I nod but don’t respond to that. I think I’m starting to get feelings for each of the princes, and I don’t want to talk about them around each other if I can avoid it.
“Tell me about your family,” I say instead.
He sucks in a breath. “Jumping right into it, huh?”
“No time to waste,” I say, raising an eyebrow at him.
“Good point.” He downs the rest of his champagne. “I love my family, but my sister and I had a rough childhood if I’m being honest. She blames my parents for everything that’s wrong with her, but I’m thankful for the choices my parents made with us.”
“What do you mean?”
“It’s brutal growing up in this kingdom. My parents made sure I was prepared. They were very rigorous about starting my training at a young age and fostering my skills. I can protect my court. That’s something I’m proud of. That’s something they gave me. She doesn’t see it that way, so we butt heads a lot.”
“Did your sister have to go through that, too?”
He shakes his head. “The princesses aren’t expected to be rulers. The princes are. Whether it’s the King of their court or the High King, we’re expected to rule, and we need to be both physically and mentally strong to do so.”
“So, forget about us then,” I say, rolling my eyes.
He holds his hands up. “I’m not saying it’s right. But that’s how it is. I think having a strong female as a ruler would do our kingdom some good. Forgive me if this sounds harsh…Queen Adelaide was very sweet, but she didn’t contribute much to the kingdom. King Silas was the ruler, and she wasn’t involved in much.”
“I don’t want to be like that. I want to have a say.”
He nods and says, “I think this courting process sets you up to do just that. This is a huge decision, and it starts you off in control. I think you could change the way our kingdom is ruled.”
“You think so?” I ask skeptically.
He nods again and says, “I do. You’re already a strong personality. I can tell you’re strong-willed and smart. You’re outspoken and not afraid to be yourself. Most of us aren’t like that to people we’ve just met. Don’t change that. Don’t change who you are to impress anyone. You’re already impressive.”
I place my hand to my chest. “I’m sorry. Are you sure you didn’t come here with an ulterior motive tonight? First the blanket, now the compliments?” I ask, laughing.
He smiles and says, “Sorry if I’m coming on too strong, but I like you. Whether or not you choose me, I’m happy that you’re our High Queen. Any of us would be lucky to sit beside you.”
When he says that, I realize that I feel…happy. I no longer feel like a ball of nerves, nor do I feel overwhelmed with the unknown responsibilities of being the High Queen. I feel comforted knowing that I don’t have to do this alone. No matter who I choose, there will be another person that will be beside me.
I lean over and close the distance between us. His lips are soft against mine. I feel his mouth open, and mine instantly reacts, imitating the movement. Our tongues find each other. He’s a good kisser, even better than August.
His movements are lazy, like he has all the time in the world, and he doesn’t want to miss a second of feeling my tongue on his. I scoot towards him, eager to be closer. He sits up, careful not to break the kiss with the movement. My hand moves to his chiseled jaw as we kiss, butterflies taking flight in my stomach. One of his hands winds its way through my hair, cupping the back of my head, deepening our kisses.
I wouldn’t mind kissing him for the rest of my life.
He breaks the kiss and says, “As much as I would like to keep kissing you, I do feel like we should spend our time talking and getting to know each other.”
I swallow and nod, internally sighing. He’s right. I’m reminded of how much I’m not used to this. To dating with the intention of marriage. I need to stop thinking about kissing everyone and focus on who’s going to make the best partner.
Who do I want beside me on the throne? Who do I want to talk about my struggles? Who am I going to trust when I feel broken and alone? That’s what I need to figure out. Not who the better kisser is.
He takes both pillows and rests them against the invisible barrier, then settles against them. “Come here,” he says, spreading his legs for me to lean against his solid chest. He wraps his arms around me and kisses my temple. I feel safe in this little nook, protected by his arms.
“Keep telling me about your family,” I say.
“You met Cassia. She’s a mess. I love her, but she’s interested in one thing and one thing only: herself.”
I chuckle. “I may have heard a rumor about that. Are you two close?”
“Yes and no. We used to be close, but we’ve drifted over the last few years. She’s younger than me by a few years.” He sighs before continuing. “Honestly, as I’ve gotten older, I’ve found her lack of maturity to be frustrating. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve also been a mess. I think I partied my way from sixteen to twenty-two, but I’m over that phase of my life.”
“Yeah, I heard that you were a party animal. You and August.”
