I release a startled shriek and skid back. My arms flail as I fall.
Large hands band my waist, trying to keep me upright.
Honorable, but pointless. We’re on an inclined road slicked with ice and coated with snow. Together, Kaidren and I tumble to the ground, icy powder spraying around us.
His back slams into the ground and I land on top of him, cheek pressed to his chest.
The impact of the fall leaves us both winded. I’m on his chest, recovering my breath, feeling the scattered rhythm of hisheartbeat as the warmth of his short, surprised exhales crests my cheek.
With a groan, I brace myself against his torso and push up. His arm is still around me, and I only manage to pull back enough to hover my face over his.
Kaidren looks dazed as he brushes snow from where it sticks to his scarf. “I’m so sorry—” He stops, recognizing me. “Remira?” He tugs at the scarf, revealing the lower half of his face.
“Stars in hell. I’m mortified.” I slide off him, pretending to be embarrassed as I bat snow from my clothing to avoid looking at him. “I can’t believe I stumbled into youagain.”
Kaidren laughs. “I’m sure it was my fault. Both times.” He gets to his feet and holds out a hand for me.
The gloves we’re both wearing are the main reason I orchestrated this coincidental run-in outdoors. I let him help me up with a grateful smile. “Thank you.”
One hand pulls me to my feet, the other rests against my waist, steadying me. I make the mistake of looking up.
He’s closer than I realized. Wind whips his scarf around, framing his face against the white of the mountain, making his eyes look deeper than ever. He’s gazing at me intently. Not smirking or flashing a fake smile, just studying me with concern that appears genuine.
My spine crawls with a shudder, and I remember myself.
I pull away from him. The hand at my waist falls to his side. “Sorry,” I mumble.
“Don’t be. I like running into you.” I’m startled when he takes my hand and drags me to stand in an alley between two buildings. Snow still falls around us, but we’re more sheltered from the winds.
“That’s better. I can actually see you now.” Before I can reply,he surprises me again. This time, by swiping at the loose snow on my collar. It’s a familiar action—something I’d expect from Sef, or someone who knows me—not from a near stranger. When he’s satisfied, he keeps talking as though nothing happened. “You always seem to be hiding. It’s a shame. I like looking at you. You’re just about the only thing in Virdei I actually like.”
His stare is so intense, I almost believe he means it. I’m grateful for the rush of heat accompanying his words. A reminder that everything he does is a manipulation. “My brother thinks it’s best I avoid notice.”
Kaidren’s eyes drop to my wrist. “Because you’re Opheran?” He scoffs. “Why should that matter? I would never hide you.”
A bold claim followed by yet more heat.
Kaidren’s gaze drifts lazily toward my lips. He stares at them with . . .stars in hell—is thatlongingI detect?
Kaidren doesn’t want to kiss me any more than I want to bathe in greyhorn manure, but he thinks charming me is the way to get what he wants.
I force a smile. “Thank you.”
He grins and I find myself counting the reasons I despise his smile. Too wide, too many teeth, too strained at the cheeks. To the untrained eye, it’s perfect, and I suspect it’s served him well. It will get him nowhere with me. “I can’t imagine what it’s like to be Opheran in a place like this,” he murmurs. “Surrounded by Honorate who lie constantly, and seeing the truth of it in the Shadow Queen’s column. I want you to know, I’m nothing like them. A man is only as good as his word. When I say something, I mean it.”
Lie after lie after lie. “I didn’t know they still made honorable men. Not here, anyway.”
“I intend to bring honor back into the Honorate. So, what do you say?” His deep brown gaze flits back to my lips, lingersfor a moment, and then it’s fixed on my eyes again, and he’s smiling a perfect, secret smile. “Can I see you again tomorrow? On purpose, this time?”
He thinks I’m as starheaded as my mother. I’m itching to prove him wrong—and I will—but in the meantime, I have to pretend to trip and fall into his amateurish trap. “I can’t tomorrow. But another time.”
Kaidren slumps in disappointment. “I’m holding you to that.”
“I hope you do, because I really admire you.”
“Truly?” He perks up, looks pleasantly surprised. “Why?”
“You’re tenacious. Even when the rest of the Honorate are reluctant to accept you.” I drizzle honey into my tone, willing him to latch on to my baited hook. “I think it’s admirable that you don’t let petty rumors bother you.”Thisis the reason for our contrived collision this morning.
