The warmth that crawled into her cheeks was not feigned at all.
“I wanted to apologize,” she started, “for stepping out of line when we first met. I shouldn’t have been so intrusive. I’m sorry.”
Nik straightened, smile blossoming more fully now. He waved a hand in friendly dismissal. “Please, Lady Visseau. There is nothing to forgive. After all, how were you to know? It isIwho should apologize to you.”
“That’s not necessary, Your Majesty. This is your kingdom. It’s only fair that you protect it.” Ciana fought the urge to fidget with her lacy sleeves. “And again, please—call me Ciana.”
The king nodded, eyes twinkling as he circled the desk. He halted a few feet from her, hands sliding smoothly into his pockets. “Only if you call me Nik.”
A small smile spread across Ciana’s lips. “Thank you…Nik.”
The king’s eyes shone with approval. Ciana softly cleared her throat, cheeks still burning. “Still, I should’ve known better. You certainly know how to make a lady feel welcomed, and I think I forgot for a moment who I was speaking to.”
“And who was that?” Nik cocked his head, brown waves falling across his forehead. “A gracious gentleman? A handsome tour guide?”
Ciana fought to swallow her snort, turning it instead to a breathy chuckle. Well, he certainly was confident in himself.
But with the way he was watching her, with his tall, lean frame and casual grace, maybe he had a right to be.
“Aking,” she answered.
Niktael frowned, but it wasn’t an unhappy look. “Everyone in this palace treats me like a king,” he said. “Always second guessing their words, always putting my needs before their own. As much as your question took me by surprise…it was nice, for once, to have someone treat me like I’m real.”
Ciana’s breath stalled in her chest. She’d come here, expecting a proud and arrogant young king. Someone she could easily trick and trap—someone whom she could use and leave.
Niktael was sogenuine. It caught her by surprise. Would she still be able to do this to him?
Did she even really have a choice?
Swallowing all her hesitation, all her sticky guilt, Ciana tipped up her chin. “You seem plenty real to me.”
Niktael’s frown slowly slid up, his handsome features alighting. “It is such a breath of fresh air to hear you say so, Ciana.” He glanced toward the door, lips parted, as if he were hesitating. As if he were deciding what to say next.
He’d already said plenty. Ciana couldn’t bear to torment him more than she needed to.
“I should go?—”
“Do you have plans two nights from now?”
Ciana froze, letting out a soft giggle. “Sorry. You first.”
Nik slid a hand from his pocket, rubbing it across his chest. Color blossomed across his cheeks, adding a youthfulness to his features that suited him. “Apologies,” he said. “I was only curious if you had any dinner plans two nights from now. I will be free—for once—and would greatly enjoy the opportunity to become better acquainted with my Onitan guest.”
“Oh,” Ciana squeaked, surprised. “Yes, of course. I mean, no, I don’t have any plans. Dinner would be lovely.” Her eyes darted to the door. “And forgive me, but…by Onitan guests, do you mean just me, or my Armature companion, as well?”
She wasn’t sure why she asked. It was clear the king meant only her. But when confronted with the reality of a private dinner with the king—no matter how handsome and charming and kind he might be—her first impulse was to have Sebastian there with her.
Which was ridiculous. She needed to be able to do this by herself. Shecoulddo this by herself. She swallowed all the sickly things crawling through her and gave the king a soft smile.
As she expected, his expression fell slightly. He held it together, as only a practiced court politician could, but she didn’t miss it. “If you would feel more at ease with the Armature present, then, of course, he is more than welcome,” he said, words already more rigid and forced.
Ciana shook her head, pushing her smile brighter. “That’s not what I meant at all, Nik,” she said. His brows lifted, some light returning to his eyes. “I’m sure there are plenty of things Sebastian would rather do than have a formal dinner with a king. If he’s not required, he won’t want to come.”
The lie burned as it left her mouth, leaving a foul taste behind.
The king clapped his hands softly, taking a small step toward her.
“Excellent,” he said. “Then I’ll have it arranged. I’m already looking forward to it, Ciana.”
