His voice is low, but he has an accent that I didn’t expect, softening every word. Does everyone from Incendar speak like this? My lungs are screaming, so I let out my breath slowly to keep from making a sound. I wonder who’s making the power play, whether they’re talking about my father or my brother—or maybe they just mean Drewson.
The other soldier is an inch taller, but not quite as broad through the shoulders. His hair is pitch-black, and long enough to be pinned in an unruly knot at the back of his head. “Well, we didn’thaveto wait for the others.”
The first man snorts, then turns to look at him. He breaks off sharply as he spots me instead.
I bite my lip and quickly busy myself with arranging flowers that don’t need any arranging.
“We have an eavesdropper,” he says. His accent softens hisr’s and lengthens his vowels in a way that’s almost...tender. For soldiers who are known to burn armies to the ground and cut up what’s left, I can’t believe one of them can sound like that.
To prove him wrong, I completely ignore him, fluffing leaves, tilting stems this way and that.
I expect them to fall silent and stand at attention now that they’re aware I’m here, the way soldiers from Astranza would, but this one turns fully to face me.
“Or perhaps a spy,” he adds.
I don’t dare look up. I can’t tell if there’s a hint of warning or intrigue in his voice, but either way, my cheeks are growing warm. “Surely you can see that everyone is working. I just happen to be working near you.”
“Ah. Coincidentally, I’m sure.”
That gets my attention, and my hands go still. I look up at him. “Are you accusing me of lying?”
I’m being too bold for a servant, and his eyebrows go up. He’s taller than I thought, and he seems to be more heavily armed than necessary. Something about him is making my heart pound, and I can’t decide if it’s his closeness, his weapons, or the fact that I’m definitely not supposed to be here, and he’s very likely not supposed to be talking to his king’s future bride.
“No.” His voice drops, his accent curling around every word. “I’m accusing you of spying.”
I fix my eyes on the flowers and set my jaw. “I’m not going to be questioned about my integrity by an Incendrian soldier.”
He takes a step closer to me. “You think Incendrian soldiers lack integrity?” he says, and there’s a note in his voice that’s simultaneously dangerous and amused.
“I know of your reputation,” I say, though my heart is pounding now.
“Truly,” he says in surprise. “Tell me about myreputation.”
That flicker of challenge flares in the air between us, tugging at my heart, drawing at me in a way that’s new and untested. I should turn away and find another task, the way arealservant would, but I can’t walk away from this now. “I know you’re ruthless and cruel,” I say, and my cheeks grow warmer. “I’ve heard about your brutality on the battlefield.”
He regards me evenly. “Is our brutality not the exact reason your king seeks an alliance?”
My heart gives a little skip. The words are chilling—because itiswhy.
“Perhaps,” I say. “But apparently your cruelty is not confined to the battlefield.” My hands fidget with the blossoms, and a few petals fall. I lock my eyes on the arrangement in front of me, tugging at stems haphazardly. “Your king torments his own people, does he not?”
His fingers catch my wrist, making me break off in a gasp. It forces me to look up at him.
I’m somewhat shocked at the audacity, even for a soldier with a maid. But despite the sudden motion, his grip is gentle and his fingers are warm. This is nothing like the way Dane grabbed me last night, and it steals my ability to speak for a moment. So do his eyes, which are brown with flecks of gold.Kindeyes, I realize as I stare up at him, because his gaze isn’t flickering with anger, but instead something like regret.
He nods at the flower arrangement. “Thorns,” he says.
I follow his gaze, spotting the roses in the midst of the arrangement.Oh.
But then he leans closer. His hand is so warm against my skin. “Go on,” he says softly. “Tell me more about Incendar’s wicked king.”
I flush, flustered, and I realize he’s been holding on to my wrist for a good long while—and he has no right to touch me this way. I square my shoulders and twist free of his grip, then smack his hand away,hard.
His eyes flare wide. The dark-haired soldier beside him lets out a breath.
And then I discover everyone in the atrium is staring at us—including my brother, who’s just come down the stairs.
The soldier’s back is to him, but clearly a skirmish between an Incendrian soldier and a member of the palace staff is enough to earn my brother’s focus. Dane’s eyes light on my face, and all of a sudden, he looks like he’s swallowed his tongue. If it were any other moment, I might enjoy this.
