“Just talking becomes whispers. Whispers become rumours. And my father–”
“–can’t dismiss her,” Sebastian cut in smoothly. “Alys is Hale’s heir now. There is no one else. The Council wouldn’t let him risk Hale without an heir and he knows it.”
“That doesn’t mean he won’t try. You know how he’s treated us.”
Sebastian weighed his words before speaking. “I know. But not every battle is yours to fight, Kara. Let Alys fight this one if she wants to.”
Kara exhaled uneasily, still watching her cousin.
“Alys has more power than he does, and we both know it. If she decides to smile at my lieutenant, that’s her choice.” Sebastian tilted his head, amused. “Although if this carries on, I won’t have any lieutenants left.”
Kara shook her head stubbornly. “Shouldn’t we warn her? Tell her to be careful?”
“Like we were careful?” he teased.
Her cheeks flushed. “That’s not funny.”
“No,” Sebastian said, serious now. “It isn’t. But Kara, look at them. Do you want to be the one who tells them not to laugh together? Not to try? If they fall in love, so be it.”
Alys and the soldier drifted closer – still deep in conversation. Sebastian grinned mischievously. “Trying to steal one of my men for Hale, are you, Alys?” he called.
The poor man jumped at Sebastian’s voice. He looked like he wished the ground would swallow him whole. Alys arched a brow, unruffled. “Maybe he volunteered.”
Sebastian’s grin widened. “Oh, I doubt that. My soldiers don’t usually wander off without orders.”
Kara swatted his arm. “Sebastian!”
“What?” he asked innocently.
Alys folded her arms. “Well, perhaps Hale has better company than Thorne.”
Sebastian laughed loudly. “Gods, I do like her,” he said, glancing at Kara.
“I’ll return to my post if you order it, Sir,” the lieutenant muttered politely to Sebastian. “But I’d rather remain here.”
Sebastian clapped him once on the shoulder. “No duties tonight, Sam. Stay as long as you like.”
Sam nodded respectfully, but Alys gave Kara a smug look, linking her arm more firmly through his. “See? Settled.”
But Kara’s smile faded back into worry. “Alys... you know what my Father will say. He’ll–”
“I don’t think you are one to talk,” she said, looking pointedly at Sebastian.
“That’s different–”
“No, it isn’t,” Alys pressed, pinning Kara with a look. “It’s worth it, isn’t it?”
Kara faltered at that. She dropped her gaze to Sebastian’s hand on hers. “Well... of course it is.”
Alys’s expression was triumphant. “Well then, there’s nothing more to say.” She turned on her heel and tugged the apparently very willing Sam back into the courtyard shadows.
Sebastian leaned into Kara. “See? She can fight this one on her own.”
Kara glared at him. But then it dawned on them both that for the first time all day, they were alone. He caught her face in his hands and kissed her. Slow and sweet. When he pulled away, he murmured, “My wife.”
“My husband,” she echoed. “I love the sound of that.” She sighed contentedly. “This has been the best day of my life.”
“Mine too,” he said, kissing her again.
