Page 62 of The Heir's Bargain

Sylvia quirked a brow.

"I mean, I was." I shook my head, tripping over my words as I tried to keep my pace steady. "I still am, but that's why my relationship with Fynn is perfect. We both have our own responsibilities. He has a duty to his kingdom, and so do I."

"Hmph." Sylvia shrugged. "In any case, I have to admit you two are adorable together. It's nice."

I stumbled. "Nice?"

"Yeah." Sylvia nodded beside me. "It's nice to see you happy. I mean, you haven't stopped smiling since he kissed you."

"Now that's definitely not true!" Despite having meant the words, heat flushed my cheeks.

Sylvia laughed. "See? I've never seen you like this. So. . ." Sylvia ran ahead and turned around, jogging backward as we slowed. "I don't know! Carefree? Normal? Human?"

"Normal? What are you?—"

"Come on, Dani." Sylvia opened their arms up, lifting them wide in the air. "Don't get me wrong. You're great to have around. Get a few drinks in you, and you're the life of the party sometimes. But other times, you're. . ."

My eyes narrowed. "I'm what?"

Sylvia sighed, spinning back around and returning to my side. "Strict? A rule follower? Single-minded? It's like once you entered the military and put on the uniform, you never took it off. It's great to see you stumble for a change."

"You're ridiculous."

However, the words did not sit right on my tongue. If Sylvia believed that, then perhaps the leaders did have a point.

"Maybe," Sylvia said with a half shrug. "But then again, maybe there's something to be said about not dedicating your life to one thing."

My pace slowed, and I let Sylvia race ahead as we turned the corner and started running up the hill.

Fynn and I had only been courting each other for two weeks. If Sylvia already was seeing some change, could that mean the leaders were, too?

My smile grew wider.

Maybe this deal wasn't as foolish as I thought.

Weeks passed, and Fynn and I fell into a natural rhythm.

It was almost easy to pretend to court him. I didn’t have to explain why I was tired after training or provide some excuse not to see him every single day. It was simple.

If only a real courtship were that easy.

It was both a blessing and a curse that our schedules often conflicted. On the one hand, I didn’t have to pretend to be courting Fynn every single day, but on the other hand, we needed our family to see us together. Every time we tried to schedule a dinner with my parents or his mother, something got in the way—an advisor meeting, a strategy meeting, a training session, a court session.

The one time we could see each other during the week also ended up being the night when our parents were both busy.

At the end of each week, Sylvia, Moris, and I headed to the tavern, and more often than not, Fynn was already waiting for us at our table. Some nights, Terin tagged along, dragging Riley with him; other days, he didn't. When Terin was there, Fynn was touchier than usual.

I couldn't blame him. If anyone were to realize that this courtship was a farce, it would be Terin. He knew us better than anyone.

On those days, either Fynn's hand was squeezing mine to the point where our palms were sweating, or his arm was wrapped around my shoulders, crushing me to his body.

Thankfully, though, there was no more kissing.

Not that kissing my best friend was a big deal.

Not that it brought up old feelings that I kept trying to extinguish and pretend never existed.

Sometimes, however, old feelings had a way of creeping back up no matter how much we tried to ignore them.

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