Page 121 of I Ran Away to Evil
“How slowly?”
Keith looked away and stared hard at a potted plant in the corner of the dungeon cell. Seriously, why did Rufus like living down here so much? “Until we both know what we want?”
“And what do you want? What do you wantherto want?” Rufus asked.
“To stay.” Keith felt a small tightness in his chest and tried to ignore how much saying it cut.
He was the Dark Lord and he locked himself up in his tower and he ruled with an iron fist and he did not need anyone.
He had no family. As much as he knew his friends and subjects liked him, it wasn’t the same. Even Her Eminence Feliwyn had always been destined to leave. She had been tasked with training him to become king, and then she was free to go wherever … and she did. She flew off the afternoon he turned sixteen and had been napping beside Lake Loria ever since.
“Youarethinking of marrying her?” Rufus broached. “Or at least settling an engagement?”
“What? Now?” Keith’s ears burned. “We’ve known each other less than two months!”
“So?” Rufus tilted his head. “Marriage is about family. In the beastfolk tribes, you can do whatever you want, whenever you want, with as many partners as you want. We don’t discriminate. We just accept who we are, and we are honest about it with our partners. We marry when we find someone we want to marry, no sense beating around the bush.”
“I know that already,” Keith replied curtly. “So why aren’tyoumarried yet?”
Rufus looked a little contrite. “You try being the most powerful beastman in the Dark Enchanted Forest. I take one step into Gren’s Keep, and I get swarmed with challengers.”
“So what are you doing on those week-long getaways, hmm?” Keith pressed. “No romance?”
“Sadly, no.” The commander general of the Dark Lord’s army smiled broadly. “I took Chloe’s advice and got a hobby that wasn’t work related.”
“What?” Keith realized how much he’d fallen into himself over the last decadethat he hadn’t bothered to keep up with Rufus outside of their once-a-month sessions or the odd dinner in the dining hall.
“Music,” Rufus said the word almost reverently. “I’ve been traveling the continent listening to famous minstrels, concerts, and plays.”
That wasn’t what Keith was expecting. “You leave for a week so you can cross the continent just to hear someone sing?”
“Yep.” Rufus chuckled. “Sure, I find company sometimes, but there is a lot to learn about being with my kind. I haven’t found the right person yet.”
Speaking of finding the right person … Keith felt guilty how he’d left Ria standing there in a hallway.
“Hey, Rufus?”
“Yes, boss?”
“Do you want to grab a drink at Scowls sometime?” Keith chose the castle tavern where the two used to run off to in their younger years.
“Your treat?”
“My treat.”
Keith stood up to leave but paused at the cell door. “What was your new perk?”
“[Honest Heart]. It’s not compulsory. It just makes it easier to find the words to express one’s inner self. The revelation sent Keith deep into thought. Now, go ask your princess to marry you,” Rufus ordered his king. “And talk to her about your feelings!”
“Actually, I don’t think I will.”
“What, why?!” Rufus was taken aback. “Didn’t we just have a moment? We just had a moment! What happened?”
“Iamgoing to talk to the princess. And Iamgoing to ask her … to the Spring Ball.” Keith grinned. “I’ll propose there. She’s her own person, and she might decide to go back to Drendil to clean up after the upcoming battle—or she might not. I don’t want to tie her down and make that choice harder.”
“You are an idiot,” Rufus told him. “But at least you’re areasonableidiot. And that would be a perfect time to ask.”
“And,” Keith stressed, “it means we can announce it in front of the council.”
