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Castor smirks at my obvious panic. “If you’ve gone off poor Maxine then perhaps she can sleep in my bed tonight?”

“Absolutely not!” Lux snarls.

My stomach drops. But before I can sprint out of the room, Lux turns to me with a reluctant sigh. “Maxine is my cat.”

I blink, surprised. “You have a cat? Why didn’t you just say so?”

“You said in your fourth letter that you prefer dogs.” Lux drags a hand through his hair.

My laugh echoes through the dining room. “That doesn’t mean I hate all cats! Why ever would you think—” I’m cut off by my laughter. It’s bad enough that I have to clamp my hand over my mouth.

Lux laughs with me while Castor places his chin in his hand, his lips twitching.

“So when can I meet Maxine?” I manage eventually, taking a bite of my dessert. The chocolate melts in my mouth. It tastes just as divine as the pasta, though much more enjoyable without the awkward air.

“Tomorrow.” Lux grins. “Once you’re rested, I’ll give you a tour of the manor and introduce you to her. Then we can take a trip into town. There’s a delightful clothesmaking shop hidden in the forest that I think you’ll love to visit.”

“Really?” My voice jumps up an octave.

Lux nods eagerly while I barely notice Castor as he pads out of the room, taking his plate of chocolate tart with him.

6

EDEN

Ibarely sleep that night. My head is too full of golden sunflower fields, chocolate tarts, and the feel of Lux’s thick arm beneath my hand as he escorted me back to my bedchamber.

After Castor disappeared, Lux and I spoke for hours. Any nerves I’d felt at the start of dinner were washed away with the bottle of wine we shared.

I told him about the gowns I planned on making next and how I wanted to learn how to sew men’s clothing too. He told me about the villages nearby and all the places he wished to show me, the shops he couldn’t wait to take me to.

When we arrived at the door to my bedchamber, I thought he might try to kiss me. The candlelight danced off his cheekbones as his lashes lowered, his fingertips just teasing the fabric of my bodice.

But when Phillion cleared his throat, Lux sighed before stepping back. “Excuse me, princess.” He was smiling, but I didn’t miss the anger in his tone, or the look he gave Phillion that made me feel suddenly cold.

Thank the Stars that when I woke up the following morning, a different guard had taken his place, dressed in another obviously stolen guard uniform.

“Meera?” I grin.

“You’re up early.” She stretches her arms. “Phallus had to get some sleep, so I took over guard duty.”

I laugh quietly. “Don’t let him hear you call him that.”

“I’ll call him what I like. The old fool doesn’t scare me.” She shrugs before adjusting her armour. “Where are you off to this morning? I’ll be your escort.”

“Actually…” I wince at the memory of Phillion watching me with Lux yesterday. “Would it be alright if I went off on my own today? This manor is perfectly safe, and there are guards everywhere.”

She shakes her head, my heart sinking. “Blossom told me to watch you at all times. She paid me handsomely to⁠—”

“Please, Meera. I’m only going to walk around the manor. There’s no danger in that.”

She looks unconvinced, but eventually, after I give her my best pout, she rolls her eyes. “Fine. Just go. I’ll be here.”

“Thank you!” I beam at her, but she doesn’t smile back.

“If anything happens, you run straight here. Understood? Don’t take any chances.”

“Nothing will happen,” I tell her, but she grasps my arm tightly.