Is Leo going to pretend like nothing happened? He can’t possibly be back to courting Hannah. He just said he wants to be with me!
Each of the lords was given a suite on the third floor in the west hallway, near King Tristan. Damien crashed in an empty room. Two other guards replaced Rory and Simon for the overnight shift.
Leo went for another walk after dinner, and Evelyn was the only one downstairs when he came back. She had been reading in the sitting room, hoping to catch him.
“Leo?” Evelyn called out when she heard the front door close.
Leo followed her voice. He looked so, so tired, like he had aged a thousand years in a single day.
I can’t be mad at him. His father died and now Leo is a king. This might be the hardest day he’s ever had. So what if he was nice to Hannah earlier? He’s a kind person and I care about him. I don’t want him to go through this alone.
Evelyn took Leo’s hand and led him upstairs to the little library on the second floor. He offered no resistance. She lit the fireplace with her magic to warm the room.
In Leo’s eyes, Evelyn could see his father’s death, his mother’s anguish, and the weight of a kingdom.
“You’re safe,” she whispered.
Those words were enough to break him. Leo sobbed into Evelyn’s hair. She simply held him, and they lost all sense of time. The rest of the world could wait.
30
Tell
Leo and Evelyn never left the library. They fell asleep together on the couch in front of the fire.
The next morning, Evelyn stirred when the door opened. She heard a few tentative footsteps, followed by a curse. Damien walked around the couch and crouched in front of her.
“There you are,” he whispered, looking unimpressed.
Evelyn blushed. “Hi, Damien.”
“You should be in your room,” he scolded.
She started to get up, but Leo’s hold on her tightened. He nuzzled his face against her neck.
“I think I’m stuck.”
“Useless fucking princesses.”
“Oh, shut up!”
“Leo,” Damien said in a louder voice.
Leo groaned but didn’t open his eyes.
Damien cursed again. “I need to move your princess upstairs.”
“No,” Leo growled.
“Someone will notice there aren’t any guards outside her room.”
“So post some fucking guards at her door.”
“Shockingly, that isn’t really the point.”
“Leo,” Evelyn said softly. “I should go before my father wakes up.”
He sighed and lifted his arm so Evelyn could stand. She tried to smooth out her wrinkled dress.
