Page 81 of Reckless
He takes a step back, breathing heavily. Gray eyes crash into mine, swimming with an emotion I don’t bother trying to decipher. After a long moment, he blinks, giving me a curt nod of approval. I feel my cheeks burning and pull the hat lower to shield myself from his piercing gaze.
He watches as I dust the skirt off before wrapping it around my waist, giving time for my face to cool. Then he clears his throat before looping the chain several times around my ankle, closing the gap between us.
“Ready?” he asks casually, as though I’d imagined the last five minutes.
Fine. If he thinks nothing of it, neither do I.
So I adjust my hat, nod curtly, and hook my arm through his.
CHAPTER 31Kitt
The little box on my desk is buried beneath piles of stained parchment.
I hide it there whenever I get the urge to think too long on my decision. The decision that Calum assured me was the right one. Though, reminding me of my father’s threeB’s to becoming a great king did help convince me further.
My fingers drum against the wooden desk, the sound hollow and harsh.
There’s a quick knock, knuckles on the door that echo my fingertips on the desk.
“Come in.”
Hinges groan before a masked Imperial peeks his head into the room. “Your Majesty. Excuse my interruption, but you informed me to—”
“So no sight of him?”
I hear the Imperial swallow. “No, Your Majesty. None of his men, either.”
“And her?”
“Nothing, Your Majesty.”
He should be back by now. It’s been over two weeks, and he should be back by now. He should have brought her to me. Or maybe he brought her somewhere else. Maybe he never intended to bring her back. Maybe he ran away with her. Maybe they are running away from me—together. Because he should be back by now. Because—
“My Enforcer should be back by now.”
“Yes.” The man nods fervently. “He should be, Your Majesty.”
“Keep searching the edge of the city.”
“Yes, Your Highness.” He looks sidelong at the door, practically begging to be dismissed.
“Go.”
With a curt nod, he ducks out the door before closing it softly behind him.
I run an ink-stained hand down my face.
He always completed his missions. Well, he always completed his missions for Father. But I’m not him, am I? He reminded me of that every day. And then he’d spend the rest of that day training my future Enforcer. The one who should be back by now. The one who is running away with her. Or from me. Or his life.
I tear at the parchment littering my desk, digging until my fingers find that small box I buried beneath.
I look at it like I do every day.
The kingdom thinks I’ve gone mad.
I think I’ve gone somewhere. A darker place, maybe.
I hear servants whispering as they step past my door, watch Imperials eye me when I happen to walk the halls.
