Page 95 of Crown of Hearts
“Please, Jack. Take a seat.” I gestured to the log on the other side of the fire.
“I hardly think—” he began, but I interrupted him.
“I royally command you to. Now sit, have something to drink. I doubt Argonian soldiers are just going to jump out of nowhere. You’ve scanned the surrounding area at least seventeen times now.”
“I can’t drink while I’m keeping watch.” Jack took a seat, though his posture remained tense.
“Then at least have something to eat.”
He kept his eyes on the trees above, hand on the hilt of his sword.
“Jack.”
He met my gaze.
“It’s not your fault.”
“I beg your pardon, Majesty?”
“It’s not your fault I was poisoned and it’s not your fault the Argonian spies broke into the palace that day.” And I meant every word. Jack hadn’t been the same since we’d left for Everness, and while I appreciated his commitment and efforts to keep me safe, I needed him to let go of the burden he now carried like a second skin. I could tell how much he blamed himself, and I hated it.
Everything in his expression told me that he didn’t believe me.
“You’ve always done your job as you should have. You’ve always kept my protection as your main priority, Jack, and I still trust you with my life.”
He shook his head with a trace of sorrow. “I failed at my job. My single most important duty is to protect you, and I have failed.”
“I am still alive. And as long as I’m alive, I want you to remain head of my guard. Even if we do our best, there are things outside our control.” Jack had seen me at my best and at my very worst. We’d been through hell together.
“One day I’ll make it up to you. I promise.”
I was about to respond when Elara’s voice rose up behind me. “Do you mind if I join you?”
Jack jumped up and out of his seat. “Please do. I think I’ll take a walk around camp again, make sure all is well.” He cleared his throat and scurried off.
“I didn’t mean to interrupt anything,” she said, taking a seat next to me.
“You didn’t interrupt.”
The cool evening prompted Elara to press up against me. She rubbed her hands together and sucked in a breath. I took her right hand and held it between my own, attempting to create warmth. Elara gave me a smile before looking back at the burning fire.
“How did we find ourselves back in the Evernean Forest in the middle of the night?”
“What do you mean?”
“The night I found you guys while running for my life,” she reminded me.
“Ah yes, the night you won’t ever let me forget because of that damned tree.”
With a chuckle, she nudged my shoulder. “It’s still the best night of your life.”
“How so?”
“Because it’s the night you met me.”
I pressed a kiss behind her ear and whispered into her hair, “How could I forget?”
Elara squeezed my hand, and I would have given anything in heaven or on earth to be alone with her in that moment. One day, I told myself. One day we could watch the stars together without the worry of alliances and wars and our duties as monarchs.
