Page 87 of A Game of Veils

“What?” Raul demands. “Do you have a better idea?”

Bastien’s penetrating gaze takes the measure of me. “Or she isn’t sure she can trust us. Which might be fair enough, but I don’t think you have many options, Aurelia.”

Lorenzo’s fingers shift at his side in a few emphatic motions. We’ll help you.

My throat constricts around the sting. I don’t want to put my life in their hands… They’ve toyed with it enough times themselves.

But they’re here. They came looking for me; they’ve raged on my behalf.

Isn’t this why I started cultivating their good will in the first place? What would have been the point if I throw away their aid when I need it most?

I dip my head. “All right. Try your plan.”

Raul simply grins.

Bastien points to Lorenzo. “Persuading Flacos is mostly going to take talking. Stay with her in case Fausta’s crew decides to come back to gloat.”

Lorenzo gives a gesture of agreement followed by something else that makes the other prince nod.

“Good thinking.” Bastien casts his gaze down on me once more. “We’ll be back as quickly as we can. Stay strong.”

As he and Raul lope off through the woods, Lorenzo sits down on the side of the hollow to join me. He takes my hand in his gingerly and then twines our fingers when I show no sign of discomfort.

A sudden burn forms behind my eyes, as comforting as the gesture is. Maybe because of how comforting it is.

I thought I’d destroyed all the progress I’d made with these men with yesterday’s stunt. But somehow the three princes I’ve clashed and sparred with are on my side—and more passionately determined to help me than I’d ever have expected.

Even with the evidence right in front of me, I have trouble wrapping my head around that idea. I peer up at Lorenzo as if I can read the answers to my confusion in his handsome face.

With him so close, I can get away with simply murmuring. “After last night, I thought you’d all be back to hating me.”

Lorenzo’s forehead furrows as if he doesn’t know what I’m talking about.

I make a face. “The way I treated Lady Rochelle?”

He blinks and then sputters a sort-of chuckle. The motion of his free hand toward me, then covering his face, then pressing to his heart convey a clear enough message.

You were hiding that you cared.

A lump fills my throat. They recognized that? They trusted what I’ve shown them enough to believe my cruelty was an act and not my kindnesses before?

That’s what Raul must have meant about me being the one woman with a heart. The horrified look on Lorenzo’s face last night—it was prompted by Marclinus’s attitude rather than mine.

It’s possible saving Rochelle won the princes to my side more instead of pushing them away.

How is it that these three men who started out terrorizing me know me better than the man who claims to be considering me as his lifelong partner?

“I also told off Raul quite a bit,” I feel the need to add.

Lorenzo’s mouth twitches with a grin. I think the next flicks of his fingers are meant to convey, He likes that.

My guffaw prickles up my throat. “Sure he does.”

Apparently I didn’t offend Raul so much that he wrote me off, though.

The effort of speaking has set off the pain in my ribs again. I let my eyes drift shut.

Lorenzo keeps holding my hand, using his other to brush stray strands of hair away from my forehead. His touch lingers on my face.

---