“I still don’t trust him,” Alexus says as we walk down the corridor toward our rooms. “There’s just something about him. He’s almosttoogood.Tooinnocent. To be an Eastland ruler, that is.”
“And you don’t think I can take care of myself? I doubt those Brotherhood bastards will ride with us, so if the prince tried anything at all, I could turn him into an icicle in a matter of seconds. You and your brawn and dagger aren’t needed, my friend.”
He doesn’t listen, though. Together, with the prince, we head down to the stables, and together, with the prince, we head out across the open landscape on horseback. It’s a beautiful day, and a beautiful ride, filled with exploration and a few stops, including lunch on a blanket by a stream that could’ve been much more enjoyable had Alexus stayed at the palace.
The next few days are much like this one. We wake, eat, and then the prince takes us both on excursions into various parts of Vale. We go for a day-long hunt in a nearby forest and visit the village and its many fine shops. We even ride over to a nearby settlement where the blacksmith and tanner are said to be the best in the land. The prince gifts each of us with daggers made to our specifications and fur-lined leather coats to take home for the coming winter. The people are friendly and steeped in Eastland traditions.
Our evenings are spent dining on the best food and wine I’ve ever tasted, including meat from our hunt—though the prince still hardly eats—followed by drinks in the parlor. Alexus relaxes enough to tell a few of our more interesting tales, keeping the prince thoroughly enthralled and entertained.
With each hour I spend in the prince’s presence, I care less and less that I know so little about his past or that he has no name, at least one he doesn’t want to share. Ilikehim. His demeanor. His voice. His smile. His laugh. The way he walks. The way his hands look when fisting his horse’s reins. The way his strong back flares when he pulls a bow. The way he interacts with his people. There isn’t anything thus far that Ihaven’tliked, and I don’t know how to feel about that.
Typically, when I have stirrings for another person—physicalstirrings—it’s short-lived. Something always ends up irritating me, whether it be neediness, or true insight to their character, or a clinging personality. It varies. But no one is perfect. No one ever even feels like theymightbe perfect. Not even close.
Until now.
The most imperfect thing about the prince is that he rules the Eastland Territories.
On our fifth and last night at Shara Palace, I stop Alexus before we go down for dinner.
“I’d like some time alone with the prince tonight if you could so kindly make your exit at an opportune time.”
He crosses his arms over his chest and stares at me with that smirk of his. “I knew this was coming.”
“You did not.”
“I did. You can’t help yourself.”
“I want a kiss, that’s all. Nothing more. I’ll be satisfied with just that.”
He cocks a brow. “We leave first thing tomorrow morning. What good will come of a kiss now? Temporary, remember?”
I throw up my hands. “How can I possibly forget when you keep reminding me? I’m fully aware nothing can come of this, Alexus, but it doesn’thaveto. For some of us, something is better than nothing. To feel some spark of closeness and attraction and desire. You manage to shut that out, but I can’t. I have become the man I am because of the connections I can still forge with other people. Ilovesex. And Ilovekissing. And flirting. And teasing. And all manner of things you never do. It makes me feel alive and more human than the undyingthingI am.”I grab his black lapels, and after a few moments of deep breathing, I smooth them and lower my voice. “Please, just make yourself scarce tonight so I can have this one small memory to carry home.”
He reaches up to hold my wrists. “I don’t want to see you get hurt, Colden. That’s all. The physical things you just mentioned are understandable and normal. But I haven’t seen you look at anyone the way you look at the prince. It worries me that you’re going to leave here a torn man with a torn heart.”
I scoff and lower my hands. “Never. My heart is not involved, you should know that by now.” I wink. “But other body parts are completely in play.”
He huffs a small laugh. “You’re impossible.”
“I very much am. I’m also persistent.” I bat my lashes at him. “Will you please leave me alone with my prince tonight?”
He shakes his head. “As bad of an idea as I think it is, yes. I will vanish at just the right time.”
I smile, glad that I’m finally getting a chance to do what I wanted from the first moment I saw the prince: steal a kiss.
4
COLDEN
Alexus doesn’t let me down.
We share an early dinner with the prince and his council in order to allow more time to rest for our coming travels. Afterward, the prince offers a last, short stroll of the gardens, invitingbothAlexus and I, as he’s become accustomed to my friend tagging along.
Thankfully, just as we step onto the veranda that spans the length of the palace, Alexus asks to be excused for the night, stretching the fakest yawn I have ever seen. The prince, of course, dismisses him, wishing him a good night.
Finally, we’re alone.
“I’d love to show you the rooftop if you’re willing,” the prince says. “We’ve been blessed with such perfect weather during your stay. It would be a shame to not show you the sunset from the top of Shara.”
