Page 76 of A Wayward Movement

So he sat taciturn through dinner, forced to wrestle through the unpleasantness until his mind was once again free enough to bend back to the reason he’d delved into the past in the first place.

His father’s reaction to that long-ago request. The disapproval, the anger, the satisfaction at ending a connection he’d apparently been unaware of, and had certainly believed shallow and passing. The king had probably never thought of it again. None of Xavier’s family had been in on the secret of his heartbreak.

Had it all been nothing more than Xavier had assumed at the time? Or had there been more to his father’s unwillingness to speak to Alina’s father? Had some dispute between the merchant and the royal family been the cause of Xavier’s greatest misfortune? And was it all connected to the sudden and catastrophic failure of Alina’s family’s business that came not so long after?

Xavier retired to bed as soon as the meal was over, not caring that he was going against the reputation for good-humored frivolity that he’d so carefully cultivated.

He didn’t retreat to bed to rest, though. He went to fret with privacy. And his mind was fixated on one subject only.

His feelings toward Alina were no less all-consuming for how complicated they’d become. Ever since the desert—where his illness-induced unconsciousness had left him powerless to prevent her from weakening herself to the point of collapse to protect him—he’d felt an illogical anxiety for her safety any time they were apart. He’d been restless and agitated during the days she’d slept off her exertions at her home. Her reappearance had seemed to settle things down, but Captain Mitchell’s accusations against her had sent Xavier right back into protectiveness. And the knowledge that she wasn’t in the inn with the rest of the team, under the watchful eye of his guards, was suddenly a splinter his mind couldn’t remove.

After a fruitless hour that brought him no closer to sleep, Xavier got up and dressed himself for outside. He was tempted to do something outrageous like climb out a window to evade his guards, as he’d done many times before. But remembering his frustration at the captain’s unjustified claim that he kept slipping off, he acknowledged that it would be absurd to live up to it now.

He stepped outside his door, pausing as the two guards sprang to attention.

“I’m going for a walk,” he said. Both guards had been with him a long time, and knew from his tone not to argue. Once he was satisfied they wouldn’t protest, he added, “Wear your traveling cloaks. I’d much prefer not to identify myself to every passerby.” With the words, he twitched the hood of his own cloak over his head.

The three of them moved out of the inn, slipping quietly past the door into the tavern, where the company was still lively. When they emerged onto the street, the guards fell into step beside Xavier, well-trained enough to know how to not look like guards. Zuzu, who’d appeared from a nearby tree when Xavier emerged from the inn, wasn’t as good at being inconspicuous. He gently but firmly refused to let her land on his shoulder.

“Go explore,” he told her quietly. “I don’t want you drawing attention.”

She flapped off in a huff, the beating of her wings almost masking her offended hiss.

Xavier didn’t entirely know the point of the outing, although there were no surprises in the direction his feet took him. His only thought was to reassure himself that Alina was secure, and not far away. Then maybe he would be able to sleep instead of fussing like a mother hen.

Chapter

Eighteen

Alina rose from the dinner table feeling more contented than she had in a long time. She was very weary, her reduced energy depleted after the day’s efforts, but it had been worth it. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d enjoyed a visit to the family so much.

Aunt Diana had gone out to buy some supplies a couple of hours before dinner, causing Alina to protest that she’d known her aunt was about to go out when she’d arrived and interrupted their day. But the older woman assured her she wasn’t an interruption, and wouldn’t hear of Alina’s offer to run the errand for her. She told Alina to relax, and Alina was glad to do so. She really was so tired, and it was nice to be looked after.

Her uncle had seemed pleased to see her, in his detached way, but not so much so that he wanted to spend an evening chatting with the womenfolk. He left to get a drink at the tavern, taking his oldest son with him, the two men’s arms linked companionably.

“I can hardly believe Tom’s old enough to go to the tavern now,” Alina said, as she helped clear the table.

“Yes, he’s all grown,” her aunt agreed. “And a great help to your uncle with his work, too.” She clapped a sudden hand to her forehead. “Oh no. What a pain!”

“What is it, Auntie?” Alina asked.

“I was supposed to send these with him.” She pulled a small jar of spices from a shelf by Alina’s knee. “They’re for my friend, and her husband always meets your uncle at the tavern.”

“Let me take it.” Alina held out her hand. “They haven’t been gone long, I can catch them.”

“No, dear, it wasn’t your mistake. I’ll take it,” Aunt Diana said.

“I insist,” Alina said firmly. “You haven’t let me do anything useful all day.”

“I can take it,” piped up her cousin Pippa. “I’ve always wanted to see inside the tavern.”

Alina eyed the fifteen-year-old. She had great fondness for the girl, but it had been a challenge to keep from chastising her with the flirtatious way she’d behaved toward Xavier that afternoon. Alina couldn’t imagine Pippa’s interest in the tavern was one her parents would wish to indulge.

Sure enough, Aunt Diana’s response was firm.

“No, you won’t.”

“I’ll go.” Alina took the spices with an air of finality.