Page 29 of Unbetrothed

I gulped down the bite of food. “What do you mean?”

“You live near the sea. It makes sense you’d like that color. That’s all I’m saying.”

His assuming anything about me pricked like grazing a hand on a thorn when reaching for a flower. My lips pursed, cheek muscles tightening.

He snickered.

“What do you find so amusing?”

“You.”

“I beg your pardon.”

He took a long drink of water. “We don’t know much about one another. I make conversation. You get angry about everything I say. Or pretend you didn’t hear.”

“I’m not angry.” I hacked a portion of meat and shoved it in my mouth.

“No, not at all.” He inflected his voice with a hint of sarcasm.

I shifted the half-chewed meat into my cheek, despite it breaking every rule in refined society, and said, “What is it that you want? You saved us from danger, and now you feel you own us.”

A faint smirk crossed his face. “Not at all.”

I chomped down on another morsel of meat, trying to eat as fast as possible. Taking my glass of water, I sipped. The chunk lodged in my throat. I gasped for air, but none came.

“I did what any human should do like I said last night. These paths are unsafe for even a lone man. Any good fellow passing by would have helped you. And after beholding such beauty, do you blame me for wanting further acquaintance with you?” A look of concern knit his eyebrows. “Are you all right?”

Gasping for air, I dropped my utensils, and they hit the table with a clank. I waved my hands and my torso tightened until I coughed.

Water and the chunk of meat shot from my mouth and straight at Zichri.

My mouth hung open in shock. I continued to cough, and something akin to a laugh or cry sputtered from my lips.

Zichri wiped his face with the back of his hand, eyes wide and lips pinched together.

I couldn’t hold back any longer. Laughter quivered out my burning throat until I slapped my hands over my mouth.

He placed his napkin on the table. “How about a walk? That might prove less dangerous.”

While wandering the boardwalk overlooking the shadowy mountainside, I let go of the tension building up in my mind as I ambled by Zichri’s side. I may not be able to share everything about me, but something in his demeanor allowed me to put off regality. Well, it also could have been that I launched a chunk of chewed meat at his face, and he hadn’t run away—yet.

He glanced in my direction. “What’s something you hope for?”

I crossed my arms. My real answers could not be shared. Would he even understand the need for my gift? I doubted the weight of being useful to an entire kingdom would be fathomable for him. Instead, I said, “I hope to travel the forest like a bird, seeing all from above without a care in the world.”

“Hmm … birds do have cares.” He stepped closer to me, and then a man shoved past him.

A peasant with scruffy hair caught my attention. Could he be one of the wicked servants? My foot caught on a wooden slab, and I began to tip forward.

Zichri grabbed my arm and braced my waist. “That was a close one.”

Three other peasants, a male and two females, knocked into us, and Zichri pulled me into his body.

My heart lurched. “I’m not quite myself today.” I fanned my face, heat rising up my neck. The men who careened into us dressed better than the drivers, and these women covered their hair with kerchiefs. Goosebumps prickled on my arms.

Zichri followed my gaze. “I’ve never seen them here before, but many visitors pass through all the time. Should we continue our walk or head back?” Torch lights danced in his eyes.

More people gallivanted out a saloon, singing. They bumped my back, pushing us closer together. I could hear his heartbeat quicken in his chest. A delightful sensation danced along my spine. I lifted my gaze and met a look that turned my knees to water.

---