Page 57 of Crown of Iron
“You. I've never seen you so laid back.”
He rakes his gaze over my body, taking in my straight back, high chin, and my hands clasped in my lap. “And you always hold yourself with such poise. Even if I didn't know who you were when you arrived, it was obvious you weren’t an average girl.”
I pull at the sleeves of my brown jacket, removing it, and throw it onto the bench next to me. “I can relax,” I say, slinking down in my seat and straightening my legs between his. “Is this better?”
A sly grin bends his lips upward. “I can think of a couple better positions, but I suppose this will do for now.”
My cheeks burn, and I rush to change the subject. “I hate those colored lenses. It doesn’t feel like you, and I like the color of your eyes.”
He licks his lips and reaches into his coat pocket, pulling out a satchel. After opening the lid to a small container of liquid, he removes the lenses and drops them inside. “Better?”
“Much,” I say, knocking my knee against his.
“What happens when you get home?”
“You mean after Micah scolds me, and I profusely apologize to my mother?” I shrug. “I shadow Micah, oversee pet projects to get people used to seeing me as an authority figure, and plan my wedding.”
Kyron glances at my betrothal ring. “When is that supposed to happen?”
“In two years.”
“If you could choose?—”
“I wouldn't.”
He crosses his arms over his chest and watches the inside of his knee bounce against mine. “You wouldn't choose?”
“I wouldn't get married. Why should I ask someone to dedicate their life to me when I have to dedicate mine to Lucent?”
His features soften, and his eyes fill with the same emotion that coats his next words. “Because they love you. Because you're worth the sacrifice.”
My imagination runs wild with daydreams: sitting on my throne with Kyron by my side, an iron crown resting upon his head. A late dinner, where the two of us sit on the kitchen counter with a spread of food between us. We dance together well into the night, surrounded by joyful Lucents. And when the kingdom sleeps, and we’re alone in our chamber, bare skin upon bare skin, tangled in the sheets of our massive bed.
I close my eyes and push away the image. It's a pretty picture, one that can never come true. Even if I could choose Kyron, our people would never accept him.
“What about you?” I ask. “Do you really want to spend the rest of your life in the military? Don't you want to get married?”
He stares out the window, catching glimpses of the passing forest between the swaying curtains. A line forms between his eyebrows, and he gnaws on his bottom lip. “If I'm being honest, I never gave it much thought. I'm surrounded by friends, I enjoy leading our army, and sex… I'm a hot commodity, you know? The ultimate taboo if you will. There's always a woman willing to give it a go with a Stigian.” He turns back to me. “But lately, all that doesn't satisfy me in the same way it once did. I find myself not as content. Maybe it’s time for me to consider something I've never tried before.”
“Perhaps,” I say, wrapping my arms around my waist.
My jealousy is a vicious beast ripping through my insides. Howliberating it must be to so easily decide to change course. This adventure was the first time I made a major decision for myself. Every substantial move I make must be approved by Micah. His secretary meets with me every week to prepare my schedule for the days ahead. I'm given a copy of my upcoming events and so is the king. I've had one glorious month that was mine. My freedom ends today and for the rest of my life, I’ll answer to an entire kingdom.
The silence between us stretches, and so do our legs until they're tangled together. Neither of us shy away from meeting the other's gaze or letting our gifts bridge the divide between us. This could be the last moment we share like this, lost in intimate conversation, and freely admiring the other.
If Kyron is right, I won't see him after he delivers me home. He’ll be preoccupied with the Generals’ Summit. I've never been invited to join the annual meeting. Granted, I'm just coming into many of my duties as future queen, and military strategy is the one area of my education that Borin left for Micah and my father. That was to change this year as I shadowed the king. I guess I can think of my time at Basecamp as a jumpstart to those teachings.
Hours later, we reach the gates of Lucent, and I straighten in my seat, pulling on my jacket. As our caravan passes through the main street, Kyron inserts the golden-brown lenses into his eyes and adjusts his clothing. The closer we get to the palace, the greater the shift in the air between us. He returns to his duty as general, and I to the future queen of Lucent.
This is the end to my freedom, the end to my days training as a soldier. I’ll no longer chase suspicious generals into nearby towns, watch the sun rise while I complete drills, and I’ll never watch colors dance in the night sky while my gift mingles with another. My soul aches and my heart splinters. Things will never be the same for Kyron and me.
“You're not exactly looking defeated,” Leif says.
I stare straight ahead and march down the palace hallway, flanked by Leif and Kyron. “I'm here, aren't I?”
“You are, but you also look like you're about to bring this entire city to its knees. Perhaps toning down the sass is a good idea,” Kyron says.
“She's incapable,” Leif mutters.
