Page 37 of King Foretold
“Which you used to blow up the study.” He holds up a finger when I scoff indignantly. “Anactualoff day where youhave torest and relax.”
I wrinkle my nose at him. “Is aggravating me your idea of rest and relaxation?”
“I’m here to take you on a picnic.” He scratches the back of his head as a blush rises to his cheeks.
“A picnic?” I side-eye him, even though my heart flutters in my chest. A picnic with Ethan sounds like a dream ... Ihaveto shut him down. “Do I look like a person who enjoys sissy-ass picnics?”
Hurt flashes across his face, and my stomach twists with regret. But steely determination swiftly replaces his wounded expression, and my brows dip into a frown. What is he up to? Before I can ask him point blank, he plants a hand on my lower back and my brain short-circuits for a second.
“Yes, you do,” he drawls smoothly and urges me toward the archway leading to the main entrance. “This way.”
I dig my heels in and glare at him. “Ethan—”
“Just trust me. Okay?” He moves his hand in soothing circles on my back, and I twist away from his touch. He lowers his arm to his side, a shadow darkening his eyes, but he presses his lips into a stubborn line.
“You’re not letting this go, are you?” I ask, wavering. Ethan can be even more stubborn than I am. I might be better off just going along with whatever he has in mind, then sending him on his way. “Fine. Let’s get on with it.”
He accepts my ungracious acquiescence with a wary nod, then leads me out of the courtyard to a stunning set of wooden palanquins. I can’t help stepping up to them and tracing the intricate carvings of tigers and phoenixes with my fingers.
I drop my hand and clear my throat. “We’re going in gamas?”
“Yes, for privacy.” His tone sobers. “I don’t want to draw unwanted attention.”
“Do you have shadows on you?” I scan our vicinity with sharp eyes as his overprotective grandfather rushes back to my consciousness. “I thought you couldn’t leave General Bak’s estate on your own.”
“I told the guards they don’t want to find out what I’ll do to them if they follow me. They wisely decided to stay behind.” A muscle tics in his jaw. “The general is away on official business, so they can’t run to report me to him.”
“But won’t they tell him once he comes back?” I wonder if Ethan’s ever seen his grandfather angry. I have a feeling it won’t be pretty.
“If they want to save their necks, it’ll have to be our little secret. General Bak isnotknown for his leniency.” Ethan shakes his head as though chasing away his dark mood. “We better get going.”
Ignoring the hand he offers, I duck into the gama on my own and sit cross-legged on the floor. I glance around the tight, shadowy confines and frown. “Are you going to fit in yours?”
“You do know these are magic, right?” Ethan opens the two sliding windows on either side of me to let in the sunlight.
“I know they carry themselves ...” My eyes grow wide, and I bounce a little on my ass, forgetting to act distant in my excitement. “Is yours bigger on the inside than it looks from the outside? Like the TARDIS?”
“Not that big, you nerd.” He taps me on the nose so naturally that I barely remember to slap his hand away. “Just big enough for me to sit upright without hitting my head.”
I’m impressed nonetheless, but I rearrange my features into bored impatience. “Where are we going anyway?”
“Don’t you like surprises?” he teases. “Or are they toosissy assfor you?”
I look away from his smile, wrinkling my skirt in my fists. “I hope this little outing is worth the risk you’re taking.”
“Oh, it is.” Ethan climbs into the palanquin next to mine and opens the window facing me. “You are worth every risk.”
Before I can make a callous remark to hide my fluster, my palanquin lifts off the ground and lurches forward. I shoot out my hands to brace myself. “Whoa.”
“Sit tight,” Ethan says from the shadows. “We’ll be there soon.”
The gama settles into a gentle bob, and I slowly relax. I hug my legs to my chest and glance out the open window, resting my cheek on top of my knees. I can only see his arms and chest, but I stare at Ethan anyway.
No matter what happens, I’ll always know he loved me, and I loved him back. To me, our love is a treasure to be cherished even if we can’t be together. A single tear drops from the corner of my eye and seeps into my skirt. It wrecks me that he can’t ever find out.
When another tear threatens to fall, I turn my face away from him. This is why I can’t have nice things. I get a chance to look my fill of Ethan—his torso, at least—and I immediately become a weepy mess. I have to get myself together. He can’t see me like this.
By the time our palanquins slow to a stop, I have myself under control. Even when Ethan opens the front panel with a boyish smile, I manage not to lose my vaguely irritated expression. When he offers me his hand, I take it this time because my stomach is still too sore for me to get out on my own. Or so I tell myself. As soon as I step out and straighten to a stand, he releases my hand.
