But Harthon didn’t think so, because he asked, “Where’d the window face?”
“South. But there was nothing beyond that.”
“The Domus is to our south, as are Sixth and One on the other side of it.” His thumb began stroking back and forth just below my hairline as he processed the information. “Keep following the feeling. Meeting or not, always follow it.” He frowned. “And next time it makes you late, lead with that information.”
I waited for an apology, but he didn’t continue. “Next time, give me a moment to tell you that information before getting so grouchy and accusatory.”
That thumb halted, and he drew back. “Grouchy?”
“That’s what I said.”
His nose scrunched as if I couldn’t have slung a greater insult. “I don’t getgrouchy.”
“You were irritable and angry with a big scary scowl on your face. That’s grouchy.”
“I wasn’t grouchy. I was serious. Livid. Furious. Terrifying. Intimidating.”
Perhaps those words suited him better, but now I was just having fun. “You were grouchy. Sort of like North. Maybe you’ve been spending too much time with him.”
He scoffed. “North and I are similar in a lot of ways, but demeanor isn’t one of them.”
“Now you’re getting defensive.”
His hands lightly squeezed. “Because I won’t allow you to call me grouchy when that’s not what I was.Grouchyis for petulant children, old men, and North. Not me.”
I smirked. “It seems like you’re getting irritated again. Your grouchiness is peeking through.”
His lips pressed together. “Are you trying to start another fight?”
“No, I’m just having fun, and you’re making it far too easy.”
“And here I was, about to do something nice for you. Something you’ve wanted.”
Wait a second. “What do you mean?”
Harthon lifted those big shoulders. “Clearly I was misguided.”
“I just helped you secure an alliance with Aric. I deserve something nice,” I argued, not caring that I was taking every bit of bait he dangled before me.
“But you just sought entertainment at my expense. That negates your help.”
“That isnotenough to negate my help.”
“As Princeps of this Territory, I deem that it is.”
I planted my hands on my hips, and his hands fell from my shoulders. Their departure was far too disappointing. “Your delicate feelings are equivalent to big political alliances?”
“Us Princepes have very delicate feelings.”
I stared at his serious face, and then athim, with his muscled build and strong features, and I couldn’t help but burst into a laugh. “I’ll go make sure Aric’s aware of your delicate feelings, so he never hurts them,” I told him, turning for the door.
He caught my arm, spinning me back around. A smile ghosted across his lips. “You should do that more.”
“What?”
“Laugh.”
My belly fluttered as I stood there, realizing that laughter was…rare for me. During my life in the village, there weren’t many instances that called for it. But in this moment, it’d felt so natural. “There’s never been much to laugh about.”
