Page 84 of A Storm in Every Heart
This is likely going to end in disaster, and I’ll be the only one who gets hurt.
But what if it doesn’t?A tiny voice in the back of my mind whispers.
I waver back and forth about meeting Kastian as I bathe after dinner and pick out my favorite dress—the ocean blue one withpearl buttons. I’m still unsure as I brush out my hair and wait for Aunt Beatrix to go to sleep so I can sneak out unimpeded.
Finally, the clock strikes 9:00 and I jump to my feet.I’m going.
It’s a terrible idea, but I’m putting on my dress and tying my hair into a long braid.
I must be insane, but I’m poking my head out of my room to make sure Aunt Beatrix isn’t waiting for me.
I’m going.
I’m lucky, and Aunt Beatrix isn’t anywhere in sight as I creep out of my room and down the long white stone corridor.
The castle is mostly quiet, and while I pass the occasional guard or servant, no one pays me any attention. That’s good, because I don’t know what I would say if anyone asked where I’m going. Prince Kastian didn’t say it was a secret that we were leaving the castle together, but he did mention having to escape his guards as a child.
My memory conjures up the image of the green-jacketed guards pushing through the crowd at the harbor and Kastian jumping off the wall to escape them. That makes me think that what we’re doing is a secret—which only makes it more fun…and more dangerous.
Kastian told me to meet him in the hallway outside the dining room where we first met the other night—or, where he thinks we first met. I’m dying to ask him if he still has the key I gave him eight years ago. He probably doesn’t…but what if he does?
What if every stupid, impossible daydream I’ve ever had is about to come true?
I reach the hallway, which is open on one side like a balcony, and lean against the railing to wait. From here, I can just barely make out the masts of all the tall ships in the harbor, and my heartbeat speeds up in excitement.
“I feel like I’ve seen this exact scene before,” Kastian’s voice interrupts my thoughts.
I turn around and can’t help but smile when I see him walking toward me.
He’s wearing a green cloak which looks achingly familiar. It can’t possibly be the same one from 8 years ago, as Kastian is nearly two feet taller than he was then, but the overall look is the same. He has another cloak—blue, this time—thrown over one arm.
“I wasn’t sure you’d come,” Kastian says, coming to a stop a few feet away from me.
“Likewise. I’m sure you’re much busier than I am,Your Majesty.”
He smiles. “Why is it that when you say that it sounds like you’re calling me an asshole?”
I grin. “I don’t know, maybe you should consider why you’re hearing it that way—internalized self-loathing isn’t healthy.”
He rolls his eyes but keeps smiling as if he’s caught somewhere between amusement and exasperation. “I brought you this.” He thrusts the cloak at me. “I’d rather not be recognized if we can avoid it.”
“Ooh, so thisisa secret. I wasn’t sure.” I take the cloak and fall into step with him as he leads us down the hall.
“Not a secret exactly, I’m allowed to leave the palace, but it’s still a good idea not to draw attention to ourselves.”
“My Aunt Beatrix is always saying the same thing to Daemon and I—mostly to him, I guess.”
He nods. “Because he’s Florian’s son.”
I look sideways at him. “How did you know?”
He laughs. “I have eyes.”
“Yeah…so does everyone else. It’s becoming more of a problem lately. It’s making my Aunt Beatrix nervous.”
“Why?”
I bite my lip. I probably shouldn’t tell him this. Then again, as he just said, it’s not much of a secret. “Because Daemon and Thorne are close in age. They go to school together. Or, at least, they did until Thorne finished his schooling last year.”
