My cheeks heated as I adjusted my skirts. “No.”
“Good,” he said, louder this time as he settled back in his seat. “Please proceed with any matters you were discussing. You have an hour, like I said before.” He waved a hand at myfriends dismissively.
Silence fell over the table, and despite the roaring noise of the tavern, I suddenly became very conscious of my own heartbeat in my ears.
That was, until a loud snort from Ivy sent the entire table glancing her way.
“I’m so sorry,” she giggled, covering her mouth to try and stifle her laughter. “It’s just… this is all so bizarre.” She hiccuped, but the loud sound only made her giggles worse.
“Please tell us your fiancé isn’t always like this, Naria,” Marius blurted. Beside him, Terrence was stifling his own laughter.
“I really don’t see the humour here,” Lukas growled, leaning forward.
I swallowed down a smirk before placing a hand on his chest. “It’s alright,” I murmured soothingly. Sliding closer, I whispered in his ear, “Perhaps just try to relax. You’re among friends here, not subjects.”
His eyes narrowed as I pulled away to address the table. “Lukas has generously agreed to treat us all to another round,” I announced with a grin.
Laughter turned to cheers while I felt Lukas stiffen behind me.
“He’s a good king after all,” Marius joked. Within seconds, the table’s usual banter resumed and I rose out of my seat to allow Lukas to pass.
“Thank you,Your Majesty,” I teased as he stood.
Lukas fixed me with a glare. “Is it wise to draw attention to our titles in a place like this?” He glanced at a few of the busy tables around us, each one full of people too focused onemptying their tankards to care about us.
I shook my head, snorting. “I’ve been here all night and not had a single curtsy.” Lukas’s brows shot up. “If my own people don’t recognise me, I doubt you’ll need to worry.”
“That doesn’t bother you?” he breathed, confused.
“Why would it?” I laughed. Technically, Ihadbeen recognised by a few girls from my home village on the dance floor, but they didn’t make a scene. We were good friends. The last thing I wanted was for them to start bowing to me, as if I was some queen.
I paused, blinking.
“The bar’s that way.” I frowned, pointing to the stone bar before I could let myself think more. I didn’t need any more thoughts. Not when I’d already spent the last three weeks with my head on the verge of bursting.
Lukas narrowed his eyes, but thankfully, he must’ve sensed my urgent need for more ale. He stomped off in the direction of the bar, muttering something about bewitching forest princesses and this being servant’s work under his breath.
Minutes later, he returned with a tray of overflowing tankards and a sheepish expression on his face. Though any hesitance soon gave way to a slight smile. The moment the tray hit the table, cheers erupted once again.
“Three cheers for our most generous king!” Theo cried out, nearly toppling while reaching for drinks for himself and Ivy. My Corlixin friend had grown more confident throughout the night, now almost sitting on Theo’s lap.
“Yes, thank you, dear Lukas,” she slurred, taking a sip of her tankard.
Lukas nodded before leaving the tray to move towardsme.
“And I suppose now you expect me to thank you for that humiliation?” he murmured, pulling me back into his lap.
I smiled proudly. “I just made you six new friends.” Warmth buzzed through me as his arms curled around my waist. “You reallyshouldbe grateful.”
A soft hum vibrated through his chest. “Thank you,” he breathed.
Leaning back into him, I sighed. My friends began to speak of happenings in Corlixir and all the parties I’d missed. Raena filled in the gaps with gossip from around the palace. Until almost an hour had passed, and our tankards were just as empty as our minds.
“So Lukas,” Raena started, her voice far too loud from all the ale, “you must tell us how in the realm you found us here?” She leaned forward eagerly while I raised an eyebrow. It was a good question. Especially since we’d deliberately waited until most of the palace was asleep, and I was almost certain Lukas wasn’t a frequent visitor of any Corlixin taverns.
Clearing his throat, he spoke in a relaxed tone. “I had some important news to share with my fiancé,” he explained, drawing lazy circles on my thigh. “Imagine my surprise when I found her bed empty and the guard outside shaking in his boots.”
“Oh, that absolute snitch,” Raena fumed. “I knew we shouldn’t have asked him for gown advice!”
