Page 46 of Knight from the Ashes (Crown and Crest 1)

My dream lingers in vivid, tantalizing detail, and I snap my mouth shut.

Bright light streams in through the window of my inn room, and the half-burned candle sits on the nightstand. The soldier hovers in the doorway, looking acutely uncomfortable.

Horrified, I stare at him.

My brothers teased me in the past, claiming I mumble in my sleep. But surely that was nothing more than a childish jest.

I don’t actually talk in my sleep…

DoI?

“What are you doing in my room?” I demand, my voice groggy and stiff.

“I knocked, and you answered.”

“Ianswered?”

He clears his throat. “You said my name.”

Let me die.

“I did.” I nod several times, hoping to convince him that it was intentional. “Yes, I did.”

There’s an awkward pause, and the air suddenly feels too thick to breathe.

“Butwhyare you here?” I finally ask.

“It’s almost noon. We need to leave, and I became worried when you never returned.”

Clutching the covers to my chest as I sit up, I slowly meet Henrik’s eyes. “Howdid you get in? I’m certain I locked the door—you know, to keep out theriffraff.”

Henrik rolls his eyes toward the ceiling before he says, “I said I was looking for you, and they saw my badge.”

“And they just gave you a key?” I ask skeptically.

“You only secured the room for one night—they want you out and were happy to let me fetch you.”

Self-conscious, I rub a hand over my face and then try to smooth my hair. “How long were you standing there?”

“Long enough to wake you up.”

“Did I…” I resist the urge to throw the covers over my head. “Say anything?”

Other than hisname.

Henrik narrows his eyes, and it’s obvious yesterday’s bad mood is still lingering. “Like what?”

Relieved he seems clueless, I wave my hand. “Never mind. Go away so I can get dressed.”

The moment the soldier stalks out of the room and closes the door behind him, I turn into the pillow and groan.

15

Henrik

Did Clover say something?No, nothing except my name…which she called out in a low, silken voice that makes the back of my neck warm every time I think about it.

Feeling ashamed for the places my mind has traveled, I firmly keep my thoughts upon the mission as we walk to the barracks.

---