This is going to be a problem.
I could still feel him, the ghost of his lips and hands and body pushed against mine. Fates, I had to pull it together. Take a cold bath. Throw something through a wall.Anything.
There were three things that were abundantly clear. Non-negotiable.
I had to marry Galen and break this curse.
I had to go back to the Veridian Empire. Back to my home, my people, my throne.
And I had to stay away from Thorne Reaux.
So I would bury it. Whatever this fleeting pull to him was. Shove it down so deep, it had no air to breathe. Forget the way his voice soothed and his touch heated, forget the thrill of our banter, the light in his eyes when he looked at his daughter. All of it.
I would not let Thorne Reaux steal a single piece of my heart. Not when it could never fully be his.
To my not-so-surprise,Lord and Lady Penworth were nowhere to be found that morning as the rest of us loaded into carriages to begin our exploration through the South Territory. Taryn had been appointed our guide, which I was more than happy with. She,Rose, Leo, Mother and I squeezed into one carriage, while Galen, Thorne, his mother Azura, and Marigold rode in another.
Marigold had raced across the grounds when she saw me, throwing her hands around my waist and giving me that adorable, gap-toothed grin. Her father had made the last-minute decision to let her come, and she was so excited to join us on a tour through the jewel mines that she was practically vibrating.
The rocky landscape of the territory passed by the window as we traveled west. Jagged mountains rose in the distance, the sunlight making the deep red and turquoise of the rocks shine even brighter against the gray stone. I’d never seen rocks with colors like that. They blended together in beautiful waves, the peaks of the mountains looming nearer as we ventured farther into the heart of the mining district.
Taryn told us how the South Territory was known for its plethora of caves, with various precious stones and metals that the entire kingdom used. The workers here mined jewels for decorations and jewelry, but also copper, iron, and other metals to make weapons and tools.
Dozens of small communities cropped up as we got closer to the first mine. Wooden homes with slate roofs layered up and down the hills and dips in the terrain, with small paddocks for animals and many wagons full of supplies. The homes were spaced far enough apart that each had plenty of land, even leaving room for a stream to wind its way through the neighborhood. Our carriage rolled onto a paved path, and I could see the reflection of the peaks in the clear water as we came upon the side of a mountain.
Groups of men and women in hard hats and overalls with pickaxes and chisels hanging from utility belts meandered around us, getting ready for their day in the caves. Devora had prepared me for what to wear, and I was thankful for her guidance as I glanced down at my thick boots, black pants, and dark blue vest over a tight-fitted shirt. The black pants bulged slightly at thebottom where bandages still covered my burns, but walking was no longer as painful as it had been the past couple days.
“This is Kol,” Taryn said once we’d all gathered around her and a tall man in a helmet. She stretched to prop her elbow on his shoulder and patted the top of his head. “He’ll be showing us around the Devil’s Mine today.”
“That name bodes well for us,” Rose muttered in my ear.
“It’s an honor to have you join us, Your Majesty,” Kol said to Galen, bowing low to the ground. “My crew and I have worked hard in these caves, and it’s one of the highest-producing jewel mines in the territory.”
“We’re excited to see it. Thank you for having us. And may I introduce to you Empress Clarissa Aris?” Galen nodded toward me, and I dipped my head, smiling at Kol and the workers waiting behind him. Some of them sneered when they caught my eye, while others lowered their gaze.
“Your Majesty,” Kol said as he bowed once again. “Pleasure to meet you. I have a cousin in the Mid Territory who met you early in the week. She told me how you saved their farm. Our family is in your debt.” He lowered his voice and added, “Even if not everyone here feels the same.”
“I’m happy to help,” I said, ignoring the last part.
He led us under a large stone archway and deeper into the opening of a vast tunnel, easily the size of a house. Lanterns hung every few feet to illuminate what the natural sunlight couldn’t reach. Shelves were affixed to the wall, storing all kinds of shovels, helmets, vests, and belts for the workers. People stopped and stared at us as we passed, many bowing or uttering a greeting to Galen but glaring at me. Their faces became hesitant when they spotted several members of the King’s Guard flanking us on all sides. Increased, as Thorne had promised.
He hovered nearby, blocking out the onlookers. It seemed he was as attuned to the scathing looks and uncomfortable interactions as I was and, ever since the incident at the bonfire, wanted to shield me from them in any way he could.He had this way of being protective while not overbearing, attentive to my emotions while not trying to control them.
I found that wildly attractive.
Which was why I ignored him the entire time.
Kol instructed a few of us to grab some of the hanging lanterns, then went through safety tips and gave a generic background on the Devil’s Mine. It was one of the more recently discovered mines and had been in operation for about forty years. They had drilled deeper and deeper into the side of the mountain and uncovered several caves rich with precious jewels that were in high demand in the wealthier areas of the four territories. He proudly stated how many of the jewels from this very mine made their way back to the Mysthelm palace and had a place in the Grimaldi treasury.
I listened and observed the workers as we traveled down the wide tunnels, catching glimpses of jewels as they used chisels and pickaxes to carefully carve them out of the stone. Soon, Kol’s words became drowned out by the echo of metal on rock. Clangs and vibrations filled the caves until we reached a set of rough steps.
“Down here is one of the newer sections,” Kol shouted over the noise. “There aren’t as many people assigned there, so it’ll be quieter.”
We made our way down the steps, the air growing colder and staler the farther we went. A little hand snaked its way into mine, and I looked down to find Marigold perched at my side. She stopped moving and bit her lip with a frown on her face.
“I don’t like the dark,” she whispered up at me.
I glanced around at the others as they kept filing through and pulled Marigold to the side. Thorne shot me a look, but I quickly shook my head and gestured for him to keep going. Once everyone moved on, I knelt to face her, keenly aware of Thorne lingering not far out of sight.
