Page 6 of Untamed

“The very same one.” Jaime tugged me along. “But we need to visit the king and queen first to settle our betrothal, and I don’t want to wait until next month to ask.”

Though Cosme often kept a portal from Giddel to Himzo in his sitting room, the king and queen didn’t know how Jaime arrived or left the palace with such stealth. An official monthly visit allowed others to believe Jaime made the long trek once a month to keep Giddel informed about Himzo affairs and kept our connection to portal makers a secret.

Squealing, I skipped up the terrace and through the palace doors.

The empty back corridor provided a clear path to the king’s hall.

“What do Himzos wear? Will I fit in?” I spun in my turquoise dress, enjoying the way Jaime’s eyes glowed while watching me.

“One more thing.” Jaime stopped in front of the king’s hall doors. “I’m not sure it’s prudent to tell Beatriz every last detail.”

My nose scrunched. “What do you mean?”

“It’s just that, I wasn’t supposed to tell you about the”—he dropped his voice to a whisper—“portal, and Cosme believes it should stay hidden as much as possible.”

Lady Myla passed by with a tight bun at the nape of her neck and a condescending air befitting her station as head lady’s maid. She still hadn’t let go of her grudge at my elevated station.

“Excuse me,” I called to Lady Myla. “Is it possible to put the flowers in water for me?”

She scrunched her face into a grimace but tore the basket from Jaime’s grip. “I’ll see to it.”

Jaime and I stared at each other and waited for the click of Lady Myla’s heels to disappear. He made a face, and I resisted a giggle, so it wouldn’t seem like I was laughing at Lady Myla.

The moment the passage quieted, I blurted my question, “I can tell Beatriz about us? That hasn’t anything to do with Cosme or his people who make you-know-whats.”

“Yes, you can share our intentions and make plans, but please keep Zichri’s movements to yourself. I’m sure Princess Beatriz wouldn’t be indiscreet, but the more mouths that know, the greater the chance for information to slip.”

My lips smashed into a firm line. Jaime didn’t cause this breach between the princess and me, but these hidden affairs made it hard to maintain a close relationship with her. I felt like a liar.

Jaime knocked on the king’s fancy door and spoke in hushed tones to the majordomo. I caught the words ‘private’ and ‘important’ enunciated. I craned my neck to peek into the throne room only to find at least a dozen other townspeople waiting for an audience with the king.

We’d be here all day, and Beatriz wouldn’t need more than the morning alone with her letters. Too much time alone left her depressed, though I doubted she’d admit it to anyone. She needed a midday date with her Laude to digest Zichri’s wordsand intentions. And who was I kidding? I gobbled up those sweet lines about his undying affection for her.

The majordomo returned. “His Majesty would like to meet with you in the back room.”

My spine straightened at the favor King Ezer bestowed. The back room was reserved for the dignitaries he loved the most and for his children. I held Jaime’s forearm with an extra bounce in my step as we passed through the congested throne room. A man with a curled mustache shot me a side-eyed look, and I may have flashed him my teeth in a wide grin.

Passing the townspeople, the thrones, and the cherry-wood-paneled wall behind them, we entered a cozy room with armchairs, flickering oil lamps set on gilded tables, and a fur rug lending warmth to the cold stone floor. We approached the king in his red velvet seat. Beside him Queen Cottia leaned forward like she anticipated our message.

After all the pleasantries, formalities, and head bobbing, Jaime cut to the juicy question on the tip of my tongue.

“Will you allow me to form a betrothal with Laude?” Jaime kept his head bowed and gaze averted from the king’s face.

King Ezer snuck a glance at his wife. The laugh lines around his mouth deepened, which was a good sign. “Indeed, you may. When do you plan to take our Laude?”

Jaime patted my knuckles. The king had assumed I would leave without another question. Hadn’t Jaime given me a choice whether we should stay or go? Then again, how would we live if Jaime had to start his work anew with no connections and no status?

The bead of hope Jaime had given with our upcoming visit to Himzo soured.

“We plan to wed after the next Dotado mission.” Jaime kept an even rhythm to his voice, not giving away his sentiments.

King Ezer harrumphed. “Do you suppose I could get a hint of Cosme’s schemes?”

“You should discuss the plans with him, but I anticipate us needing no more than a month or two.”

Queen Cottia flew from her seat and hugged me tightly enough to steal another breath. “I am going to miss you.” Her sincerity clung to me like a stain on a white garment. The question wasn’tifI’d leave Giddel butwhen.

“I will too and Beatriz…” My neck burned as it finally struck me how completely everything would change.

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