Page 64 of The Queen’s Bodyguard

Tears pricked the backs of Theora’s eyes.

“Aranea has never had a queen without magic. We don’t know what they’ll do to you, if—” Apollo leaned closer, and Theora thought for a moment that he might kiss her. Instead he halted, with a breath as desperate as hers. “I don’t want to lose you, too, Theora.”

She swallowed, far too many memories sweeping through her mind at his words. He was right. Of course he was right. Still, Boada had told her to keep the plan secret…But perhaps she could tell him indirectly. And the only way she could think of was “Don’t do anything life-changing before you’ve spoken to me next week.”

Perhaps she shouldn’t have said that. Perhaps he would give them away as false now. But she didn’t want to lose Apollo as a friend, just as much as she needed him to legitimize her rule. And she refused to marry a man who resented her.

Apollo leaned back enough to search her face. Enough to understand, at the very least, that they would always be friends, that she would never abandon him, that she would take care of him as if he were still someone special to the queen. That, if he could hold on for just a week, things would be different. He glanced at Argos approaching, before kissing both of her hands. “Thank you, angel.”

And then he quickly held out his hand to Venita, who was looking self-satisfied as she closed the gap between them, as if she had single-handedly matched them. “Stay close, Nita. I would never forgive myself if my pregnant sister missed the gangway and fell off the ferry.”

“Oh, shut up, Apollo,” Venita said good-naturedly, squeezing her brother’s cheeks as he helped her onto the first step so she could continue up the ramp.

“I wouldn’t forgive myself,” he said, leaning close to Theora, “but I’d certainly laugh.”

Theora covered her mouth to hide a small chuckle, though it was cut off when she felt Argos pull her against him by the waist.

Right. It was time to get back to work.

The path to the famous lagoon was either a walking path through various caverns or a ferry ride on an underground river, enclosed by a sparkling tunnel. Theora was thankful Apollo had chosen the ferry, although she was certain it was so that his sister wouldn’t have to walk so much. She was also thankful that the conversations from lunch hadn’t carried over. Since she’d spoken to Apollo, he seemed at ease, and even escorted Venita to a viewing balcony on top of the ferry so she could rest her feet.

With Venita gone, Argos led Theora through a door to the front. It was a small, intimate section with a bench, hidden from all other parts of the boat. Clearly for couples to view the cavern and lagoon in a romantic setting.

“Did you see how closely Venita was watching us before Apollo took over?” Argos said, removing his jacket and hanging it on a random knob on the wall that Theora wasn’t so sure was meant for coats. “I don’t think she wants to admit defeat.”

“Can you blame her?” Theora sat on the bench, smoothed her dress. “She made Apollo believe I would propose on this trip.”

“Poor guy never stood a chance.” Argos tilted his head slightly, looking askance as if listening, and let out a long whistle. “Hear those cave coyotes?”

Theora paused to listen to the melodic cries. “Beautiful.”

They were quiet for a moment, simply listening. The song echoed through the cave, over the water. It was strange how difficult it was to tell if their cries meant joy or longing. Perhaps a bit of both.

It was Lover’s Lagoon, after all.

“I haven’t heard one of those in a long time,” Argos said quietly. Reflectively. Barely breaking over the sound of the water and coyotes.

Theora looked up at him as he studied their route ahead. “When have you heard one before? We haven’t any caves in Aranea.”

“We don’t.” The reflection disappeared from his eyes as he glanced down at her. “But when I was young, when I was training to qualify for fieldwork, I got…lost.” He raised a brow. “And by lost, I mean I fell into the river and couldn’t get myself out for miles.”

Theora almost laughed. “That doesn’t sound like you.”

“Well, I wasn’t always good at my job. Anyway, it started raining, and back then I couldn’t catch scents through water. I ended up in a cave to wait it out.”

For a moment, Theora thought of the fact that she hadn’t had to check Argos’s magic—well, not since lunch, anyway. And it was…a nice feeling, to not be worried about that constantly. Equally nice was getting along with Argos. It was comforting, to feel secure in so many ways.

And it almost wasn’t odd to say that about him.

She grinned. “So you made some little coyote friends?”

“No, but they saw me. Those calls we’re hearing,” he said, a small flick of his finger to the air, “are to warn against danger.”

“Oh.” Theora gripped the bench beside her legs, looking back out to the cave before them. “That didn’t end how I thought it would…Perhaps they think the ferries are dangerous.”

He shrugged. “Or the people on them.”

They were silent again. It was odd how knowing the meaning of those calls had suddenly soured them to her ears.