Instead, he turned his back to her and fell immediately asleep.
Two Months Previous
Roa walked in darkness, her footsteps cutting through the heart of the war camp. One by one she pulled the fingers of her riding gloves loose, then tugged them off. She’d ridden hard from Darmoor, the port on the sea, to New Haven, the war camp in the mountains. She’d spent the whole ride alone with her thoughts.
Thoughts that tossed and turned like an unruly sea.
Thoughts that scared her to her core.
Most of the camp slept, but now and then Roa heard stragglers whispering or laughing around dying fires. Her legs shook and her back ached from riding so long. Her stomach growled with hunger. But there was no time to waste.
She needed to do this before she changed her mind.
Roa stepped up to the meeting tent. Two scrublanders stood guard outside it. Each raised their fists over their hearts at the sight of her, and Roa returned the greeting.
Pausing at the entrance, she breathed in deeply, reaching for whatever courage she had left, then stepped into the glowing tent.
Dax was alone. He sat backward on a chair, leaning toward the rough-hewn desk so that two of the wooden chair legs were in the air. His temple rested on his fist as he stared down the map of Firgaard. There were dark smudges beneath his eyes and a deep frown between his eyebrows. A shadow of stubble stretched across his cheeks.
As soon as she stepped into view, the words tumbled out of Roa’s mouth: “Marry me.”
He looked up, his gaze calm on her face. As if he’d been waiting for her. As if he somehow expected this question.
“You don’t even like me,” he finally said, the back legs of his chair hitting the floor.
“How do you know what I like?”
He studied her with a gaze that seemed both exhausted and more awake than usual.
“I’ve given you an army. I’ve taken Darmoor for you.” Roa took a step toward him. “Now you need reinforcements. Marry me, and I’ll get you the men and women you need.”
His eyebrows shot upward. “Reinforcements in exchange for a crown? That’s a deal much further in your favor than mine.”
“We both know that without the continued help of the scrublands, you’ll lose this war.”
He said nothing.
“Fine,” Roa said. “Then we’re finished here. I’ll take my people and go home.”
But as she turned to leave, he rose and stepped out from behind the desk, coming toward her.
“Roa.” His fingers slid around her wrist. “Wait.”
She went still, her heart thundering, then turned to face him.
His eyes searched hers. “Why?”
“Because if you win this war, you’ll become king.” She lowered her eyes, faltering.
And I don’t trust you to keep my people safe,she thought.The only way I can ensure you do right by the scrublands is if I’m there, ruling at your side.
He frowned. But when she raised her eyes to see if this was his answer, she found him studying her mouth.
Roa’s pulse quickened.
Warmth flooded her as his thumb brushed slowly across her wrist, feeling just how fast her heart beat.
When he reached for her with his other hand, before his fingertips could graze her cheek, Roa stepped back, her heart thudding like a drum in her chest.
