“It’s beautiful,” I said, “but why keep it locked?”
He sighed. “I suppose it is a form of protection. It is a reminder of memories I cherish. I do not want to see it overridden with visitors who will not respect it.”
I stiffened. “Have I… invaded your space?”
“No.” He added his free hand to my other shoulder. “You and your lock picks are welcome to sneak around. But I would like to ask you to stop stealing bread.”
My eyebrows popped up my forehead, and I squeaked, “What?”
He chuckled. “Feigning ignorance is lying, Auria.”
“Is it?” I started to panic. How had he realized?
“Peace, Auria.” He squeezed my shoulders and leaned his head down by my ear. “I can hear your heart turning frantic. Feigning ignorance is most assuredly lying. And it would mean a lot to me if you would remember your promise. I have not forgotten mine.” His gentle whisper caressed the back of my ear, warning me that I was very possibly in a lot more trouble than I realized. Bylur was not prone to fits of anger, despite me having seen one or two. No, his battle-tested plan was cool control and clever out-maneuvering.
I swallowed. “I won’t lie.” I had promised him that. “But I’d like to know what you heard.”
His answer came right behind my ear again. “You first.”
Fair. I clenched my hands together. “I’ve stolen a baguette every day since I got here, except today.” Today I’d been distracted by a loud display of marching guards.
“Stars, Auria.” He blew out an exasperated breath. “This isyourhome.Yourcastle.Yourcook.Yourbaguettes. You could ask Kusan to give them all to you, and she’d be happy to oblige. There’s no reason to steal them.”
I lifted my chin. “If they’re really all mine, taking one each morning isn’t stealing.”
Silence.
Oh, how I wished I could see his face. His careful grip of my shoulders didn’t change, but the silence told me he disagreed.
“No,” he finally said. “You are correct. It is not.”
I did not expect him to agree with me. A breath of relief tumbled out of my mouth, and my shoulders relaxed.
“But,” he started, and my whole back tensed. “I hope that you will treat the servants and soldiers who serve you with respect and civility. I never thought you would justify inconsiderate treatment with newly acquired entitlement.”
Ouch. An uncomfortable feeling surged through my chest. “I wasn’t acting out of entitlement. That was my excuse to you.”
“So you lied to me again?”
“No!” I dropped my forehead against the painted stone wall in front of me and groaned. “Maybe? More,it was an attempt to justify my behavior becausestealingsounds so awful. It was a lie to myself as much as to you.”
“Auria,” he groaned. “You are the most beautiful chaos I have ever encountered. How can I create a kingdom of order when you confuse everyone from soldiers to kitchen staff?”
“I honestly didn’t think she’d notice,” I confessed. “She had dozens each day, and I only took one.”
“Her accounting is exquisite.”
I grinned. “That’s why you like her work, isn’t it? You have a thing for exquisite detail.”
“I have athingfor well-organized work. It’s very logical. I also have a thing for you—”
My eyes widened. Was he about to confess his undying love for me? That would make no sense, considering everything else he’d just said—
“—which is why,” he finished, “I found a way for you to watch the council meeting.”
Wait. “What?”
His voice lilted as if he was smiling. “You keep saying that. Does it actually mean something or does it just come out of your mouth when you are surprised?”
