I gasped.
“Thisis what kept me dreaming," he whispered. “Knowing your warmth, your taste.”
Pleasure broke over me like a crash of thunder against the sky, just as he finished the thought.
“Thatright there. That face. That’s what I came back for.”
Chapter 28
Hours later, I was still fastened to my swordsman’s side when he roused me from sleep. He brushed a curl from my face.
“It’ll be morning soon, Princess,”he whispered.
“I don’t care,” I told him. “Let them find us. Let them see.”
“If only that was an option,” he said.
“It could be.” I found his bemused expression with mine. “It could.”
“How? You marry Sam in a month,” he said. “I think he’d take it badly.”
“No, I mean…” I sat up, tucking my legs beneath me, sitting higher. “Come home with me,” I asked or said. “Come back to Oreia when I return. With me.”
“Your father would never allow that. Not ever.”
“My father would not allow what?” I asked.
“Me.”
“I didn’t recognize, how would he?” I asked.
“It doesn’t matter if he knew who I was. He would not just overlook the company of a man, not your husband. He’d be livid."
I laughed. “Marriage never meant more than the words it took to him, why should it matter now because it’s mine?”
“Love.”
“You could come back as my Sword—my knight.”
“Your knight?” He paused. “And how would I managethatfabrication, yeah?”
“It wouldn’t be a fabrication. I would knight you,” I said.
“What?”He paused. Then shook his head. “No.”
“Yes! It’s brilliant. It’s perfect really. I’ll knight you. You’ll return to Oreia as Ser Cyrus Evergreen,” I declared. I slid from the bed and picked up his sword, struggling with its clip.
“You can’t just knight me, Svana,” he tried.
“The Hell I can’t,” I said. The sword came free from its sheath. “I am fully capable. Knighting does not haveto come from the King. It’s been done. Not by me, of course, but I do know of lords who have done it in their lands for their swords. My father grants this permission, so long as the man is truly deserving,” I said. I pointed the tip at him, but he brushed it to the side.
“I don’t deserve the honor,” he said. “While I appreciate your creativity, I’ve done nothing to deserve such a thing. Knighting me would defy everyone else who does deserve it. I can’t do that. It’s unoreian.”
“Un-Oreian? You cannot be serious?” I said. “Will,no onewill question your merit.”
“I think I couldphysicallydo the job, yes, but?—”
“I’m not speaking to physicality. Of course you could do the job. Look at you.” I gestured to his torso. “I’m— Willem, you’ve saved my life.Twice.”
