Page 48 of The King's Sword
“For going to Lynk and disobeying them?” Her parents would be livid with her if she had gone against their wishes.
“That. And for snatching you away from Rainer and bringing you to Avoni.” He looked sidelong at her. “I need to ask a favor of you.”
“Anything.”
“Can you please not mention to anyone that I kidnapped you?”
She thought about that. At this point, she no longer considered herself kidnapped. She’d chosen to come here to escape her assassin and to remain alive. “You didn’t kidnap me.”
“I took you from the palace.”
“To see my brother. There was no kidnapping involved. If I had to go back and do it all over again, I’d go willingly with you.”
He reached out and took a strand of her brown hair, wrapping it around his finger and watching her. “Are you sure?”
“Yes.”
He released her hair. “You know King Rainer can’t be trusted, don’t you?”
Staring into his green eyes, she wondered how long he’d wanted to say that to her. “I know.” She wasn’t some lovesick, besotted young woman who didn’t know any better. She was married to a man who didn’t love her and probably never could. She barely knew him and wouldn’t even consider them friends. She was more comfortable around Evander and knew more about him than she did her own husband. But that was on Rainer. He’d kept her at arms length, not wanting to get to know her. Not even trying. She was a means to an end for him. Nothing more. A pang of sadness filled her—not over Rainer but over the thought of not marrying someone she loved and respected. Shaking her head, she tried to clear it. Thinking of what could have been would do her no good.
“What’s the matter?” Evander asked, his finger tracing a line on the side of her cheek.
“You know how you said that thing about making plans and them never going the way they’re supposed to?”
He smiled. “Unfortunately.”
“Well, the same can be said for my life.” She closed her eyes, not wanting to cry. It had been a long, emotional few days, and everything was starting to catch up to her. “I always thought I’d marry a man I loved. I never thought I, the sixth-born child, would be sent off for a political match of such importance.” And she never thought her one and only sister would be murdered.
“I suppose that’s an issue with being born into a royal family—even one like mine. We have influence, wealth, power, but we also never get to do what we want, especially if we plan on keeping the throne. If we were selfish and always put our own needs first, we’d be happier. But then we’d be killed and someone else would lead the kingdom.” He shrugged. “Would you rather be poor, untitled, and marry for love?”
“I don’t know.” She’d never really thought about it. Prior to coming to Lynk, her days had been spent doing what she wanted. She hated to admit it, but she’d been selfish. Now, she looked at things differently. She was glad she was in the position she was so she could help her kingdom and right the wrongs committed. “Let me ask you this,” she said. “If you could do anything you wanted right now, what would it be?” From the limited time she’d spent with him, he seemed to have a tremendous amount of freedom to do as he pleased. But did he enjoy the life he led? Perhaps there were things missing that he longed for.
His eyes darted to her lips and then back to her eyes. “Anything?” he asked, his voice suddenly husky.
She nodded, a warm feeling spread through her body.
“I don’t know,” he said, his eyes searching hers. “What about you? What would you do?”
It felt as if something inside of her was caged and needed to burst free. “I don’t know, either.” Maybe she’d scream. But letting the scream out meant the emotions would come flooding out with it, and right now, she needed to keep it together. That thing caged inside of her needed to stay caged. She was on a boat filled with fighters, and they were headed to the Avoni palace where she would meet the king and queen. It wasn’t about what she wanted or needed. It was about saving the Bakley children, protecting her family’s kingdom, stopping a potential war, and trying to make it out of this alive.
Staring into Evander’s eyes, everyone and everything faded away as he reached forward, placing his hand on her cheek, his thumb gently wiping a tear away. She hadn’t realized she’d shed it.
“You’re not at all who I thought you were,” he whispered.
These past few weeks, she’d learned a lot about herself. She wasn’t the same person she was prior to her sister’s murder. And sitting here, with Evander’s hand on her face, she wanted nothing more than to lean into him, reveling in the feel and warmth of this man beside her. This assassin-pirate-prince. He was not at all the person she thought he was when they’d first met.
“Evander,” Gemma called out, her voice cutting through their moment.
He flinched.
“Come here.” Her voice was curt and demanding.
Evander slowly got to his feet and went over to his sister.
Sabine watched the two of them arguing in hushed whispers, looking her way every few seconds.
An overwhelming sense of sadness filled her. Evander was a good man, and he deserved to marry someone better than Lottie. He was kind, caring, funny, and he’d make an excellent husband. He was the opposite of Lottie, and the princess didn’t deserve him.
