I wonder what Sylvian would do, what Oberon would say, what Cassius would think, if they saw me now. I wonder if I’ll ever see them again. I wonder why I want to.
“Do you think the other kings are okay?”
“Who cares?”
I glance at him. “You do. I do.”
He sighs. “Yeah, I think they’re okay. Those three are tough, as much as I hate to admit it. You don’t watch everyone you love die, don’t reign over your volatile people, without learning to be strong.”
It’s the closest thing to a compliment that I’ve heard him say.
At some point, Ashton leans his head on my shoulder. I let him. I’m comfortable with him in my space, which is a strange realization.
We don’t speak for a long time. And I, strangely, realize that I don’t feel lonely like I did back home, which is also a surprise. I think… I think I like being in the fae kings’ company.
I feel… something. Something new. Something that could almost be hope. But I keep that realization to myself.
It takes me a second to work out my words. “I’m glad you’re here with me. I’m glad I’m not alone.”
He lifts his head from my shoulder, those deep brown eyes of his filled with merriment. “Why, Alette, I’m growing on you!”
I laugh, and I don’t remember the last time I did. “I didn’t say that!”
“You like me!”
My cheeks burn. “I don’t!”
He wiggles his brows and leans in. “Youloveme!”
“I basically said that being with you is better than being alone. That’s it! That’s all I said!”
He gets the smuggest look. “The Chosen One loves me.”
“You know you’re annoying.”
“Are you annoyed by how much youloveme?”
“You’re crazy!”
“Or you’re crazyin love,” he offers, grinning.
I smack his chest. “You’re the worst!”
He leans in closer. “And you, Alette, have finally learned to flirt.”
I feel like my face is on fire. “I amnotflirting with you.”
Grabbing me, he tosses me back on the furs and leaps on top of me. “Then, I demand that you do!”
I’m actually having a fit of laughter. I’ve never laughed this hard in all my life. “You have enough ladies to flirt with you.”
He leans over me. “Maybe I don’t want anyone else flirting with me.”
I’m still smiling when he brushes back the hair from my face, and his gaze grows intense. “You know, I don’t think anyone has ever made me feel this way before.”
My heart hammers. “What way?”
“Like… like I want to be better than I am. Like I’ll wake up tomorrow and actually have something to look forward to.”
