He shrugs. “I wanted to surprise you,” he says shyly.
And damn, if my heart doesn’t skip a beat.
“It’s beautiful.” I turn to him, reach up, and plant a soft kiss on his cheek. “Thank you.”
He nods, avoiding my gaze, but gestures toward the table. “You have two options. We can sit at the table, drink and eat, then watch the play. Or we can sit on the blanket, drink, eat, and watch the play. Or no play. I have no idea if you even like the theater. I guess that’s three options.” He shifts on his feet, his gaze focused on the ground.
I opt to sit on the blanket for now, grabbing a bottle of champagne on the way over. Koa follows behind me, joining me on the blanket. I pop my shoes off before crossing my legs in front of me. Koa pops the champagne bottle, the sound echoing through the library, and fills a champagne flute before handing it to me.
He lays down on the blanket, his torso twisted to one side as he faces me, leaning his weight onto one elbow.
I take a drink and say, “Ask me a question.”
“What kind of a question?”
“Anything,” I say. “Don’t you want to ask all of your burning questions to decide if you want to marry me in, like, a week?”
He laughs and says, “You’re the most interesting High Queen I’ve ever met.”
“Not a question. Besides, haven’t you only met one?” I ask, stretching my long legs out, my bare feet just grazing his knees. He eyes my legs but pulls his gaze back to mine before they can rove all the way up.
A gentleman, then.
“Well, Etta and I had met before. Still, you’re more interesting, but not in a bad way. It’s refreshing. It feels like you’re a friend.”
“I know what you mean. I feel that way with you guys now. I’m more comfortable around all of you.” Asmo excluded.
He frowns slightly. “You should still be on your guard, Mae.”
The reminder is needed but unwanted if I’m being honest. It’s terrifying to think that any of the High Princes would wish me harm, especially as I’ve gotten to know them more.
I change the topic, instead opting to ask something I wanted to earlier when I saw him with the other two princes. “Well, if you’re not going to askmea question, can I ask you a question about your little ‘support group?’”
“Of course,” he says.
“Why weren’t Asmo or Marik there? Are you guys not friends with them?”
“You noticed that,” he says, a nonanswer.
“Well, yeah. You said that you all band together as the princes of the kingdom, but they’re also princes, so I’d assume you all would be friends with them, too.”
He grabs a champagne flute and fills it to the brim, then takes a swig.
“They’re kind of closed off from the rest of us. They’ve never shown an interest in getting to know us. When I was younger, my parents would take my sister and me to visit the other High Houses. When we did, we’d play with whatever prince or princess was around. That’s how we’re so close with August and Barrett’s families. But whenever we’d visit the Serpent House, Asmo and Marik were either never there or they were too busy to play. They were always in some type of lesson or something whenever we asked. Barrett, August, and I have all maintained our relationships over the years, but Asmo and Marik just never initiated one with any of us. We’re cordial but not friends.”
“Do you think it’s safe to trust August and Barrett?” I ask.
He hesitates.
I’ve been searching for truths this whole time with my magic. It’s become like a second sense, no longer something I have to actively think about doing.
“I’m not sayingthatnecessarily.” He hesitates again, struggling for the right words. “I warn you to be on your guard because you should be. August and Barrett are great males, and I would trust them with my life, but I don’t want to tell you to trust them absolutely because they’re still princes who stand to gain a lot from marrying you. I don’t even know iftrustis the right word here. Just be careful. Your heart is a valuable thing, and it shouldn’t be lost in this process.”
His words soften something in me. I feel like he’s been looking out for my best interest since the first night, and that goes a long way with me. I’m still wildly out of my element in this environment, and I could use another person looking out for me, especially someone who isn’t from my court.
“Thanks, Koa. That means a lot,” I say, reaching across the blanket to hold his hand. He takes it in his and strokes his thumb across the back of my hand.
“I’m also not saying to not trust Asmo and Marik. I just don’t know them. They keep to themselves, but they could be great males, too.” He shrugs.
