“But commitment wasn’t the only issue?”
“No. It turns out that crap liketrustandcommunicationare also important.”
“Who knew?” Damien teased.
“But we’re trying!” Evelyn’s bracelet cooled, so she rephrased with a little more honesty. “We’re working on trusting each other. Leo gave me the kingdom! I know he loves me. He wants everything to be okay.”
“But something is still wrong.”
“It feels like we don’tfitanymore. Like we’re pieces in different puzzles. I love Leo! I do! But being with him doesn’t feel easy like it used to.”
“When was the last time it felt easy?”
Evelyn pointed at her guards, who were lost in conversation. “In the beginning, I thought we were like Rory and Desirée.”
Damien furrowed his brows at the mention of his sister. “How so?”
“They’re effortless. Rory and Desirée were drawn together that first day. It wasn’t planned or forced. They just knew they wanted to be with each other. That’s what it was like with Leo. It felt right to be with him.”
Damien followed her gaze to where the guards were laughing about something. “Desirée is the daughter of a lord, and Rory is a guard for the royal family. That’s what you wanted with Leo.”
“That’s what I thought we were! I truly believed he was a palace guard. I never cared about being a princess, and I wasn’t looking for a prince.”
“Leo never liked being a prince, and he definitely didn’t want to rule. The two of you have that much in common.”
Evelyn slumped in her seat. “Then why do we feel so different now? If we could fall in love as a guard and lord’s daughter, why can’t we figure out how to love each other as a king and queen?”
“That’s just it, Evelyn. You fell in love with a future kingpretendingto be a guard. You fell for Leo, and now you’re married to Alexander. Of course that feels different.”
Evelyn had to sit with those words for a few moments, but she knew he was right.
“It goes both ways,” Damien added. “You aren’t the same person Leo fell in love with, either. Queen Evelyn is not the same woman as Lord Tristan’s youngest daughter.”
“What do you mean?”
Damien twisted on the bench to face her directly. “Do you remember the day we found the missing soldiers in the city?”
Evelyn huffed. “I would give all the gold in the kingdom toforgetfinding four dismembered bodies in an abandoned shop.”
“After that, Evelyn,” Damien said gently. “The first thing Leo did was order me to take you back to the palace. You offeredto stay and help, but he said no. So you left with me without arguing.”
“Leo wanted to make sure I was safe.”
“That’s what he said after you found the bodies in the attic, too.”
Evelyn blinked. “That was different.”
“No, it wasn’t. Both in Pointe-Rosemère and at the river house, you discovered dead bodies and Leo sent you away. But the first time it happened, you agreed to it. And the second time, you set his shoes on fire.”
Leo had the same response. Only my reaction changed.
“I trusted Leo in Pointe-Rosemère,” she said. “I knew he was protecting me.”
“You allowed him to make the decision. That isn’t a bad thing, but it isn’t who you are anymore.”
“Except that’s who Leo fell in love with,” Evelyn realized. “The girl who followed directions, not the one who screamed in his face.”
“If Leo just wanted someone compliant, he would’ve married Hannah. He loves you because you’re smart and brave and powerful. But I think you also scare him because he doesn’t know how to protect you anymore.”
