Page 48 of A Wayward Movement

“The guards aren’t the problem,” Benji said darkly. “It’s the prince I’m worried about.”

“Well, he didn’t cause me any mischief either,” Alina said placatingly. It was hard to hide her amusement at the darkly disapproving look on the teenager’s face, but she knew it would wound his pride if she let him see it.

“That’s not what I hear,” Benji said, brow lowered. “Rumor is that he’s flirting shamelessly with you this whole time.”

“What rumor?” Alina demanded. “Who says that?”

“Everyone,” Benji said.

Alina looked at Lilah, who gave an apologetic nod.

“There’s a lot of talk, you know how it is. The group interviewed just about everyone in town.”

Alina sighed. She shouldn’t be surprised.

“He does flirt,” she acknowledged. “I think it’s become such a habit he can’t help himself. But it’s not just with me, it’s with everyone. I appreciate your concern, but you have no reason to be worried about me, honestly.”

“Flirting is one thing,” Benji said, his scolding tone once again forcing her to fight to keep her face somber. “But we all know his reputation. It’s not flirting I’m worried about. It’s…other liberties.”

“Again,” Alina said patiently, “I’m grateful that you’re looking out for me. But the prince isn’t taking liberties with me.” Her thoughts circled back yet again to what he’d said to her outside her room the night before. “In fact, I’m getting the impression his reputation in that area has been hugely exaggerated.”

“So you’ve been casually discussing his rumored conquests with him, have you?”

Yes, actually. Alina didn’t speak the words aloud. Benji’s tone had been sarcastic, and she preferred for him to continue thinking that the idea of the prince sharing so personally with her was absurd.

She should have known Lilah would be her real problem. The younger girl was watching her with a very thoughtful expression, her scrutiny only increasing when Alina avoided her eye.

“You’re allowed to think whatever you like, Benji,” Alina said firmly. “But you need to prepare yourself to keep it inside and behave.” She decided not to tell them the prince had insisted on collecting her in the morning. “Because you’re likely to encounter him soon, and his position requires respect, if nothing else.”

Benji looked like he wanted to argue back, but she didn’t give him the chance. She moved into her own room, for once glad that Lilah still refused to share it, so that she could have a sanctuary.

It wasn’t the first time she’d underestimated the determination Lilah hid beneath her compliant exterior. The door had barely closed behind Alina when a firm knock gave her a moment’s warning before the other girl entered the room with purpose.

“Is everything all right?” Alina asked warily.

Lilah closed the door with a soft thunk, moving to sit on Alina’s bed.

“That’s the question I want you to answer,” she said, her gaze steady. “I don’t think I can obey your instruction to not worry about you when clearly there’s something important you’re not telling me.”

Alina could barely meet her friend’s eyes, her reassuring smile forced. “It’s nothing, honestly.”

When Lilah spoke again, it was the faintest hint of hurt in her voice that undid Alina.

“Surely you know you can trust me.”

“Of course I trust you, Lilah,” Alina said earnestly. She moved to the bed to sit beside her friend. “It’s not that. It’s just…I’d closed that chapter of my life forever. I didn’t think it would have relevance to my future ever again. It was easier to settle into the life I’ve built since then if I wasn’t focused on my old life.”

“You’re talking about when you lived in the capital,” Lilah guessed patiently. “I’ve gotten the sense before now that your parents were more affluent than you’d let on. Am I right?”

“Yes.” Alina stared at the curtained window, her eyes glazed over. “My father was one of the most successful merchants in Siqual. I doubt there was an untitled man in the kingdom more wealthy than him at the height of his success.”

She caught Lilah’s tiny start of surprise, but didn’t look at the other girl’s face.

“Our home in the capital was in the heart of the castle district,” she went on. “We mingled with the court quite often, and it wasn’t unusual to be invited to events at the castle. We were one of a very few families wealthy enough to be welcomed into court life in that way. Not that everyone welcomed us, of course. Many of the noble girls looked down on me for having no title, but I never cared about that.”

“So…” Lilah hesitated, trying to speak delicately. “Does that mean you knew Prince Xavier back then?”

Alina let out a soft sigh, taking her time to reply. “Yes,” she said at last. “We knew each other well. We’re the same age, and we became very close the last year or so before my family left the capital.”