“It is.” One corner of my mouth curved. “Perhaps different will be interesting.”
Unflappable most days, Dorsan’s grimace deepened. “It does not seem altogether . . .tidy.”
Inner roads on Natthaven were made from polished stones and homes were pleasantly whimsical. Forests were lush with meadows of silken blossoms and the Night Market was rife in sweets and sugared scents, not this new air of brine and smoke.
Alver lands seemed to keep a chaotic sort of order. Dark and mysterious, the kingdom did not gleam with pleasant greetings. No. Alver lands came with jagged edges and sharp teeth.
Laughter and taunts rolled over the dock. I drew in a sharp breath when the silver eyed guard shoved the king—the damn king—in the shoulder, mocking like he might toss Jonas’s father into the water.
In Natthaven, such a thing would be cause for the rack.
Here, the king merely muttered something that had the silver-eyed man laughing, the sort where his head fell back with utter glee.
“How was the journey for you, Princess?”
A familiar face approached. Not the prince, but his brother. The one who nearly met the gods by my blade.
I froze.
The second prince smirked. “Ah. I get it. I’m all healed up, swear it. I’m not going to toss you into the sea.”
“Sander is annoyingly logical.” A deep, throaty whisper blew against my ear. Jonas drew his face alongside my cheek. One tilt to my head andmy lips might brush his. “My brother let bygones be bygones the next morning, Fire.”
Fire. I forced a scowl at the ridiculous name, hoping he would not catch the flush in my cheeks.
“It was pleasant enough,” was the only answer I could give.
“Good. Welcome to the royal city of Klockglas. Thoughts?” The gleam in Jonas’s eyes was filled with true pride as he took in his homeland.
Until he looked at me. Buried beneath his arrogance and delight was something uncertain. As though he might truly care for my approval. Like he wanted me to see a home as much as him.
To buoy up my new husband wasn’t an expectation. I could tell him his lands were strange and uninviting, but a cinch tightened in my chest, cracking the shield against this land, this man.
“It’s beautifully mysterious.”
Jonas’s grin widened. “You can’t see from here, but there are groves and forests and old ruins not more than a few lengths away. Then other trade markets in other townships, of course. Oh, and the hunt arena hosts a days’ long festival at the end of the frosts. I think you’d find it exciting.”
I took a step closer to his side. “Perhaps someone could show me about.”
“I will.” Jonas readjusted the pack on his shoulder, holding out a hand for me to take. “There are better ways to move about Klockglas, you see. I’d hate for you to be shown wrong.”
For a heartbeat, I hesitated, then slipped my palm into his. Unbidden, my top teeth dug into my bottom lip.
His delight was contagious. The prince did not see the crooked stoops or the unsteady structures. He merely saw home.
My new home.
Chapter 13
The Mist Thief
We steppedoff the dock onto the damp cobbles of a wide road. A slender hand shot out and took hold of the prince’s arm before I even realized a woman was there.
“Well, this must be her.”
Jonas’s expression turned smug. “Why so sour, Friggy? Miss us?”
The woman was dressed in a pale tunic and oversized trousers, kept a sliver of wood between her teeth and tilted her head to reveal her eyes hidden beneath the brim of a straw hat.
