckled. "You are really good at this."
I tilted my head and frowned. "Good at what?"
"Avoiding lying by focusing on something you are comfortable commenting on."
"I see it differently. By choosing the most positive aspect of the situation, I get to elevate both of us instead of bringing either one of us down." I looked up at him with just the right amount of feminine adoration in my eyes. "Don't you like hearing that you are perfect?" I batted my eyelashes for emphasis.
