Page 59 of A Game of Veils

Lorenzo brings his finger to his lips for silence and reaches up to pluck one of the fruits. The give of its skin looks more like a plum than an apple, despite its size.

My eyes widen. “Are we supposed to…?”

The prince shrugs with a hint of a grin and motions as if to say, It’s just one.

He takes a small bite from one side, closes his eyes with a dreamy expression, and then hands the pumello to me.

I sink my teeth into the pliant flesh on the opposite side. A buttery sweet and yet delightfully tart flavor washes over my tongue.

I have to press my hand to my mouth to hold back a moan of satisfaction. Lorenzo watches me, looking utterly pleased to have given me this little gift, even if it’s a stolen one.

As I offer the fruit back to him, our fingers brush with a brief tingle. “I suppose now that we’ve started, we’d better finish it.”

He gives a soft chuckle, his eyes never leaving mine. Something in his gaze makes my heart flutter.

He steps forward and lifts his hand to my cheek. The gentleness of his touch sets off another flutter. I can’t look away from his stunning face.

When I don’t jerk back, Lorenzo leans in and kisses me.

It’s been a long time since I’ve been kissed. The prince’s lips are tender but fervent against mine, the incredible flavor of the twilight pumello lingering on them. A surge of giddiness sweeps through every inch of my body.

I might as well be an instrument left to gather dust, and he’s strumming me to life with the deepening of the kiss, with the stroke of his fingers down my neck.

I don’t know if I’ve ever been kissed like this.

That last thought sends a jab of guilt through my gut.

This is good. He’s warmed up to me in one way or another. But I ease back a step, ignoring the frenetic beat of my pulse and the longing coursing through my veins.

“Thank you,” I say softly. “But I—we really shouldn’t?—”

Lorenzo makes an accommodating gesture as if to indicate he understands. No sign of dejection shows in his expression.

He might have thought less of me if I hadn’t drawn a boundary.

Another pain lances through my belly. This one I can’t blame on my stirred-up emotions.

I frown, my attention drawing inward. My stomach has gone unusually tight. As I notice that, the sickly chill of nausea seeps through my limbs.

It can’t be the fruit I just ate—twilight pumellos aren’t remotely toxic, and Lorenzo looks fine. Perhaps my stretch of starvation is catching up with me in an unexpected way.

Not a way I want him seeing me, not after the progress I seem to have made.

I gather myself and smile, pretending sweat hasn’t started beading on the back of my neck. “Thank you again. For talking with me. For sharing this. It’s been a long two days. I think I’d better finally get to bed.”

Lorenzo frowns and swivels his hand. Are you okay?

“Yes. Just very worn out.” I reach out and squeeze his forearm for emphasis. “All I need is some rest.”

As I set off for the palace building, I hope to all the gods who might be listening that’s true.

Chapter Twenty

Aurelia

By the time I reach my bedroom, the queasiness has given way to wracking shivers. My hand shakes as I bring the key to the lock. It takes me three tries to fit it into the keyhole.

I stagger into the room and shove the door shut behind me. A sudden rush of feverish heat leaves me sagging against it.

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