He nodded and squeezed her fingers.
‘You once told me that fighting wasn’t noble and there were no heroes in war,’ added Alinore. ‘I think I now know what you meant.’
She thought of Princess Tiannie’s naked body lying broken on the rocky, pitted mountain ridge. The nausea in her stomach rose to the back of her throat.
‘You’ll be changed by it,’ replied Prince Ottone. ‘The same thing happened to me after fighting in Journier. But it was still the right thing for you to do.’
Taking a shaky breath, she tried to believe him.
‘And youarea hero, Alinore. Your father would be proud.’
Tears welled in her eyes and, before she could stop them, two snaked down her cheeks, their saltiness stinging the blisters on her chin.
‘He killed a dragon once too. It was always my favourite of his battle tales.’
‘It must run in the family.’
Without letting go of her hand, Prince Ottone raised his other arm and gently brushed her tears away. Then he leant forward, his face close to her, their foreheads almost touching.
‘Do you still want to leave Calestra?’ he asked. ‘Yesterday I promised I’d take you to the High King’s court and vouch for your squireship myself, and I’ll honour that agreement, of course.’
He smelt of peppermint and herbs and his voice was soft and almost pleading.
‘To be a lady knight is what I’ve always wanted,’ she replied.
‘But …’
‘But?’
His hand tightened around her fingers and she felt the coarse brush of callouses on his palm. A light, fluttery feeling moved through her chest.
‘Would you be a lady knight in Calestra instead? Would you stay?’ he asked, studying her face. ‘Things are different now. Samsel is … gone. And you’re a Dragonslayer. You don’t need to leave …’
She stared into his brown eyes – more familiar to her than her own – and she finally caught the deep, brimming devotion that had always been there. She almost gasped with the force of it.
‘What are you asking me?’
One corner of his mouth twitched in amusement. He raised his free hand and stroked her cheek. ‘Lady Alinore, will you be Calestra’s first lady knight?’ he asked. ‘Will you bemylady knight?’
She could not help but smile back. ‘Yes, my King.’
As he tipped his chin forward, she tilted her head, and their lips touched – gently, briefly. Warmth swept through Alinore’s body, and she leant in further, pressing her mouth more firmly against his again. The kiss was tender, but filled with a gentle hunger too, andas it deepened, Prince Ottone cupped her jaw as Alinore grasped hold of his shirt.
It felt sweet, wonderful and right.
They broke apart, faces still close, breath mingling. Alinore opened her eyes and gently brushed a finger against a cut on his chin.
‘That looks sore. Am I hurting you?’
‘I don’t mind.’
She laughed and held him tighter.
‘I’ve wanted this to happen for so long,’ he murmured.
‘You have?’
‘Yes, of course. Surely you knew.’
