“Perfect! Time to go!” Damien declared.
Leo got off the couch, then took Evelyn’s hands and entwined their fingers. “Thank you for staying with me last night.”
She stood on her tiptoes to kiss his cheek. “I’ll see you later.”
“There is a deadline involved in saving your reputations!” Damien yelled.
Evelyn glared at Damien, then let go of Leo and headed to the door. Five guards were lined up in the hallway to greet them, including Evelyn’s two night shift guards. All of them stared at her. Evelyn waved awkwardly as she and Damien went to the stairs. The guards assigned to her followed at a respectful distance.
“Nothing inappropriate happened,” she informed Damien. “We were just sleeping.”
“I know,” he said. “Leo can’t compartmentalize that well. No way he can get it up right after his father was murdered.”
“Damien!”
“What? It’s not a bad thing. And you might need that argument later to keep yourself out of a scandal. You have to be more careful, especially?—”
They had nearly reached the third floor when they heard footsteps in the west hallway.
Damien pushed Evelyn against the wall and pressed his body to hers. Before she could react, he pinned her hands above her head. It was a compromising position if anyone saw them.Evelyn’s breath caught, but she refused to let herself think about how good it felt to be that close to him.
“I won’t hurt you,” Damien whispered in her ear. “Don’t fight and don’t burn me.”
Evelyn was about to do exactly those things, if only because he told her not to, when an amused voice reached them.
“Good morning.” Lord Nicolas chuckled from the top of the stairs.
Damien released Evelyn and jumped back. “It’s only you. Thank the gods.”
“What thehell, Damien?” Evelyn snapped.
“I worried it was my father in the hallway,” he explained. “Lord Stuart would love the opportunity to gossip about why you’re up at dawn in yesterday’s dress. It’s not as good a story if I’m involved.”
“It’s not like we’re alone!” Evelyn gestured to her two guards several steps below and Nicolas’s guard behind him.
“Yes, but the guards know I wouldhave their headsif they revealed anything from their time on duty here,” Damien said harshly, making eye contact with each one in turn.
“Gods know you’ve done it before,” Nicolas mused. “I’ve always admired your willingness to threaten anyone in sight.”
“Oh, Nicolas,” Damien said innocently, like he had only just noticed the lord was there. “You’re up early.”
“I wouldn’t want to miss any of the fun around here,” Nicolas said before nodding to Evelyn. “Hello again, Princess.”
Damien addressed Evelyn’s guards. “Take her to her room and bring her back downstairs in time for breakfast.”
“Who put you in charge?” she snarled.
“You did.” Damien took a step toward her. “Stop asking for my help if you’re going to get mad when I help you.”
“Sending me to my room is your version of helping me?”
“This is not some childish punishment, Evelyn. I am trying to prevent a scandal. You cannot get caught fucking a king.”
Her cheeks burned. “I told you that’snotwhat happened!”
“The truth doesn’t matter if that’s what it looks like. There are too many people in this palace right now. Nicolas doesn’t give a shit what you do behind closed doors, but everyone else is watching. As far as everyone knows, Leo is courtingHannah.”
Evelyn shook her head. “Why does that matter? Leo can do what he wants now, right? All he has to do is say he changed his mind.”
