He was hers.
Hers, no matter what the stories said. He wasn’t heartbroken and lovelorn, he didn’t belong in some tragic fairytale. He was hers.
Adeline wasn’t sure she’d drawn a breath in several minutes, every thought eddying from her mind except for a vague ‘Oh’.Beneath her palm, Kai’s chest was stuttering with each uneven breath.
“I’m yours, whether you’ll have me or not. I wish I could say it was without caveat, but I think we both know it’s always going to be harder for people like us. More complicated.”
People like us.Leaders, he meant. Like she was already on par with him, like she’d already won the fight for her Kingdom.
“And that scares you?”
She’d been quiet for so long that her voice came out weak and faint, but at the sound of it Kai’s chest lifted with a relieved sigh. His own voice steadied all at once, underlined by a sudden determination.
“I’m not scared of feeling this way. I’m scared of how badly I want to be selfish when I’m around you, to just pretend that it would be easy. That I could justbewith you and it wouldn’t mean anything for my people, or for your campaign, or your family.”
She shook her head, not denying, just – processing.
If Kai was selfish, Adeline didn’t want to think what that made her. Because it had barely occurred to her that giving in to this thing between them would be anything but… relief.
He was right. It would never be that simple. He had a lost people to lead and a new home to build from nothing, and Mareda, her own blood, and one of the people she loved most in this world despite it all, was not making that any easier for him.
And then there was the inevitable fallout when Mareda found her suspicions were true. Those whispers about the Merrow were insidious, and Mareda was fanning the flame. When she found out heropponentwas indeed involved with the King of the ancient, mysterious people she claimed Eisalaan was so afraid of, Adeline had no doubt her entire campaign would hinge on their relationship. But she remembered what her mother had said.He’s a good man. I’ll stand behind you.
If the Queen of Eisalaan thought it could work, who was she to believe any differently?
“We’ll figure it out, Kai. Because youaremine. Alright? And I’m yours too. Caveats and all.”
She brought her lips to his, and felt his smile curve against her mouth. “Alright. Caveats and all.”
He kissed her again, slow and sure. A leisurely brush of his lips over hers, of his hands exploring the ridge of her spine and the curve of her waist, knowing that they had all the time in the world.
Adeline had no way of knowing how much of that time had passed. They had slowly ended up half-reclined on the medical cot, Kai bracing a hand behind her while his lips and tongue traced the line of her throat. When the canvas flapped again, they broke apart guiltily, Adeline sitting bolt upright so quickly that her just-healed shoulder screamed in protest.
“Your Majesty,” said Kai, somehow managing his usual sober, regal tone even with his lips red and swollen and his shirt riding up on one side where Adeline had raked her hands down his bare back. She didn’t even want to think how she might look as she slowly raised her eyes to her mother’s – and father’s.
Oh Goddess no, spare me.
Selma was not often taken by surprise; it was clear she didn’t quite know what to do with it. Her lips hung open and she seemed frozen as the marble statue of the Sorceress. Only her eyes moved, darting back and forth between Adeline, slowly melting in a pool of shame, and Kai, surreptitiously smoothing out his shirt.
“Well,” she said finally. “I see your Healers have done an exceptional job, Adeline. You seem perfectly well.”
Her lips twitched around a stifled laugh, and Adeline covered her face with both hands, muffling a groan.
“Your Majesty, if I could explain –”
“I think we’re well past an explanation, Kai, thank you.”
Silas made an oddhmmnoise that seemed to mean he quite agreed.
Selma crossed to the lone armchair by the grate and Silas moved to help her sit, stiff and wincing as she was. She patted his arm gratefully and turned back to her daughter and the King.
“I do hope this is more than a dalliance – it’s a rather careless one, if not.”
“It is, Your Majesty,” said Kai. “It’s more.”
Adeline peered up at him from between her fingers and smiled, even as a part of her wished for a well-placed strike of lightning to set the tent ablaze so she’d have a reason to run from this cosy little chat.
“Well then,” Selma smiled, genuine and warm. “I trust you both to proceed with the tact your positions demand. Let’s speak no more of it, or we may need to call the Healers back to reset your father’s jaw.”
