Page 12 of Unbetrothed

“You can change your appearance any time you want? Can you change your skin color or the length of your nose?”

“Yes, yes, yes. You’re right about my gift. I thought I had mentioned it before.” He bent over a hibiscus shrub and plucked a giant pink flower. He handed it to me casually and kept walking. “I know you’ve only had a night to consider your options, but who is the lucky lad you’re thinking to marry?”

I tucked the new flower behind my ear, readying myself to hear another speech about the good qualities of such and such suitor.

Laude asked me the same question this morning. Mamá and Papá cut the list in half for me. They all had opinions. Laude swooned over Sir Lucas. Papá thought Duke Marden served our purposes well. Mamá thought I should spend this week getting to know each of the suitors better, though she, too, spoke generously about Duke Marden. My brother laughed about it all and left on his voyage.

I crossed my arms.How does Lux not see that he’s the only man I’ve ever dreamed of marrying?A knot formed in my heart.Should I make my declaration now?My mouth went dry.

I scuffed my feet along the gravel. “I don’t want to marry any of them.”

Lux laughed. “You can’t remain unbetrothed forever.”

“That’s easy for you to say. Doesn’t Princess Alexa of Aldrin wait for you to set a date?” I said sardonically.

“Touchy, touchy. Why don’t you like Princess Alexa?”

“Pshh. What’s not to like about a snotty, green-eyed goddess? I love it when she flaunts her gift. Like when she made it rain at my beach party. What a perfect present. All was forgiven, of course. She’s got that thing that makes every man’s head turn—even on her worst day.” A quiver of anger vibrated in my chest at the mere memory of my parents forcing me to accept her apology.

“I sense jealousy.” The way Lux wagged his brows made me want to slap him.

Why did I waste my time with him? I started walking back toward the terrace.

He caught my wrist. “Don’t be like that. You are the Princess of Giddel. The most esteemed kingdom around the Agata Sea. Every other girl, including Princess Alexa, would love to be in your position.”

“No, they wouldn’t.”

“Yes, they would.” He lifted his chin, examining me. “You have your mind set on needing your gift.”

A lump formed in the back of my throat. I would not cry. “You would too if everyone constantly reminded you of how useless you were.” I looked down at my feet and drew in a deep breath. “Lux, I have something to tell you. I—I made an oath to go visit my whyzer, and I think I’m running out of time. Please tell me there’s a way out of this.”

Lux’s eyes flicked wide open, and then his expression softened with compassion. He drew me in a hug. His warm embrace melted my body. He smelled of sweet flowers, seawater, and sun-warmed skin. I’d be chastised for this hug if any of Papá’s advisors saw us. He pulled back a bit. “Why don’t you go to Valle de los Fantasmas right now?”

“Is this another one of your jokes?”

“I’m serious.” He cocked his head with a gleam of something mischievous. “Didn’t the young boy tell you to go to the valley when the time was right?”

“But Lux, no one who goes in comes out. My uncle, for one. Many others have washed up dead on the shores of the river. Are you trying to get rid of me?” I swiped his hands off my shoulders.

“I don’t know of any loopholes in making an oath. There may not be any.”

“Then what do I do?” I pinched the bridge of my nose.

“You, Beatriz, are stubborn. You should have gone on this expedition years ago. That boy gave you directions on how to get your gift. You tell me you have nightmares about this regularly. You mope and groan about how you need this gift to be happy. Stop your whining and go get it.”

I swallowed hard. He was right about me always complaining. Could I go through with such an expedition? Did I even have a choice? “My papá and mamá would never approve of such an excursion.”

Lux snorted. “When did you start asking permission? As I recall, your parents told you after our boating incident to make your fanciful ideas less noticeable.”

A smile spread across my face. “If you hadn’t been so keen on swimming, we wouldn’t have gotten caught.”

“Exactly! Take a few of your servants and tell your parents you’re heading over to picnic in the mountains. They wouldn’t be the wiser of your true motives.” He pressed his lips together.

“Only if you break your betrothal with Alexa.” The words had sprung out of my mouth, and there was no going back. I held my breath and pouted my lips. Feigned confidence was the only way to proceed.

His gaze softened my heart like butter on warm toast as he drew nearer. He leaned into my ear, his breath brushing against my neck. “I’d break the betrothal for you.”

A tingle of glee spread from my neck all the way to my toes. I stepped away, searching his turquoise eyes to make sure I had not just imagined this moment. Did he feel the same way about me? A muscle in his jaw tightened, and I followed his gaze toward the terrace doors. Sir Marcoin, in all his pomp and sense of propriety, glared at us.

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