When I realize that I’m just staring, my cheeks flush again. But I don’t want to look away.
He doesn’t either, because his eyes hold mine the whole time.
When the sword is on the dresser as well, he stops. “Armor, too?”he says, and his accent curls around the words in a way that should be criminal.
“Ah, no.” I have to clear my throat again. “Thank you, Your Majesty. That will...suffice.”
He must take that as some kind of invitation, because he closes the distance between us, and without warning, he sits right down beside me. Out of all the plush furniture in my chambers, the king of Incendar is sitting on one of the tiny velvet stools of my dressing table.
“I do have other chairs,” I say.
He glances at the hairpin. “I thought you might want your weapon within reach.”
I can’t tell if he’s being funny or serious. A little of both, I think. It’s cold enough that I can’t catch much of his scent, just a hint of leather oil from his armor, and maybe something a little deeper, a little masculine. The slight beard growth on his chin is gold in the morning sunlight, and his eyes are shadowed.
I think of how early he appeared in the atrium with his captain. They must have ridden all night. My brother would have slept in a carriage, but I doubt this man did.
“Before we begin,” he says, and his voice is a bit quieter, “I should ask for your forgiveness. I did not intend to give the impression of force. If you do not wish to speak with me, I will leave.”
That’s unexpected—and generous. But I think of what he said when he was speaking through the door, to say nothing of Dane’s threats that I need tofix this. “You’ll leave Astranza?”
He winces. “No. But I will leave you in peace until we are to meet officially—if that is what you prefer.”
He sounds so sincere. I’m a little breathless now that he’s right in front of me. “I’ll talk to you.” I set my shoulders. “I would have talked to you without the threat of unraveling the alliance.”
“Good. Because I would like to begin anew. With truth between us, Princess. I have made no secret of how badly Incendar needs King Theodore’s weather magic. Your people are well-fed, and mine are...struggling. I long to help them. Draegonis is making advances againstAstranza’s armies, and I believe I can lead my forces to stop them. This alliance will help us both.”
I nod, but my heart catches, thinking of what I know of my father and his illness.
I would like to begin anew. With truth between us.
Is he only talking about what happened this morning? Or does he suspect the truth about my father? Did his men hear something? Have the servants been gossiping?
Maddox Kyronan picks up the hairpin I was hiding between my fingers. “I’d like to ask you a question,” he says, and his voice is grave. “If your answer is a lie, it’s possible you’ll fool me—for a time. But it will set a course of distrust that can’t be undone.” He pauses. “I don’t want to begin that way.”
He says this so earnestly, and I can see in his eyes that he means every word.
“I don’t want to begin that way, either,” I say quietly, and the words hurt to say. Because I’m bracing myself. If he knows about Father, I’ll have to lie. I have no choice.
“Very well. Why did you dress as a maid this morning?”
I jerk back a little, because it’s not at all what I expected—it’sworse. It’s humiliating. I’m a grown woman. A princess who’s supposed to be his future queen. In the moment, sneaking into the atrium felt brave and maybe a little reckless, but just now, it feels silly and childish.
I have to look away. I want to snatch the hairpin out of his fingers and stabmyselfwith it.
When I say nothing for a full minute, the king says, “So thisishow we’re to begin?”
“I’m notlying,” I say, my eyes on the edge of my dressing table. “I don’t like the answer.”
He considers this. “When you did not participate in any of our negotiations, I thought perhaps it was an indication of disdain for Incendar. Of unwillingness to proceed.”
“What?” I snap my head up. “No.”
He smiles, but again, there’s no real humor to it. He spins the pin across his knuckles. “It’s clear you don’t trust me.”
“That’snotwhy I didn’t attend the negotiations,” I say hotly.
“Then why?”
