Page 23 of Ties of Starlight

She pinned her shawl in place and turned around, cheeks still red and clutching the star-patterned fabric.

“Sorry, I should have warned you I was coming in,” Nyrunn said, ducking his head and moving toward his things. As he opened the bag, he saw they weren't really his things. Right. The Cometa Couple had specific clothes they had to wear as part of the tradition.

“Just—next time, please. For both our sakes,” Idonea murmured as she dropped to the ground and started fussing with her bag.

This was just about duty. So that comment didn't send another fissure through his heart.

Instead, he pulled out his clothes and just focused on making himself presentable.

He could tell Idonea wasn't looking at him; she was fussing with her things, particularly the books she had. As he pulled his shirt over his head, watching her out of the corner of his eye, he couldn't fathom why she'd packed several books. The Constella knew the ritual inside and out—what more did they need?

She wasn't opening any of them.

Interesting.

He finished putting on the outfit, and it at least wasn't completely ridiculous or uncomfortable, given they would be riding all day. It was still ostentatious, but no more so than most of the things he had to wear as king. Plus, it matched Idonea's, marking them clearly as a pair.

As soon as he was done, he cleared his throat and said, “We’d better get moving.”

At his words, Idonea ran out of the tent with her things.

He sighed and followed after her, taking his bag, and when he stepped outside the tent, he moved to hand it off to the servant waiting for him. There was another servant trying to do the same for Idonea, but she was clutching it and leaning away. “My things will stay with me.”

“It'll be far better for us to keep it with the other—” The servant was already holding the bag that her dress had been shoved into, but Idonea was clutching the one that contained the books. Did she expect to read while riding?

“This bag stays with me, and there is no precedent for it not to. Gytha's chosen is allowed to keep her personal belongings with her and has in the past.”

Nyrunn waved his servant away and moved over to Idonea and the elf she was arguing with. “It's alright, it's not all that heavy, I'm sure. If she wants to keep it close, that's no trouble.”

The servant bowed and said, “Of course, Your Majesty.”

Idonea eyed him, still keeping an iron-tight grip on the bag. He just gestured toward the horse waiting for her. She didn't take her narrowed eyes off him as she moved toward it. Then he held his hand out. “Let me get it secured for you.”

She just lifted her chin. “Thank you, Your Majesty, but I can handle it.”

What did she expect him to do with it in broad daylight with her watching him? What was so important about it that she wouldn't let anyone else touch it?

Idonea made quick work of securing her small bag to the saddle, setting it on the horse's back behind the saddle. The way she did it was practiced and instinctual, which didn't make much sense because she'd lived in Novum her whole life and hadn't traveled anywhere.

It was pathetic that he knew that.

But within seconds she was done, turning back to him and saying, “See? No trouble for me.”

“Right, now—” He took another step closer, reaching for her, and she jumped back, bumping into the horse, eyes wide. He paused and gestured to the horse that was quite tall for a girl of her stature. “You don't expect to get up there by yourself, do you? In those skirts?”

Her shoulders sagged as she looked up at the beast and muttered, “What? The last one—Why is this one so tall?”

“Come on, I can hardly make him shorter,” Nyrunn said, reaching out again but not making contact. Idonea this time shifted closer, stepping into his arms, even if she had an uneasy expression while doing it.

He tried to ignore the way his heart stuttered as his hands settled on her waist and he lifted her up and set her on the saddle so her legs hung off the side. But he didn't let go so she could adjust her seat. His traitorous fingers curled in tighter, and even beneath her bodice, he could feel the warmth of her skin. The sunlight fell and struck the braid that draped over her shoulder, lighting her soft features. How could she think he would ever find her repulsive?

How could Olaug have ever looked at her and been anything but smitten with her beauty?

“Thank you, Your Majesty,” she whispered, eyeing his hands still on her waist. He reluctantly pulled them back.As soon as he had, she was tucking her legs into the correct position and sitting forward, taking the reins.

He just nodded and moved to take his horse from the stableboy holding his reins. As soon as he swung up into his saddle, Frode rode over to him and said, “Everything is ready, Your Majesty.”

Nyrunn glanced at Idonea, who was just staring down at her reins, rubbing her thumb over the leather. What a mystery she was.

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