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The sound of a throat clearing breaks our trance. The queen smiles warmly at my savior.
What is wrong with me?
Pyke stands beside the table with a plate piled high with food and a steaming mug of coffee. He sets it down before the queen and then drops into a deep bow.
“Please accept my apologies for my actions and words last night,” he says as he straightens. His downcast eyes seem filled with regret.
The queen watches him for a moment.
“It’s not me you should apologize to, Pyke. It’s the captain,” she says, pointing at me.
“I’m sorry, Captain. I ... I have a history with your father and seeing you brought back a lot of memories. I hope you can forgive me,” Pyke says, immediately following his queen’s order.
What history does he have with my father?
“No hard feelings and nothing to be forgiven,” I say, extending a hand. He stares at it for a moment before accepting the handshake.
“Pyke, I could use a favor if you would be so kind,” says the queen. “Please bring the captain a plate of food, as you would for me or Nyx. He seems to have missed a few items and could use the energy after a tough training session.”
Pyke fights to hold back a grin and coughs to hide his laugh.Is there a running joke here about the queen kicking everyone’s ass?He hurries away and a minute later returns with a plate of food and mug of coffee for me.
We eat and have comfortable conversations. The queen catches up with her people as they walk by, and a few even acknowledge me. No one treats me as if I’m a prisoner here.
Their ploy is working. I’m playing right into whatever the king and queen have planned.
As the queen and I step out of the dining hall, a cool breeze blows strands of her curly, red hair over her shoulder. Even in trousers, she looks all the queen she is. Breathtaking. Radiant. Powerful. I shove my hands in my pockets to avoid the temptation of tucking a loose strand of her hair behind her ear.
It’s like she’s got me under a spell.
Her green eyes find mine, as they always seem to, and she gives me a dazzling smile, which I shouldn’t enjoy.
But I do. Gods, I’m in over my head.I smile back, like the fool I am.
“Ready for a tour?” Her sweet voice rolls through me, sending a shiver down my spine.
I need to get my thoughts under control before King Asher finds me drooling over his wife. I’ll be lucky if whoever was spying on us doesn’t tell him what they saw.
It couldn’t have been him or I’d surely be dead already.
I nod and follow beside her, keeping my hands in my pockets to avoid any accidental touches.
She shows me around her home, which they call The Keep. With every turn, she proves to me just how little I know about this kingdom. Our conversation is easy, and we never have moments of awkward silence between us. The more I’m around her, the more comfortable I become. Her presence calms me, and I find myself enjoying our moments together.
It’s all an act, right? She’s trying to make me feel welcome, so I become vulnerable to their manipulation. But why is that starting to feel like a lie I’m telling myself?
After a day spent learning more truths about Umbra, I get ready for bed in my cell. As I close my eyes, welcoming sleep, her face awaits me in my dreams.
