Something creaked nearby, but the entire ship creaked, and I was too focused on my sorrow to pay attention to much else.
“I’m still sorry.” He nodded slowly. “That’s why you were willing.”
An odd way to put it, but sure. “I needed something new to think about.”
“Someone new, too?”
I shrugged, but I pressed for a smile because my sadness was now mirrored on his face, and that was the last thing that should happen when we’d just gotten married.
I lifted my tea toward him. “To hearts finding new paths.”
“To unions foretold.”
I bumped our cups together and sipped. “My mother hid me from Ivenrail when I was a baby. The parents who adopted me died, and I was raised as an orphan at the fortress with my friends. Tempest too.”
“I’d heard something about that.” His penetrating gaze met mine. “Your lost love lived there also?”
I nodded, not wanting to talk about Kinart. “I didn’t learn who I truly was until recently.” I plucked at the front of my dress. “If you thought you were marrying a lady born to that role, you’re in for a disappointment.”
“I wouldn’t change anything about you, Fawn,” he said almost reverently.
“You called me that before. Why?”
“It suits you. You don’t mind the pet name, do you?”
I shrugged, unable to commit. It made my insides scramble around in a way that was exciting.
“Should I give you a pet name too?” I asked.
“If you wish.” His voice deepened and lowered, and he leaned close. “Take some time to decide what you think best fits.” He leaned back in his chair. “Anything will beat ass, don’t you think?”
My laugh rang out. “I’ll save that for Lord Lorant.”
Shadows flickered through his eyes. “Should I be jealous? Lorant seems to have sparked something inside you, something I want as my own.”
Heat swirled across my bones. This man was dangerous. I’d have to take care.
“I barely met him. He’s an obnoxious, arrogant prick, and much too snide.”
“Don’t hold anything back.”
I could tell by his warm smile that my fury pleased him. I could see where someone might be jealous of Lore. In addition to his negative qualities, and I’d only started on the very long list I was compiling in my head, he had an appealing list. Shorter, but still worth noting.
Electrifying. He was a blaze I suspected no one would ever put out.
Cocky, which in his case was a good thing.
And too sexy.
“You shouldn’t avoid him,” Merrick said softly. “Get to know him. Speak with him. He’s sharp but something soft lurks beneath his cutting exterior. He’s broken, I suppose you could say.”
Another creak echoed around us, but I was too interested in ferreting out why Merrick was urging me to chat with another man to look for the cause. “Since I think he’s an ass, it might be best for me to avoid him.”
“And an arrogant prick. Don’t forget that one.”
I rolled my eyes. “How could I?” I leaned back in my chair, finished with the meal but nowhere near done with this conversation with Merrick. “I’ll talk with him if only to get to know the man who’s protecting my husband.”
He lifted my hand sitting on the table by my plate and brought it up to his mouth to kiss it. The way I blazed inside from his simple touch. The way my heart flipped over from the way he looked up at me while his lips remained on my hand.
