Page 51 of Knightfall
I grabbed Declan by the collar. “I’d rather be insane than have my sister attacked or dragged off like some—”
“Calm down. Cheryn would need to ally with either Rasle or Macedon in order to launch an attack against Sedara. Rasle’s queen and Sultan Raj don’t get along, so no alliance will happen there. And Macedon’s offended that Prince Abbas is coming here to court Avia, an underage princess, when their own princess is of age.”
I watched Declan’s eyes. The blue was soothing. I slowed my breathing as I held his gaze. “I’m scared for her,” I whispered.
His hand reached up and stroked mine. “That’s really why you came back?”
I nodded.
He gave a small smile. “I might, possibly, be starting to believe that. We’ll look out for her, alright?”
Gratitude and relief swelled in my chest. “Thank you.”
I had calmed down. But I didn’t move. Declan didn’t stop stroking my hand. He didn’t break my gaze. My stomach began to buzz with nervous energy as I searched Declan’s eyes. I wasn’t sure if there was something there. Or I simply wanted something to be there. I took a bracing breath. I leaned forward slightly—
The tutors walked back in. And the moment was broken. Declan let go of my hand and dropped my gaze.
Disappointment blotted my vision when I returned to my seat. The words on the paper didn’t make as much sense, nor the tutors’ words. It was as though my ears were suddenly full of cotton.
Declan went back to his work. He seemed maddeningly unaffected. He didn’t mention that moment again. Not that day. Or the next.
I didn’t bring it up, except to relay the information about chains to Quinn and ask him to look into it. But sometimes, I snuck glances at Declan. Wondering, hopeful glances. He’d stopped hating me. Maybe, eventually, I’d convince him I was worth liking. At least a little.
“Princess Bloss?” an annoying tutor (whose name I’d forgotten) dragged me away from staring at Declan.
I returned to my studies.
Tutoring went on. And on. And on for days.
Every night, I was exhausted, because the tutors were told by my mother to give me crisis scenarios to ponder and solve. Every day I killed thousands of imaginary people. It left me wrung out, emotionally and mentally. Declan would hand my limp brain and tired bones off to one of my other husbands for ‘wife watch’ and go on his merry way.
If there was a formal dinner, I’d be handed off to Connor and his smooth-talking ways. I’d fumble my way through, trying not to offend ridiculously prickly court personalities; Connor would follow in my wake and clean up my messes. My four years outside the palace walls had—unfortunately for Connor—deteriorated my bullshite tolerance levels.
Two elderly noblewomen tittered on about the silk gowns they’d just ordered in from Rasle, our neighbor to the east.
“Actually, I know that the silk from Rasle is often woven out of false materials. Even spelled materials. You can test it by burning a strand. Real silk smells like burnt hair. Quite a few seamstresses have commented on how annoying it can be to think they’re working with one material when—”
Connor grabbed my elbow. “Ladies, you look lovely this evening. Those gowns are magnificent. May I steal my bride for a moment? There’s a gentleman clamoring for a dance with her.”
He led me away. “Bloss—”
“What? Their dresses might have been silk, but—”
“Just compliment them next time.”
“I’m awful at queening,” I sighed.
Connor’s lack of response only confirmed it. “Who am I supposed to dance with?”
“The ambassador from Macedon has a son visiting. He’d like to dance with you.”
Connor brought me to a corner of the ballroom where Avia and a handsome young man were making small talk. As we got near, Avia let out a flirty giggle.
I did a double-take and re-evaluated the ambassador’s son. He was tall and built. He had to be my age. At least six years older than my sister. Too old for her. Not to mention, mother would never approve of an ambassador’s son. Too bad. He was handsome enough. He had wavy brown hair and dimples.
Suddenly, I saw him sweep Avia into a dip and kiss her. Then he swung her over his shoulder, pounded his chest, and ran out of the room.
I blinked.
