Haydn laughed as they ambled along the sand, the evening guards trailing them at a fair distance. “So why don’t you like Moeller?”
Evelyn frowned at the memory of that morning. “He was rude to me when he arrived.”
“Oh? What did he do?”
“The way he looked at me… it was like I was being analyzed for faults. He wouldn’t tell me anything, except that I was your problem.”
Haydn twirled a lock of her red hair around his finger. “I’d like to think of you as mybride, not my problem.”
Evelyn’s breath caught in her throat.
“I’ll be sad if you always look so uncomfortable at my words,” Haydn said lightly.
“I just don’t know what to say.”
He stopped and took her hand. “Evelyn, this is the third time I’ve seen you at the palace and nothing has changed.”
Her defenses rose. “What are you talking about?”
“I have been trying to earn your trust and prove that I care about you for days. Meanwhile, Alexander holds Hannah at his side like a trophy, and you keep pining overhim.”
Tears burned behind Evelyn’s eyes. “It’s more complicated than that.”
“Of course it is.” Haydn sighed. “He lied to you for, what, a week? How many promises has he made since then? Did he tell you that he’s sorry and he’ll make it up to you and you are the one he really wants? But the closest he’s come to choosing you isnotproposing to Hannah yet.”
She tried to pull away, but Haydn gripped her waist.
“I want you, Evelyn. I’ve already made up my mind. I want to be with you. I want to make you happy. I will love you if you let me.”
The emerald ring appeared on Evelyn’s finger again.
“Why?” she asked. “Why me? You barely know me!”
“I do know you, Evelyn. You may be a princess, but you don’t have any more patience for politics than I do. The king can lie and break your heart and justify it all because of the needs of the kingdom. But you aren’t the obedient royal pet your sister wants to be. Tell me you wouldn’t rather change the world than sit in a parlor and wait on the king’s beck and call. Tell me you wouldn’t rather tell the lords to go to each of the hells and bring you back a souvenir. You and I are the same. And the two of us together are a force to be reckoned with. There is so much more I want to tell you. Things I can’t explain until you come with me to Lochmatten, hopefully as mywife.”
Evelyn was drowning in his words. She lifted the locket out of her dress. Haydn positioned her so Evelyn’s back was to the guards, keeping the necklace out of sight.
“Who does this magic belong to?” she asked.
“Someone special.”
“Dammit, Haydn.”
He squeezed her wrist. “I’m not trying to upset you, love. Everything I’m not telling you is because of this tattoo. We made a Bargain. Until you come to Lochmatten, everything related to the secret I promised you is off-limits. I physicallycan’ttell you what you’re asking for.”
“You like having secrets,” Evelyn accused.
“Secrets I’ve already sworn to tell you. Secrets you know are there and are waiting for magic to release. That’s not the same as what Alexander did.”
Evelyn stared at the ocean, refusing to cry again.
Haydn lowered his voice. “It’s not fair that you won’t trust me because someone else betrayed you.”
“That’s not it.”
“Yes, it is. I haven’t done anything to you, Evelyn. I say things that make you mad sometimes, but I don’t lie to you and I’mhere. You asked for me and I came for you. If there’s something else you want from me, tell me and I’ll do it. Butstopcomparing me to Alexander.”
She forced herself to look at him. “Tell me something new. Give me one more thing to know about you.”
