Page 29 of A Heart Too Tender

I chuckled and she gaped at me in disbelief.

“The mine will not cave in.”

“You can’t promise such things—you don’t know.”

Her fear was palpable and I couldn’t help but brush a comforting hand down her arm.

“If the mountain tries to take you … I will vanquish it myself.”

Colette’s bottom lip quivered before she trapped it with her teeth. “It’s not a dragon, my lord.” Her voice was soft, a hint of humor returning.

“It would fall all the same.”

Hours passed. Gisela had successfully completed the trial, followed by Elizabeth, and then Zuri.

I’d be lying if I said there wasn’t a flicker of anxiety when she hesitantly took a step into the shadow of the mine’s entrance. The storm encroached, and the scent of rain filled the air as the first drops began to fall.

“My lord,” Gisela called, scowling up at the darkening clouds. “Must we all wait for Colette to finish?”

I halted my pacing, and gave a cursory sweep of the other princesses. They all mirrored Gisela’s disenchantment.

“Very well,” I nodded. “Escort them back to the palace—I’ll bring Princess Colette back after she finishes.”

The guards followed orders and before long only the sound of clopping hooves could be heard. Rain began to fall as the minutes ticked on, but my feet were rooted to the spot, afraid that if I was too far from the entrance I might miss a call for help.

My feet resumed their steady steps back and forth in front of the mine shaft and I clicked open my pocket watch for the dozenth time. We were steadily approaching an hour—she was about to fail the second trial. I watched as the second hand swept past the hour mark. My clothes and hair sodden in the rain much like the first day we both arrived at the summer palace.

A heavy breath slipped through my lips and I thought I heard something just below the sound of the steady rain. It sounded … like a melody. Thunder rumbled and I took a step closer to the entrance. A tiny prick of light appeared and the song grew louder. It was singing, but not just any singing, it was a mining song. Her voice swelled as did the light and I was struck mute by her beauty in the glowing lamp light.

Colette had returned at last, not just with an emerald but escorted by a small horde of goblins. My mind went blank as my heart swelled. She was perfect—utterly incomparable. She smiled at me and time slowed, raindrops halting in midair as lightning crawled across the sky.

“I believe I might have failed another trial,” Colette said, peering out at the rain before glancing to her companions.

“Time-wise, yes. But you should consider this a personal victory.”

The goblins stared up at Colette, their eyes twinkling as their song stopped. A robust male to the right of her handed her a sizable emerald and muttered something so low in Goblish I could not make it out. Colette took the emerald with a grateful smile and then did the most astonishing thing—she curtsied to him in thanks.

All of the goblins bowed in return before striking up another merry tune and returning to the depths of the mine. The rain continued its steady downpour as Colette peered up at me beneath lowered lashes.

“The others?”

“They have returned to the palace. I am your escort home.”

She took a deliberate step towards me as I reached for her. “It’s just a little rain.”

“I love the rain,” she said, tilting her face up to the sky with her eyes closed.

“As do I.”

I needed to tell her right this instance. But every time I opened my mouth to confess who I was and the depth of my affection for her, the magic had my jaw slamming shut.