Page 101 of The Heir's Bargain

I folded my arms over my chest, cocking my head to the side. "Is it a crime now to smile, brother?"

"No, but. . ." Terin's gaze swept over me, assessing me. He hummed and continued walking, trailing behind Graeson who walked as if his life depended on it.

"You truly are smitten with her then?"

"I—" I sighed, brushing my hair back. The crisp breeze of the ocean brushed across my face. "I really like her, Ter."

My brother’s forehead creased with concern. "Don't break her heart, Fynn. She's our best friend."

My hands rolled into tight fists at my side, and although I didn't mean to reach out, I did.

Feelings of doubt and disbelief coated the invisible thread before Terin closed off our connection, throwing his shields up.

Terin closing himself off was a sword to the gut, but that wasn't why anger heated my skin.

It didn't bother me that Terin believed I was some man who played with women's hearts. He wasn't right, but he also wasn't necessarily wrong either. I knew what people said about me. I knew how many women I had courted over the years. But what was I supposed to do when every woman that I allowed to get close to me only wanted me for my crown? Was I expected to settle for someone who didn't care about me?

I always tried to give my past partners the benefit of the doubt. It was easy for someone to pass judgment before they got to know someone. But after a few weeks or months of courting, their opinions never changed. Even Rosalina, whom I had gone back to time and time again, never altered her reasoning for pursuing me.

But with Dani, it was different.

She knew me.

Her interest wasn't in the crown. Dani wanted to protect the crown, not wear it. By the gods, if I ever tried to make her my consort, she would probably throw the crown at me or try to stab me with it.

What hurt the most, however, was that Terin didn't believe I could change. That I would not treat her differently than the others.

She was my best friend, and that meant more to me than anything else.

"I won't break her heart," I said.

But as we headed toward the training grounds, a small voice in my mind whispered, She might break mine, though.

Chapter 25

DANI

"Another mile?" I asked Sylvia, bouncing on my toes, energy coursing through me.

"Are you serious?" Sylvia was bent over, hands on their knees as they tried to regain their breath. "We just ran ten miles."

I stretched my arms over my head, keeping the muscles loose as I continued shifting my weight from one foot to the other. I had to keep moving. If I stopped, my mind would spiral. Again.

"And? We do this all the time," I said.

"Sure, but not at that speed," Sylvia countered.

"That was a normal pace, Sylv."

Sylvia shook their head. "No, it wasn't. That was Gabriel-level of running." Sylvia shrugged when I quirked a brow, then added, "All right. Maybe not Gabriel-level, but still faster than normal."

I hummed. "That's a no, then?"

My gaze slid past Sylvia toward the path through the forests. The terrain was rocky, and the elevation constantly changed. As treacherous as it might have been, it would keep my mind occupied.

"Definitely a no," Sylvia snorted, folding their hands behind their head. "What's gotten into you, anyway? You're—" Their hands fell to their hips, their brows twisting. "Honestly, I can't tell. Are you happy or nervous?"

I laughed, trying to blow the comment off, but I didn’t even believe the sound coming from my mouth.

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