He holds his hand out, and I hesitantly accept it, a little bit surprised at the offer. His warm hand dwarfs mine, and I cling to it.
We continue down the path before coming to a small clearing. A wooden table sits in the center, shrouded in a white tablecloth. Bouquets of white hydrangeas overflow from vases in the center. The table is small, just big enough for a single chair on either side. In front of each chair sits an ivory plate and an empty wine glass. Small orbs of light float through the air, and a fire blazes in a stone fire pit a few feet from the table. A galvanized bucket sits on the ground next to the table, filled with ice and an arrangement of bottles. A large hammock hangs between two trees, a gray throw blanket resting in the folds.
“This is beautiful,” I whisper.
He smiles and walks to the table, pulling out one of the chairs and gesturing for me to sit. When I do, he gently pushes me into the table before sitting in the chair across from me.
“I consider myself a wine connoisseur, so I was excited when you wanted to do a wine tasting. But then Ivan told me it would be canceled, so I found a way to make it happen.”
“How did you get him to agree to this?” I ask, still looking around the clearing, noting all the small details that went into this.
He gestures toward the guard, standing almost out of sight, and says, “He only agreed if your loyal friend here came. I also reminded him that I am perfectly capable of protecting you myself, which seemed to do the trick.”
“Thank you,” I say earnestly.
He dips his head. “You’re welcome.” He pulls out four bottles of wine and a thermos, setting each on the table in front of me. “Each bottle that I selected represents one of the High Houses, at least in my opinion. I know you haven’t traveled to any of the Houses yet, so I thought you might enjoy this.”
The memory of him shaming me at our first dinner for not traveling comes to mind, but I refrain from saying anything. For once, we’re not arguing or at each other’s throats.
Gesturing to the first one, he says, “House Panthera is located in the mountains of the City of Peaks, so I chose a crisp white wine, like the white-capped mountains. This one has a hint of green apple. The next one represents House Canis, located in the City of Snow. Because of its freezing temperatures, I chose a mulled wine, tasting of a spiced cinnamon.”
He gestures to the next bottle. “This one represents House Ursidae, located in the City of Rain, known for its chardonnay. This particular chardonnay tastes like orange and butter, an interesting combination of flavors, but delicious.”
He seems so in his element, so happy to be describing each bottle of wine. “Next, we have my personal favorite: House Serpent. Located in the arid dryness of the City of Sand, a refreshing rosé is always preferred. This rosé also has hints of strawberry, making it deceptively sweet, like yours truly,” he says, throwing me an ear-splitting smile, his dazzlingly white teeth on full display.
Mother, he’s beautiful. I can’t help but return the smile. “Finally,” he says, gesturing to the final bottle, “for House Cervidae, we have a sweet red wine, tasting of grapes and a hint of peach.”
“Wow,” I say. All the dates so far have been thoughtful in some capacity. I thought Koa’s had been the most thoughtful so far, but this…Asmo put a lot of thought into this. “Did you do all this yourself?”
He looks at me in disbelief. “Yes, Mae.”
“Why?”
“What do you mean, why?” he asks, placing the bottles back in the bucket.
“Well, we didn’t exactly get off on the best foot. I don’t get the sense that you want to marry me given our conversation that first night when you said you’re beingforcedto be here. Every time I see you, you always seem to be irritated with me, and I’m not exactly nice to you either. So why go to all this effort?” I ask, gesturing to the setting around us.
I make sure my net is up, searching for any hint of deception.
“I find you intriguing.”
Truth.
I scoff. “Intriguing? Do I need to remind you that the purpose of this is to marry me? If you’re not interested in doing that, why are you here? Why put the time into this at all?”
He cocks his head and looks at me. “Why do you say that?”
I grit my teeth and take a deep breath, choosing my next words carefully. “Asmo, you specifically said that if I chose you, you would say no.”
He shrugs. “I’ve had a change of heart,” he says, staring at the table as he fidgets with a cloth napkin.
“You’ve had a change of heart,” I repeat, my tone dry. “Why?”
He leans back in his chair, clasping his hands together and setting them in his lap. He stares up at me, his head cocked. “I’m next in line to be the king of my court, which is an honor. I love my court, and I want to uphold that commitment. However, I find you intriguing, and I can’t help but wonder what would happen if I were to pursue you.”
Again, he’s telling the truth. But it doesn’t make me feel good. It makes me angry.
“So, I’m just a plaything for you. A curiosity that you need to satisfy?” I ask him, sitting back in my own chair, eyes locked with his.
