“You enjoyyours!”I cried, spinning back.
“Oh, Iwill!”he dared. “I shall enjoy it very much without you!”
“Good!” I said. Suddenly, I wasveryaware of how mad I was; I wasveryaware of how close topukingI was. “You knowwhat?” I shook my head. “I hope you don’t enjoy it! I hope itrains,and whatever plans you had this afternoon are ruined!”
“Rain would ruinyourplans, too,Princess.”He rolled his eyes. “And Sameer’s!”
“Not if it only rains overyou!”I jabbed my finger in his face.
“Only over—That’s ridiculous!You’reridiculous! I won’t be the one walking outside in everlasting joy, probably holding hands!”
“Everlasting joy? Holding hands? Are you serious? What’sridiculousis thinking you would behappyto see me this morning!”
He tilted to one side, replaying the words and adjusting the strap against his arm. Eyes narrow and cooling, tempering with a step, he said, “Happy?”
“Yes,” I said, then shifted to control the rise and fall of my façade, dropping my eyes toward something else. “I’ve since come to my senses, sir. Don’t you fret.”
Sam called my name from outside the barn, and I took a ragged,embarrassingbreath. I went to go, but Cyrus caught my sleeve, stopping me.
“You came to see Sameer,” he said.
“Sameer?”I scoffed.
“Svana?”We heard again. “Where did you wander off to? Are we playing Hide and Seek?”
“I’m in here,” I called back.
My Sword took on a peculiar look, lowering his voice. “You told him youmissedhim.”
“I was speaking to you,” I said.
“By way of the Prince?”he asked.
“Yes, by way of the Prince. How else? You think I could say ‘Oh, how I miss you, my dear Mr. Evergreen,’ right in front of him? I wasspeaking to you through him!” I said. “But that’s fine, it’s fine! I’ve actually just spent all night devising ways to seeyou, apparently, tohumiliatemyself, but it’s fine. So thank you, sir, for bringing me to my senses before my distress was made too public.”
“Ah ha!” Sam chuckled as he poked his head into our room and pointed to the Blade. “Oh, pray. Leave the poor man alone. He said he was busy, Princess,” he said.
“Sam,” Cyrus said. He swallowed. “Hey.”
“I’m sorry she must haunt you like this, friend,” Sam said. “She means well. Svana likes to include us all in her plans, I find.”
“Svana isn’t a bother,” he replied. He met my eyes intently. “I’m sorry,” he said suddenly. “Her Highnessis not a bother.”
I straightened.
Sam placed his hand on Evergreen’s shoulder. A sly rise to the corner of his mouth came next. “Do I detect a bit of warming to Her Highness?” he asked.
“No, I’m certain he still hates me,” I hurried.
Sam laughed. “Right,” he said. “I don’t know. I know my friend, that’s for sure.” He proudly beamed between us. “I think you might be on your way to friendly,” he said.
“I do?—”
Mr. Evergreen exhaled, but nodded. “Maybe.”
Sam flashed his teeth. “Most excellent!” He smiled for me. “Is that not most excellent news, my love?”
“I’m not sure I’d say we’re friends, Sam,” Cyrus said. He smirked. “But we are… something, I suppose.”
