They wave and call out to him, but Alaric ignores them all, escorting me out of the salon with long confident strides. Once we’re down the hall and around the corner, I expect him to drop me like a scalding pot. Maybe even wipe his hands on his waistcoat to remove the stain of my touch. But he continues gripping my arm until we reach my chamber door. Then he shocks me again by letting himself in—as if he’s joined me in my private quarters a hundred times before.
“Indira?” Delphine’s voice chimes from the adjoining bathing chamber. “I didn’t think you’d return so soon. Did you have any luck finding—” Her head pops around the corner, and when she sees Alaric, her eyes grow round. “Your Highness! I-I didn’t realize…” She folds into a clumsy bow and curiously watches Alaric help me across the room.
What’s going on?she mouths when he turns to help me onto the sofa.
I know how this must look—me, draped all over him, the two of us stealing into my private quarters—but I’m still incapable of speech. Incapable of doing anything but dropping onto the sofa and meltinginto the cushions.
The longer I remain silent, the more urgently Delphine looks between Alaric and me, then down to the bowl in her hands—as if judging its heft. She makes a beeline across the sitting room, past Alaric, and stops in front of me, wordlessly asking if this encounter is the same as my ill-fated encounter with Von Nevus. If I’m with Alaric against my will.
For the second time today, my chest swells with gratitude for another brave girl who, against all reason, cares for me. Delphine is willing to face down the crown prince on my behalf, armed with nothing but a washbasin. No one, other than Rowenna, has ever stood up for me like this. Partly because I didn’t allow it. I thought it would diminish my and Rowenna’s connection to let anyone else in. But it turns out love isn’t finite. A portion isn’t taken from one recipient when it’s shared with another. It simply grows.
“Thank you for escorting her here, Your Highness,” Delphine says to Alaric. “That was most kind, but I can take it from here. Indira looks unwell, and I don’t want you to catch—”
“Actually, I’d like to stay,” Alaric says.
Delphine looks to me with panicked eyes.
“It’s okay,” I manage to whisper.
“You’re certain?” She flicks another suspicious glance at Alaric.
I reach for Delphine’s hand and squeeze it tightly. Gratefully. “Yes. Why don’t you spend the night with Cloudia? I made another dose of the bagrava tincture. It’s ready to go in the solarium. Be sure to note any changes.”
Delphine thanks me graciously and moves toward the hidden door, but before she vanishes, she throws Alaric an unmistakable look of warning.
“I see why you like her,” he says once the door has closed. “Good friends are hard to come by around here.”
He pours a glass of water from a pitcher on the side table and handsit to me. I gratefully gulp it down, so thirsty I hardly notice the silty flavor.
“So,” Alaric says, easing down next to me. “Do you want to talk about what happened back there?”
“Nothing happened. I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I say, but my voice is still wispy and weak.
“You looked like you were going to be sick. And you were so quiet.”
I snort. “Isn’t that a good thing? You made it clear you have no interest in speaking with me.”
“Yes, but this wastooquiet. Disconcertingly quiet. What did Von Nevus do?”
“Why were you there at all?” I volley back.
“Why did you defend me to my father’s councilors?” Alaric asks, his voice soft.
Mortifying heat spreads across my cheeks. “You heard that? How long were you in the salon?”
“Not long. Though I probably didn’t need to be there at all. I think I could have heard you shouting from my chamber.”
“It’s a new development—since Rowenna died. I can’t seem to keep my opinions to myself when I’m passionate about a subject.”
“Are you saying you’re passionate aboutme?” Alaric raises his too-perfect brows.
I glare at him and shove his shoulder. “The things the courtiers were saying were cruel and untrue. I couldn’t just listen to their lies.”
Alaric nods, his gaze softening into the same expression he wore when he watched me grow the bagrava. “That’s why I came to your defense too. I couldn’t just stand by and watch Von Nevus torment you. I’m the only one who gets to do that.”
I shove his shoulder again. “That still doesn’t explain why you were there in the first place.”
“I came to help you look for hidden memories. I felt guilty for brushing you off after you kindly tried to relay news of Delphine’s sister.”
