Purity mattered to royals. Reputation was everything. And yet, yesterday, I stared at the king in his undress, then approached him afterward—the guards had to have witnessed. Who had they told? Scythe remained silent, so the servants hadn’t spread the word.
But Kallias? He’d practically broadcasted that not only had I seen him bare, but I’d drawn him. Models posed for hours while trained artists worked. How long did they think I studied the sculpted planes of his torso? Had they imagined I mapped every dip, every curve, scrutinized the trail of hair that led down–
“Shall you wear a brown dress for the evening meal?”
I could always rely on Edith to pull me from my spiraling thoughts.
“Brown is so drab,” Scythe groaned, heading into my dressing room in search of something brighter.
“Princess,” Edith’s voice dropped to a whisper, meant only for me.
I straightened, pressing my lips tight. “I know.”
“Is there another man?”
My gaze sank to the floor. I rubbed at my cheeks, willing them to cool. The heat of the blush from earlier was still there, lingering.
Kallias’ blue eyes flashed before me, his tunic tangled around his wrists. His bare skin shimmered in the midday sun, his expression a mix of shock and confusion.
“No.” I cleared my throat, meeting her sharp gaze. “There’s no other man.”
I was bound for Tallon, no matter my feelings. He wasn’t hard on the eyes, but it was his spirit I loathed. I still had a chance at happiness, even if I had to force myself into it.
“You are a princess, Your Highness.” Edith sighed, sitting beside me. She took my hand, her touch warm and steady. Always so proper, never letting her affection as the nanny who raised me show too much. “He is young. Give the prince time. Your marriage does not have to be loveless.”
“I have tried, Edith.” Tears burned at the backs of my eyes, but I wiped them away. I wouldn’t cry over a boy I didn’t love. “He’s vile, and he doesn’t care about me, this alliance, or Radaan. He fights me and tests me at every turn, leaving his father to clean up his mess.”
Her expression softened. “He will mature. Nineteen is young for–”
“A royal.” The words snapped out before I could stop them. Immediately, I regretted the harshness in my tone, but I couldn’t take it back. “If he wereanyone else, at nineteen, he’d be expected to have sired a son and be raising a family by now.”
“And you’d be called a spinster. You have matured too fast.” Her words cut through the anger, calm and steady.
I shot her a glare. “You’ve been listening to Scythe too long.”
“You’re ready for marriage, for children, to lead.” She sighed, her gaze never leaving me. “He is not. It will take him longer, but don’t hold that against him.”
I ground my teeth together, focus locked on the fire, resisting the urge to yank my hand from hers. There was no hope of a happy marriage with Tallon. I would do my duty, bear heirs. But I wouldn’t fool myself into thinking I could be happy doing so.
“Everyone keeps telling me to give him time.” I stood, moving toward the sounds of Scythe rummaging through my dressing room. “It seems time is all I have.”
I buried my emotions deep and lifted my chin. I was a princess, and I would act like one.
Scythe picked a shimmering bronze dress, a compromise with Edith, who had insisted on brown for tonight because of the moons’ cycle and the rotation of my wardrobe.
At dinner, every movement of mine caught the light, but throughout the meal, I avoided eye contact with both Kallias and his son.
When I excused myself, Tallon looked relieved, his usual smirk replaced by a lighter mood. I ignored him and went straight to my rooms.
No sneaking past my guards. No quiet escapes.
And certainly no balcony meetings with a man whose body still haunted my dreams.
Chapter Fourteen
Kallias
My stallion snorted, his nostrils flaring as a ball rolled into his path, chased by a boy no taller than my knee. His ears flicked forward, tracking the child as he darted after it, heedless of the towering beast in his way. Behind him, his mother’s frantic voice rose above the bustle of the crowd.
