Page 62 of Crown of Hearts
I knew he meant well, but the thought alone made my stomach churn.
“I’d really we rather not.”
“At least say you’ll accept my gift.” He looked so genuinely excited that I couldn’t help but smile. “Close your eyes and hold out your hand.”
I raised a curious eyebrow.
“Just trust me.”
I obeyed and felt cool metal against my skin.
“All right, open them.”
“Your dagger?” The one I’d wanted to steal on the night we’d first met.
“Well, you tried to steal it so many times that I figured you’ve earned it.”
My heart surged. The memories were still so vivid and yet they felt like a lifetime ago.
“Cai, you love this dagger. I can’t accept this.” I held my hands out towards him, but he closed my fingers around the knife.
“I want you to have it, Elara.”
I couldn’t help but notice the beautiful sparkling jewel that looked so similar to the one on that necklace. Had it always been there?
“Thank you.” I held on to the dagger like it was the most precious thing I’d ever owned. Perhaps it was.
“I have one more surprise.”
“Cai, please,” I pleaded.
“Come on.” He laughed and pulled me after him. I really needed to see Rhen to discuss Lance’s letter. But Cai’s childlike excitement was enough to convince me. I let him drag me all the way to the kitchens, with servants stumbling and bowing every few seconds in surprise at seeing their king on the lower levels of the palace. It reminded me of a time not so long ago, though it felt like ages, when we ran through the forest of Everness, unaware of how much would change.
Is it possible for us ever to have that again?
“Where are we going?”
“You’ll see. I figured there would be hell to pay if I made a big scene in front of everyone at court.” He gestured with his head to the upper floors. We entered the kitchens, where Anesta stood at one of the large tables in the centre of the room. Brutus, whom I had not seen since the rebellion, was standing next to her. A few other servants were in the kitchen, though they pretended to ignore us respectfully.
“Surprise, Your Majesty!” Anesta held out her arms to a small cake on the table. The cake had been decorated with little colourful flowers that I recognised from Everness.
“Did you make this, Brutus?”
He nodded almost shyly.
“Thank you.”
Cai handed me a large cutting knife.
“You shouldn’t have.”
“I know.” He winked at me. “But I wanted to.”
Anesta forced me to blow out the candles before cutting the cake. It was dense chocolate and perhaps the best thing I’d ever eaten in my life. In that moment, with the group of us standing around the cake, I could almost forget everything else.
* * *
“King Cai won’t be able to keep his hands off you tonight,” Anesta said. I met her gaze in the mirror as she gently placed a tiara atop my head.
