His promise triggered Miss Jocelyn’s words. Quickly, I added,“You’resafe,” back, like he’d have any idea where that had come from. Like it made sense.
“What?” He turned.
“I, I saidyou’resafe,” I repeated.
He arched a brow, then scanned the chapel. “I know…?”
“No, I, I meant… with me.”
“...What?”
“I… I’m going to ask you a question and I want you to be honest with me, Mr. Evergreen, which you can do so because you are safe with me,” I said. “Do you understand?”
He nodded. “The words? Sure. Their meaning…?”
“…Why did you lie to me?”I asked. “Are we not friends? You don’t trust me?”
His expression furrowed. “Svana... I-?”
“You’re a soldier,” I explained. “And apparently a good one according to my knight.”
He was silent.
“It makes sense with your position here, but, I… Mr. Evergreen, you said you remained at the Capitol.”
I could almost see his mind reeling at the question—devising a way to avoid it.
“I’m not angry,” I added, quickly. “I’m not angry. As I said, you’re safe with me, sir.”
“I’m not sure why you keep saying that,” he said. “I know we’re safe. I have my sword.”
“No, I… I… emotionally, sir.”
“Emotionally?” he asked.
“Yes. You lied to me but I’ve had time to considerwhythat might be.So. Whatever your reason, I’m sure you had it. Please. Tell me. Why? Why did you lie to me, Mr. Evergreen?”
He was slower with his reply. “I wouldn’t call it a lie; I simply did not divulge it all to you.”
“You don’t trust me with your secrets?” I asked. “You have all of mine.”
He came closer, carefully running my arms with his warm hands. He brought his fingers to my collarbone and swept the droplets from its peaks.
“Oh, is that rightI?”he asked. “I have all of them?”
A soft noise abandoned me with his touch. His fingers skirted my neck. Abruptly, I stumbled backward, with wild eyes. The light flickered on his face.
“I am angry with you!” I cried. “Youlied.More than once! Tell mewhy.”
“You just said you weren’t angry,”he returned. He snapped a finger my way. “I knew you were. You think you’re clever, don’t you? But who’s the real liar, Princess?”
I scoffed. “You. Still you!”
Mr. Evergreen raked his hand across his chin. He said, “I… I want to explain. There’s never been a moment that I didn’t, but I… I don’t know how or where to begin.”
I softened at that. “...Did you deploy with other soldiers?”
He studied me. Then answered. “On some days,” he said. “I did stay here as well. A lot of times.”
