Page 26 of Falling Princess

Meeting Scarlett feels like a massive step forward, though. I awkwardly shuffled out from beneath Kenton’s arm and gestured down the ramp to where the rest of our party was patiently waiting to look at the stars.

“Raina is one, too.”

“How is it that Auralia has two princesses who are unrelated?”

“Oh, she’s from a separate tribe. The Myseci. Moon tribe.” I wave my hand vaguely. “There’s a hierarchy, of sorts.”

Our religion technically has three goddesses, although Auralia outshines the other two. According to legend, Astra, goddess of the stars, founded the Covari—hence the silvery hair every member of that tribe sports. Raina’s people worship Reila, the moon goddess. The Myseci split off around 500 years ago, in Auralia’s civil war. (We’ve since reconciled.) The Mountain Folk take a neutral stance, although Auralia the Sun Goddess is primary in their traditions, too.

Once upon a time, there was an earth tribe, the Ansi, but they’ve been lost to history. We don’t have a lot of information about them.

“Sounds complicated.” Scarlett hasn’t taken her eyes off my guard. A strange and disturbing possessiveness washed through me. Then Lorcan glanced up, his blue eyes flat and emotionless, shoulders and spine as straight as a bowstring. It’s easy to imagine him focused on a target. Taking it down. I shivered and turned away.

“Cold?” Kenton rubbed my arms. Lacey glared at me, and I realized, belatedly, that he was flirting with me for show. Kenton subtly put distance between our bodies as though to indicate we’re just friends.

“No.” I’m not, but the strange tension gave me chills. It feels like a premonition, as silly as that is. He’s a nineteen-year-old boy, not a killer. Or twenty, now. I think Raina mentioned his birthday was in the summer, between the Olympics and when we left for university.

Then why did my father choose him as your appointed knight?

A thought not worth pondering. I know why. It’s a public apology from my father, a man who has never apologized for anything in his life. In fact, I refuse to think about it.

But I do think about the scar across Lorcan’s belly. Longer than my hand from wrist to the tip of my middle finger, disappearing into the waistband of his jeans.

My hand belongs nowhere near that part of his body.Anypart of his body. Great goddesses above, where is my mind? Tequila is a terrible influence. I must ask Bashir to share some of his weed, the next time I’m inclined to get intoxicated and forget my troubles.

Lorcan can fight, so I’ve heard. Given his preternatural competence in every other regard, and those scars, it’s not hard to imagine, even though it sounds farfetched.

I felt my guard’s gaze settle upon me. An anvil. A ball and chain.

“What is he to you, if you don’t mind?” Scarlett asked.

“Who?” I pretended I didn’t know.

“Lorcan. He’s always around you but I’ve never seen you talk to him. If I had to guess, I’d say you hated him.”

“I don’t—” …have any idea how I feel about him.Resentment, yes, and profound frustration. But hatred? I don’t know him well enough to hate him.

“He’s Zosia’s sworn knight,” Kenton informed Scarlett bluntly. His gaze narrowed at Lorcan, who has moved up the ramp until he and Raina are at the curve, no longer looking at us.

“Sorry. I didn’t mean to be assumptive,” Scarlett said, contritely. “Just trying to suss out the relationships.”

“He’s my bodyguard. Sort of. I barely know him, and Lorcan doesn’t talk much.”

“Why is that?”

“Your guess is as good as mine. I doubt he’d answer me if I asked.”

Scarlett laughed. “I wouldn’t trade places with you, Princess.”

“Wise decision.”Too bad for me, though, as I would gladly trade places with you.

At last, our group’s turn came to use the telescope. Becca and Lacey went first and second.

Scarlett eyed Lorcan speculatively. “Might be worth it, for the knight. I wouldn’t mind having a bodyguard like that.”

I scowled. “You’re welcome to take him off my hands, any time.”

I put my eye to the telescope and gaze out into the skies above. Looking at stars and Saturn’s rings makes my problems feel remote and trivial. I wish I could spend my life doing more of this. I stared heavenward for far too long before returning to earth, and relinquishing it to Kenton.

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