Raum laughed and nudged the king’s arm. “More like she’s avoiding Jonas.”
Cold damp coated my palms with a flush of embarrassment. No, no, gods, no.
My affinity often presented when I was discomposed, like it wanted to tear me away into the mists to hide me. To show it here, in front of the king, might be seen as a threat.
I clutched my skirt, willing the frigid magic to fade. “I apologize for being so absent.”
The king took another step toward me, glancing at my palms. Did he see the darkness? Was he threatened?
When he lifted his chin again, his expression was softer. “You’ve my thanks for your quick thinking. Saved my family.”
I froze. “Of course, sire”
“Has he mistreated you?”
“Pardon?”
“My son. Has he mistreated you?”
“No, Highness.”
The king grimaced for a breath, then took a step away. “Good.”
Without another word, he continued down the path, toward the main township.
“Isak.” The redhead paused by my side, a hand to his chest. “Good t-t-to finally meet you.” His stammer was heavy, but he spoke with confidence and gestured at the other man. “Fiske. My husband.”
Fiske nodded a greeting.
I thought I might’ve smiled, but in truth I still reeled from the strange interaction with the alver king.
Once Fiske and Isak followed the king, Raum leaned in, a playful glint in his pale eyes. “Steady on, Princess. I think your fears are showing.”
With a wink, he followed the others.
Frigg snickered and threaded her arm through mine again. “Breathe. You survived a Kase stare.”
“I thought he was looking straight through me.”
“Oh, in a way, he was. Don’t worry, you’ve won over the king.”
I pressed my palms to my cheeks, hoping to cool the flush in my skin. “That was me winning him over?”
“No, that was done when you snatched poison out of their hands. Right then, he was proving it. He gave you a look of concern, inquired on your happiness with Jonas. All signs Kase cares. The way he looked at you though, something in your fears must’ve spoken to him.”
“My fears?” Thoughts spun wildly. What fears was I holding? Fear of the king, of alvers, of my own affinity. My heart dropped. I’d thought of the prince and the way I feared drawing close to him. “He can truly read them?”
“Feels them, tastes them, I don’t really know. He can use our fears against us, or in your case, likely read your heart a bit. We keep our true fears in our hearts, after all.”
Good hells.
“Come on. Don’t worry so much about folk despising you here. We don’t.” Frigg tugged on my arm, urging me toward the back courtyard of the palace.
Voices from the bustle inside the palace walls filtered down the path. The day was surprising. A day where no one cast me wary glances, where I laughed with another woman almost like we might be friends, and through it all I forgot to be on my guard.
I forgot to hide away and keep the distance I demanded of my prince.
“You ever going to talk to Jonas again?”
