“Oh, please, get me started.” Mira reeled on us, a frown curving her full lips. “He’s a bleeding child, going on and on about how put out he is being required to escort me.”
“I can’t imagine Heartwalker as a man who laments outwardly, Mir.” Sander said, greeting the sea fae.
“He complains in thought. I can see it in his eyes.”
When Jonas stepped aside to speak with Aleksi and Tait about the journey, Mira took hold of my hand, pulling me into an alcove.
“Let’s speak. You’ll need to forgive my murmurings about my reluctant escort,” she said, tossing a lock of hair from her eyes. “Erik finds it humorous to put his cousin as my escort since Tait Hearttalker is the only soul in all the realms who does not like me.”
“Could it be that you have not learned his name?” I leaned against the wall. “Isn’t it Heartwalker?”
“I know hisgivenname, I simply like the one I’ve bestowed him with much more.” Mira flourished one hand. “There are always reasons for my actions, but I never give up my secrets.”
“Understood.”
A demure smirk played with Mira’s painted lips. “So, tell me. Are you truly happy? There wasn’t really a worry the alvers wouldn’t draw you in, it’s what they do.” Mira paused. “But I’m curious about your thoughts.”
I hugged my middle. “Do you ask for me, or for Jonas?”
The princess glanced to a small, round table pressed against the back of the nook. She lifted a crooked wooden horse Jonas told me he’d whittled for his mother when he was seven turns.
She tapped the misaligned hooves. “Both. I never bothered worrying that Jonas would be a cruel husband, he wouldn’t be capable of it, buthe does guard his heart. And, perhaps I am wrong, you learned to do much the same.”
Apprehension burdened the bright shades of her amber eyes, as though Mira anticipated the worst, as though she were bracing for the pain that would strike her own heart.
Before the vows, I found the closeness between the heirs of the fae realms rather odd. It was true, Arion often spent part of the warm months in Natthaven, and I visited Grynstad with my grandfather during the frosts, but his missive painted our youth as more friendly than it was.
Talk rarely drifted away from chatter of the kingdoms. I could not recall a time when Arion willingly asked me my thoughts. The only reason he knew I had a distaste for young houses was because I merely said so when we passed one on Grynstad.
If memory served me, the Ljosalfar prince mocked my naivety on such things.
I held Mira’s stare. “The notion of not being vowed with Jonas Eriksson has become my nightmare. I know how to guard my heart, but not around him. I love him, Princess.”
A grin split over her lips, wide and bright. With care she returned the horse, then wrapped me in a throttling embrace. “I knew it. By the hells, thetensionin both your eyes during the vows was stunning. Ask Livia, I said it was a matter of time before Jonas was utterly lost to you.”
“I assure you, it was as much of a surprise to me.”
Mira took hold of my hand. “When he loves, it is unconditionally. I’ve always hoped he would find someone who did the same for him; I am glad he has you.”
A separate door opened on the other side of the corridor. The king and queen entered to Mira’s shrieks of delight.
“Pardon me.” The princess shot a glare toward Tait Heartwalker. “I have others who’ve missed me, and I them.”
“I am not keeping you,” he muttered in reply.
I rejoined the others, watching her go, as Jonas leaned into Tait. “What brings you here, really?”
The man took out a tin of paper smokes and rolled one in his fingers. “Nightseer delivered your note. The queen was going to write until the princess received a missive from her folk during her visit, stating the elven have grown hostile. We met Prince Aleksi on the way and he reported the same. If it is nothing, I’m to ferry the damn princess home because my bleeding cousin finds it entertaining.”
I swallowed to keep a laugh inside. Irritation laced each word, but I wasn’t certain he was irritated by the fae princess, more by his own reactions for when she was near.
Jonas clapped Tait’s shoulder. “There are tensions, but we have them in our sights. We are watching our backs.”
The sea fae lit the end of his smoke and drew in a long pull. “Is it anything the Ever should be aware of, Prince?”
“Not yet.” Jonas watched Mira embrace his mother, the Kryv, Frigg, then squeeze the king until a smile cracked over his face. “But I wanted everyone to be ready in the event it is.”
“You know how the Ever King and Queen feel about you.”
