Page 73 of The Princesses of Ruin
I pat his shoulder with my good hand and turn away. I want to tell him more. I want to say that by relieving us of the eldest son of my uncle, he’s gotten me one step closer to saving my own kingdom. Just two heirs to go, but Sienna wouldn’t fight me. Only Hector remains in my way.
We trudge on in silence for a while before Adrik catches up to me.
“Your name is Alejandra,” he says, confused.
“Yes.”
“Ladron, that was the prince’s name. If your father is blood to the king, why aren’t your names…”
I chuckle. “Because my uncle married into the royal family and took the queen’s name.”
“Who was your family before?” he asks.
“Before the throne and the palace and etiquette training?” I sigh. “We were explorers, hunters, and accomplished tradespeople. We sailed from Nimpoi to Seter, selling gems, oils, furs, and more.”
“But now you are captain of your own ship instead of royal collateral. How did you manage it?”
“Collateral…” I scoff, thinking of the way princes and princesses are traded away for alliances like prized cattle. “I was too unruly. My brother was very small when we became royalty so he didn’t remember the call of the wild, or the taste of salt on his skin. He took to lessons easily. I was tainted by adventure.”
Too masculine.
Untrainable.
Untradeable.
“She’ll never make a valuable consort. Send her back to the sea where she belongs.”
“My father convinced the queen to allow me to be captain of a royal merchant ship. I didn’t think it then, at the burgeoning age of thirteen, but I realized after his death that he was saving me.”
However cruelly he had to say it…
Adrik grabs my arm and I face him. He pulls me to his chest and tucks my face into the fluffy crook of his neck.
“You are perfect the way you are.”
“I’m nothing of the sort. Let me go.” I try to push him away, but he holds me tighter.
“You. Are. Perfect.”
“Adrik,” I groan. “It’s cold out.”
He pulls back only far enough for our eyes to meet behind our goggles. “Say it. Say that you know you’re enough just as you are.”
My eyes burn and I can’t breathe.
“Emillia,” he whispers and drops his forehead to mine.
I could overpower him. I could.
I don’t want to.
“I need to clean my weapons.”
Push me. Please. Keep pushing. Show me that I’m worth the effort.
“Not until you say it.”
“I am enough…the way I am.”
