Page 11 of Reckless in Ruins

The queen has my undivided attention for the rest of the morning.

There’s only one change in plans.

“Your Majesty, might I suggest we move the podium?”

The queen looks at me quizzically, then examining the ruins, notices the freshly destroyed stones that have fallen from the tower and turned to dust at our feet.

“A wise choice,” the queen replies, and I order my men to quickly rearrange things, as if the falling stones were a freak accident and not a result of a rousing game of Hide the Bratwurst.

Queen Hilde delivers her speech at Skelside Ruins without any further incident.

The queen’s speech is cut short, however, by a sudden rain shower that sends historians and antiquarians ducking for cover. The press retreat to their cars and news vans. The outdoorsy archeologists seem unfazed.

As for me, I’m equally unbothered. I’m always ready for a storm. Don’t like the weather in Gravenland? Wait five minutes because another weather system is right behind the one you’re in.

Safe under umbrellas, I quickly escort the queen and princess back to their motorcade without a single drop of rain touching their hair nor a speck of mud on their pretty shoes.

I’m feeling proud of myself.

I’ve rid my mind of that annoying version of the woman that is Sable.

But that doesn’t mean I stop thinking about her.

She’s been replaced in my mind with what she truly is. A delicate creature who cares deeply and loves hard. A force of nature. A broken child on the inside, the same as me. A person who scrambled her way to the top despite all the barriers set in her way by society. She is softness. She is healing. And she is the most delightfully fierce lover.

The view of the North Sea horizon is replaced by woods and winding paths as the royal motorcade makes its way down the mountain. The woods give way to fields and lakeside cottages, and in the distance is the capital city of Arenhammer with its soaring modern skyscrapers and old-world cathedrals. That is my home. I belong there just as much as anyone else.

It’s funny the way a quick rush of chemicals can change my perspective about myself. At least for the time being. But I know in my heart that what happened between Sable and me was not just a chemical reaction. It was cosmic.

“That went well.”

The queen’s words snap me out of my reverie.

“Your Majesty? Is there something you need?”

Her gray eyes have something maternal in them when she looks at me.

“No, I need nothing, Uther. Thank you. Just commenting that I feel that event went off well, despite the rain.”

The queen is not one to make small talk. It’s…unnerving. This sort of chatter always ends up somewhere, and I have to wonder what it is that she wants.

Shit. Perhaps she knows what happened. Maybe she saw Sable and me…is it possible? Am I fired?

A fresh wave of indignation floods me. If Sable is fired, then I’m leaving.

The conclusion I’m jumping to is wild. This is what that woman has done to me. She’s not out of my system, she’s made me even more mad for her.

And I’m oddly okay with that.

“Your speech was well received, Your Majesty.” Giving my opinion feels awkward.

“And what did you think?”

At this, I’m speechless. Even Flora, the princess, who’s been furiously texting on her phone, looks up at the queen with an arched eyebrow.

“I…I thought it was interesting and poignant. Educational. I think everyone learned something today.”

“And did you? Learn something today?”

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