“If it pleases you, Miss?” she asked. Her eyes were begging.
“Naturally, Josie,” I lied though I was suddenly terrified for her future. “You don’t need my permission.”
“Thank you, Your Highness,” she said.
“Have fun,” I told her. “I’ll be right here with Mr. Evergreen should you need me.”
Willoughby bowed. “We’ll see you soon.”
“Yes,” I said.
They departed, out of sight and out of mind, yet I spent a whole minute dwelling within my nerves.
Evergreen was quiet. He looked to see that they were gone before he spoke.
“Where shall we settle in, my love?” he asked.
“Willoughby told me he likes to hurt people,” I declared.
“What?”he asked.
I turned. “I asked him about his Rusted Blades. I asked him because you said it. Why would you give me such a thread to pull? He said he likes to hurt bad people. Heaskedmy father to enlist.”
He opened his mouth, then didn’t. He said, “Ah, that.”
“Should I find her?” I worried. “Miss Jocelyn?”
Cyrus laughed. He shook his head. “That’s not what he does. Or did.”
“Hesaidhe likes to hurt.”
“Bad folk,” he said. “Right? Josie isn’t bad.”
I looked to where they’d left. “Then she’s safe?”
“Likely safer with him than anyone else in all the kingdom,” he said.
“Really?” I asked.
“Aye. Rusted Blades aren’t villains. They’re a necessity, Swan. Your cousin is part of the reason you won the War.”
“He is?”
“Not just him,” he said. “But the Blades. It’s deeper than what I’m sure he told you. It’s not about hurting; it’s about justice. That’s why I don’t fear him, and why Jocelyn is safe.”
I eased, only to realize that I was still mad at him. Mad that for so much of the time we had been apart, I’d been trapped in a constant loop of our connection, of our kiss. Yet, in his proximity, I couldn’t find the words to address it, and though a second sooner I had wanted to yell at himandI had wanted to kiss him, the moment I had found the strength to do it, there was nothing left but static. He was so gorgeous.
“I’ll get the blanket,” he said.
I nodded but in the same effort, began toward the horse myself. He watched me arrive next to him and then motioned to the yard where we had spent our firstpicnic.
“Here,” he said, handing me the basket. I took it.
Cyrus assembled our mat as we arrived.
I watched him unpack some things, and said, “If you’ve brought wine today, I think I should resist.” My stomach spun.
“Are you alright, Princess?” he asked.
