I move to get up when I notice the needlepoint. A large lion with golden eyes is at the forefront. What an interesting choice.
“What are you working on?” I ask.
She spreads the piece out on her lap to reveal an outline of an island and a deep, thick jungle.
“I’ve made this before, but all my old projects are back at the manor . . . For whatever reason, this vision of the lion keeps coming to me. It follows me in my dreams, and the only thing that makes it stop is when I create this art.”
“Your needlework is exquisite,” I compliment her. “So very detailed.”
“Thank you.” She smiles. “I probably spend way too much time on these projects.”
“And you dream about this? The lion and this island?” I ask, tracing my fingers lightly along the pattern.
I catch her nod from the corner of my eye.
“You know . . . the stories say that the gods could shapeshift into animals.”
Her body stiffens next to mine. “Oh, really?”
“Yes,” I reply, turning to look at her more closely. Does she know something after all? “If the stories are to be believed, the sun god had a preference for his lion form.”
Raelyn swallows, her eyes trained on the needlework. “I had no idea.”
“Maybe the gods are speaking to you,” I muse.
“Wouldn’t that be something,” she says with a forced laugh.
I’m more determined than ever to find out what she might be hiding, if anything.
An hour later,I’m in my training clothes, waiting for Raelyn to come out of the closet. I told her to find something comfortable to wear, even if she was only planning to watch.
Raelyn finally walks out wearing fitted leather pants with a long, flowy purple tunic. “Are you sure this is appropriate?” She frowns, spinning around for me.
“Completely appropriate. I only wish the tunic were shorter,” I tease. Her shapely legs are a sight, but I can only imagine how her round backside looks beneath.
She flushes red, as usual, and I offer her my arm as we walk out of our wing.
Ignoring my statement, she asks, “Is Alex meeting us there?”
“Yep,” I reply.
“Is he your closest friend?” she asks.
“The very best. I wouldn’t survive court without him.” I look over, noting her downcast expression. “What’s wrong?”
“I guess I just wish I had more friends.”
“Have you gotten to know any of the ladies here at court?”
She shakes her head. “No. I should try to get out more. It’s just . . . making friends doesn’t come very easily to me.”
My heart aches for her. I wish she’d let me pull her into my arms and hold her, but boundaries . . . though I’m fairly certain I’m about to cross some.
Chapter Thirty-Two
RAELYN
Kian absolutely has something up his sleeve, and I’m intrigued enough to risk finding out what. He’s right; I can’t stay locked up in our wing forever, and while I don’t want to admit it to him, sparring actually sounds incredible. Iamfeeling a little stir-crazy. Other than venturing back to the library to read up more on the gods, I’ve hardly done anything in the palace other than dine with the court; there is always a worry in the back of my mind that I’ll run into the king on my own, or that someone will call me out on this sham of a marriage.
