The way he says it, like he’s already accepted his own expendability, makes my chest ache. He’s had people shaping his self-perception for so long that he doesn’t see how important he is.
“You’re not expendable to me.”
My heart pounds as I say it, but I need him to know.
His eyes meet mine, and the energy between us thickens. “Knights protect the queen.”
“Yeah,” I murmur. “I guess they do.”
The sound of tires crunching breaks the moment. Cavall’s head shoots up and Lance is at the window before I can blink.
“It’s Jules.”
Juliette tumbles through the front door with a bottle of wine tucked under one arm and a grocery bag from Second Circle in the other.
“I come bearing gifts,” she announces, then stops when she sees Lance. “Why are you still here?”
“I live here.”
“Yes, and Ginny needs to try on dresses, which means you need to leave.” She dumps everything on the couch, narrowly missing Cavall. “Go. Shoo. Do something useful.”
“I’m not leaving her alone.”
“She won’t be alone. Roman’s doing a perimeter check because apparently everyone in this family is paranoid, and Felicity’s grabbing the rest of the bags.” She flaps her hands. “Go away. Girl stuff. You’re being weird.”
Lance’s eyes flick to me.
“I’ll be fine,” I say. “Go check the perimeter with Roman. Be useful.”
“You’re kicking me out of my own house.”
“Consider it payback for not letting me leave.”
Juliette cackles.
Lance holds my gaze a beat longer than necessary, and the warmth of the night before pulses between us like a heartbeat. Then he grabs his jacket.
“I’ll be close,” he says.
“We’ll scream,” Juliette finishes. “Very loudly. Now go.”
He goes, but not before one last look over his shoulder.
The door clicks shut and Juliette sighs. “Hi. Ready to find you something that’ll make Art’s jaw hit the floor?”
The nameArtsounds sharp and feels worse.
The front door bangs open and I nearly jump out of my skin, but it’s Felicity, tall, golden, smiling like the sun, and juggling garment bags.
“Roman’s outside interrogating a squirrel,” she announces. “It looks very intimidated.”
Juliette claps. “Lance’s bedroom has a full-length mirror. That’s our fitting room.”
“You want me to try on dresses in Lance’s bedroom?”
“Unless you’d rather strip in the living room with the windows.” Felicity raises an eyebrow.
“Bedroom’s fine.”
