We’re both silent, our footsteps crunching on the lane, underscored by his horse’s hoofbeats. Lord Alek says nothing as we walk, leaving me with my own swirling thoughts. Jax and I only wanted to save our homes. Now we’ve somehow ended up on opposite sides of a brewing rebellion.
But of course, instead of wholly focusing onthat, a tiny part of my brain is replaying the moment when Alek called melovely.
When we get to the bakery, I expect Alek to leave me at the walkway, but he tethers his horse and walks me right up to the door instead—and looks like he’s going to follow me in.
I stop on the doorstep. “You don’t have to come inside,” I say to him. “You really didn’t need to walk me home. I just wanted to make sure you two didn’t slice each other in half.”
“You were very brave,” he says.
My heart skips, but I roll my eyes. “I jumped in front of his sword. I was very stupid.”
“They often look the same. But I know the difference.”
That makes me flush. I’m not used to anyone calling mebrave. I spend so much time thinking I should have followed in my mother’sfootsteps, that remaining here in the bakery was dishonoring her memory. But Alek’s words light me with a glow that refuses to dim.
“Did you really ignore a royal summons?” I ask him.
He lifts one shoulder in half a shrug. His blue eyes haven’t left mine. “I sent a letter.”
“Why didn’t he … I don’t know … arrest you?”
“Do I give the impression I would’ve gone willingly, Callyn?”
The chill in his voice makes me shiver. My eyes skip over the weapons he wears, which are every bit as plentiful as the other man’s. “No,” I say truthfully.
“I have many allies among the Royal Houses. Not many of them are content with the queen’s alliance and marriage to a magesmith. With the queen being so ill and out of the public eye, rumors have continued to spread. The Truthbringers don’t have to sow discord when it’s obvious that something is amiss with the royal family. The king’s magic can kill hundreds of citizens crying out against magic, but he can’t protect the queen? If Jacob wants to forcibly drag me back to the Crystal Palace, he wouldn’t be doing it unscathed—and it wouldn’t be seen well politically.” His eyes narrow. “I’d make sure of that.”
I have to fight not to shiver again. “Do you feel better about him being here?”
“Yes. In truth, it no longer matters why I come to Briarlock now.”
“Wait. Why?”
“Becauseyoudeclared quite passionately my reasons for being here.”
Well,thatmakes me flush. “I didn’t—it wasn’t—” I hiss a breath of air through my teeth. “It was true. You do come here to see me.”
“Indeed. Who else would attack me with a pitchfork?”
This entire conversation is wildly terrifying and breathlessly exhilarating, like being spun through the air as a child.
“Follow me out to the barn and I’ll do it again,” I say.
A light sparks in his eye. “If I follow you out to the barn, we won’t be sparring with pitchforks.”
“Oh no?” I tease. “What will we be doing?”
Alek takes hold of my waist and presses his mouth to mine.
Whoa. I was being coy. Alek wasnot.
Based on the strength in his hands and the intensity in his mouth and the sudden fire in my belly, Alek is probablynevercoy. I keep waiting for my thoughts to catch up, but instead, I’m leaning into the warmth of his body, feeling his hand slide up my waist to graze my breast, stroke my neck, and bury his fingers in my hair. My throat keeps making helpless little sounds. He tastes like the cinnamon and sugar of my apple tarts, butbetter, like I need to add him to my recipe. I’ll never be able to eat apples again without thinking of this moment. Withoutlongingfor this moment. This can’t be simple kissing. This is—this is—
The door clicks. “Cally-cal?”
I break free of him, and it feels like I’ve been tossed into a snowbank. “Clouds above, Nora!” I cry.
She starts prattling like she didn’t just interrupt the most captivating moment of my life. “I think I did the meat pies right, but the edges are alittlemore brown than—”
