Page 40 of Oath of Rebellion

"This is where I'll leave you, if you don't mind. But I really would like to see you at the tavern the next time you're in town?"

"I'll be back for the wedding, but you'll probably be busy with royal duties."

She grinned, leaning forward to stroke his forearm. "I will be, but trust me. The best party in town won't be at the palace but at the tavern. I'm hoping to sneak away by midnight and really let my hair down. Will I see you there?"

He nodded, the faint lights from inside the archway illuminating the lower half of his face. He had a beautiful smile. She wanted to see more of him, and her fingers itched to push his hood back.

But she didn't want to jeopardize her chances of seeing him again. She would wait till they got to the tavern, a neutral place where the fear of her brother seeing them wouldn't loom over her head. Where he'd feel comfortable removing more clothing than just his cloak and hood.

She'd need to talk to the new tavern manager about renting her usual room, cleaned to her specifications.

She smiled and caught herself from leaning in closer. She squeezed his forearm and dropped her hand.

"Thanks for seeing me safely home."

He stiffened and nodded, his lips still smiling softly. "I'll see you around, princess."

Then he turned and strode away. She slipped through the gate house, hugging the shadows and avoiding the guards who were already dozing. She didn't want them to say anything about a man walking her home.

But now that she had a plan to meet up with Knox after the wedding, she wasn't dreading it so much.

Chapter 14

EIRWYN SAT ON HER OWN pew to the side of the raised dais in front of the cathedral and watched Bella marry the king.

She never thought in all her wildest dreams that her friend would become queen. Or that her friend, her smart and talented friend, would fall for her arrogant brother.

The few days since she'd last seen Knox had flown by. She'd been cooped up at the palace for days now, helping Bella put the finishing touches on the wedding.

She was happy for her friend whose fortune had changed drastically, but it put Eirwyn on high alert. Every day she woke with dread as she panicked. It was like she couldn't catch her breath unless she thought about Knox, which was more often than was probably healthy.

She'd stolen a few precious moments on the roof, feeling the wind in her hair and listening to the birds chirp. Yesterday morning, she'd snuck out before the rest of the castle had awoken and ridden to the edge of the forest near the road.

She didn't go in, and she didn't see Knox. But just being closer to him, feeling the energy from the forest helped settle her nerves. With all the chaos of the wedding, thoughts of Knox still took up most of her brain.

The priest rang a bell, and Eirwyn blinked. The wedding was over, and Bella and the king turned and faced the crowd. Her brother stood tall, strong, and proud as he stared icily at the crowd.

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