“Some might say so.” Her gaze held, unnatural and calm in a way it shouldn’t have been. It was unlike her not to try to surpass me with a surprising reply.
“The weather looks lovely today. Would you care for a walk? Then you can see whatever you’re staring at so intensely.” Whatever it was, maybe it would make me forget about the extremely awkward meeting I just came from.
“I’m not staring, Lord Fyn.” An awkward lull held her words.
“What exactly are you doing then?”
“Contemplating.”
I waited for her golden eyes to find mine, but she didn’t move. “I see. Let’s get you some fresh air and then you may contemplate whatever you wish.”
“She had requested rest,” Eva said.
“Do you require rest, Princess Ashlyn?” I pulled at my tunic collar, desperate to get it away from my throat.
“No.” Ashlyn’s eyes finally met mine, but the way she looked at me, it was almost like she was seeing me for the first time during the war. The same fear—the same unease was hidden behind her once familiar gaze.
I tugged on her arm, helping her rise.
“Lord Fyn.” The lady’s maid stepped in front of the door.
“We would certainly hate for her to trip over you.” I glared at her until she moved.
Ashlyn kept an unsteady pace in the hall, but still she clutched my arm.
“Are you still processing the news of the pact?” It had to have been the reason.
“I don’t think so.”
“Do you care to tell me what was going on in there, then?” My words leaked out of the corner of my mouth.
“No.”
“Okay then.” Nothing about this was normal.
I kept my mouth shut as I followed the short hallway that led to the garden. Whatever she didn’t want to say in there, she could tell me outside, where our voices would barely carry.
If it was her heartbreak—if it was her fear—I would tend to her as best I could.
When we passed the last guard, I led her down the maze of paths that their silly little garden held.
“You may tell me whatever you wish now.” I waited, but she said nothing. Maybe she was afraid to tell me—maybe I needed to tempt her with something she couldn’t resist taking a jab at. “The most unusual thing happened to me this morning. A very controversial fae item made it into the recent shipment. It seems to offend the humans greatly. It may have been the most awkward moment of my political life.”
“Fascinating,” she said.
“Fascinating? Don’t you want to say something or laugh at my expense?” My forehead scrunched as I squinted at her.
“No.” She flinched hard until she nearly stumbled.
This version of her was suffocating. “I see.”
“The flinching… it’s your?—”
“Magic.” She said the word like she wasn’t afraid of it.
“It happens when I lie? Or when you do?” I made my voice even lower.
“Both.” A chilling calm carried through her voice.
