Page 16 of Prince of the Northwest Forest
We don’t address the elk in the room … so to speak. But I guess he just follows Kalle around?
We set off together, and I have to hustle to keep up with Kalle’s long, loping stride, although I do so pretty easily. “How often do you go for hikes?” he asks.
“Most days. It’s the way I get my brain to clear. I work out thorny issues. I get exercise. I like the fresh air …”
… I veer off the path searching for fairy circles.
“Me, too.” I think he’s smiling under his hood.
It’s a gorgeous day, with the sun peeking through the clouds. The forest smells like fresh earth and pine needles, and the trilliums are blooming. It feelsgoodto be out here.
“I also believe there’s something, I don’t know,healing, I guess, about being in nature. Is it too obvious to say I like trees?” Now that the words are out of my mouth, I realize how ridiculous I sound, and I cringe.
But before I can take them back or minimize them, he says, “No. I like trees, too.”
At that, my shoulders relax. I pick a bright green tip of fresh needles off a Douglas-fir and stick it in my mouth, then gesture at more new growth. “These shoots? They’re a good source of vitamin C.”
Kalle pushes his hood back and gives me alook—one I can’t decipher. Head tilted, lips clamped together, eyes intent. Is it respect? Or is itWTF, Justice?
I want to cross my arms across my chest, but I don’t. “What?” I can’t help but ask.
“You would get along very well in my realm,” Kalle says slowly. Thoughtfully.
I slip my hands into my pockets. “Is that so? Which realm is that?”
“The Northwest Forest.”
I’ve heard of that one, I’m just not exactly sure where it is.
Kalle goes to put his hood up again, and I catch his wrist. Then let go immediately. “Sorry,” I say. “You just … You don’t have to cover your face if you don’t want to.”
Again, he stares at me. “My scar doesn’t bother you?”
“Not at all.” I flash him a smile. “It makes you more handsome.”
He opens his mouth and shifts his stance like he’s going to argue, but he leaves the hood down. I internally cheer, because I get to see more of his pretty face. Like it’s a habit, he reaches up to touch the raised skin, then stops himself. “Most of the inhabitants of my realm know I have it, but I tend to cover it anyway, even inside my home. It’s … easier.”
I am so full of questions. How did he get the scar? Who treats him badly for having it, and can I give them a stern lecture?
I sense, though, that he’s not willing to discuss it, so I switch to what I hope is a safer topic. “So what, exactly, do you do in your, uh, realm?” I ask, and then I mentally kick myself.Smooth, Justice. Very smooth.
“My family rules that realm.” He stops walking and gives me a little bow, his arms spread wide. “Prince Kalle Hammarskjöld of the Northwest Forest. At your service.”
Iknewit. I knew he was royalty.
He straightens up, and his expression is tentative, as if he’s worried about how I’m going to react.
Dammit, he’s sweet.
I give him a saucy grin and hold out a hand, which he shakes. Gah. I like the feel of his strong, rough hand in mine. “Nice to formally meet you, Prince Kalle. I’d guessed that you were royalty. We get more than a few princes at the hotel, as you may have heard.” My hand flies to my mouth. “Oh, shit. Despite being around them, I still don’t quite know how to act. Am I supposed to bow?”
Prince Kalle shakes his head. “No. You aren’t my subject. You can just stay at my side.”
“Sounds good to me.”
We continue on in silence, the only noise our footsteps. The breeze ruffles Kalle’s shoulder-length hair. My fingers itch to run through it.
A little bunny hops in front of us and wrinkles its nose at Kalle. He chuckles and says something in a language I don’t recognize.
