“Chivalry it is,” she muttered.
Evelyn looped her arm in his. He smelled of sweet citrus, like lemonade.
This might be romantic if I weren’t so bad at walking uphill in sand.
As they approached the palace, Evelyn glanced toward the garden. The fire had been put out and the trellis was removed.The wine-stealing guards weren’t at the ballroom doors anymore.
“Where did all the guards go?”
“Maybe your sister started a fire of her own.”
Evelyn ignored that comment.
He guided her to the brightly lit patio instead of the dark staircase. Evelyn finally had a view of him in more than moonlight.
“Why are your eyes two different colors?” she asked.
A brief moment of shock flashed across his face. “They’re not.”
“They are,” Evelyn insisted. “I thought I noticed that on the beach, but I figured it was a trick of the light.”
Indeed, his eyes didn’t match at all. The right eye was a deep, rich cobalt. But the left eye was a light, icy hue.
“You shouldn’t be able to see that,” he said slowly.
“Why not?”
“You know we play with sight here? Vision magic? Not everything is as it seems.”
“I know. But I can clearly see your eyes aren’t identical. Does that mean you’re not very good at illusions? Or is your magic wearing off?”
The man blinked at her. “I’m not sure.”
All this staring is getting awkward. I’ve read the phrase “piercing blue eyes” in books before, but feeling that gaze in two distinct colors is too much.
“Anyway,” she said. “I guess I’ll see you around? Not sure how long the prince needs to decide if my sister is acceptable, but I’ll probably be here for a while.”
“What’s your name?”
“Evelyn. What’s yours?”
He hesitated for a heartbeat. “Leo.”
“Nice to meet you, Leo. Thanks again for not having me arrested.”
“Anytime.” He bowed to her, then winked. “Good night, Princess.”
Evelyn’s breath caught in her throat. “Good night.”
Maybe Hannah won’t be the only one to find a husband here.
3
A New Dress
“Evelyn! Wake up already!”
Evelyn jumped at the voice interrupting her dream about a handsome guard on the beach.
