Page 10 of The Mad King and the False Queen

“It’s…” Dagmara’s voice ran dry. She didn’t want to say it was nothing. She didn’t know what it was.

Teos tilted his head, his blonde hair flopping on his head. “You know I can see you, Aleksy?”

Aleksy let out a breath, turning around to face Teos. His cheeks were bright red, and he scratched the back of his neck as he tried to think of an excuse. “I…wasn’t thinking you’d be awake.”

“Clearly,” Teos laughed. “You didn’t have time for a card game tonight with me, but you have time to make-out with my sister?”

Dagmara’s face paled. “Teos!”

“No, no,” Aleksy held out his hand to prevent her from rushing forward. “You’re right, I’ll make it up to you tomorrow.”

“Tomorrow is the coronation,” Teos reminded the prince. He picked up a card and began to flip it between his fingers. “By the way, does Magda know about this?”

Dagmara glanced in Aleksy’s direction. No, Aleksy’s sister and Dagmara’s best friend didn’t know about this. Dagmara hadn’t even known about this until a minute ago. Her heart still pounded loudly against her chest, and she wanted to kiss him once more. Would they return to being cordial with one another tomorrow morning? Aleksy didn’t break eye contact, no doubt wondering the same thing.

“I’ll take that as a no…” Teos said, extending the last word. “Is this a one-night thing? Or should I find somewhere else to spend my evenings because three doors away is not nearly enough space between my bedroom and yours.”

Mortified, Dagmara held her face in her palms. “I’m sorry,” she muttered under her breath to Aleksy.

“No, I’m sorry,” Aleksy replied. “I should go.”

He opened the door and began to exit, but stopped at the threshold. “Teos,” he said over his shoulder, “How about I sneak away during the coronation for a card game? It’ll be our secret.”

Teos nodded, a knowing expression in his eyes. “I’m good with secrets. Don’t think I’ll go easy on you though.” He pointed the card at the prince.

Aleksy smiled. “Of course not.” He then met Dagmara’s gaze. “I’ll…see you at our meeting in the morning.”

She nodded.

Then the prince left, closing the door behind him.

“This was not my fault,” Teos said.

“I know,” Dagmara groaned. She crossed to the chaise and plopped down, her mind running wild. She propped her feet up, letting some of her blood return to her head. Now that she was resting, her body began to settle. She remembered Aleksy’s lips against hers and couldn’t help but smile. She grabbed the pillow on the couch and held it against her stomach, squeezing it tighter.

“You do remember he is the prince, right?” Teos asked.

She forced the smile off her face. “Yes. Maybe it’s best that it stopped.”

“How long has this been a thing?”

“Just tonight,” she replied.

“Please. You two have been flirting with each other since before you knew what flirting was.”

“How would you know?” Dagmara asked.

“Because I’m not an idiot.” Teos eyed his sister, shuffling the cards in his grasp. “What happened to your face?”

She had nearly forgotten. “Someone punched me.”

“Ouch. I’d hate to see the other guy.”

She scoffed. “You won’t.”

“And Aleksy still thought you were attractive enough to kiss?”

“Oh, shut up!” She threw the pillow in his direction. He braced himself with his forearms, and it pitifully bounced off his shoulder before flopping onto the ground.

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