Lucy:Absolutely not.I'm living the dream.Suffer prettily.
Emily snorted, then quickly converted it to a cough when the attendant shot her another look.
And through all of it—the texting and the fussing—Raaevik stood by the door like a statue.
He hadn't looked at her once.Not when she'd emerged from the dressing area.Not when the attendants had arrived.Not during the endless fussing and adjusting.He stood with his back to the room, spine rigid, hands clasped behind him.
"There."The lead attendant stepped back, surveying his work."You look breathtaking, Your Grace."
"Thank you," she said.The words came out robot-perfect.
The attendants gathered their things and filed out, the door sliding shut behind them with a soft hiss.
Silence filled the room.
She stared at Raaevik's broad back.At the rigid line of his shoulders and the hands that had held her last night.Last night.The garden.She closed her eyes.
Oh god… his mouth on hers, desperate and starving.And now...this.
"Raaevik?"
He didn't turn."You should prepare, Your Grace.The diplomatic delegation arrives at midday."
The formality landed like a slap.Your Grace.So they were doing it this way, were they?
"Raaevik, look at me."
"My duty is to guard the door."
"Your duty?"Crossing the room toward him, the silk of her gown whispered around her legs."Last night?—"
"Last night was a mistake."
"A mistake?"The hurt was sharp and immediate."That's what you call it?A mistake?"
He finally turned, and the look on his face stopped her cold.His eyes were purple ice.Cold and closed off.
"I dishonored myself."His voice dropped, rougher now."And I dishonored you.It will not happen again."
"You kissed me."She stepped closer, needing to break through that wall, to find the man who had burned for her in the garden."You felt it.I know you did.Don't stand there and lie to me."
"I do not lie."His gaze dropped to her mouth, her throat, then snapped back to a point somewhere above her head."I swore an oath to the Emperor.My life is his.My honor is his.Last night…" He swallowed hard."Last night I was a traitor."
"A traitor?"She barked a laugh."For kissing me?Daaynal doesn't even want me!He's marrying me for a treaty, for… for biology!He doesn't care!"
"He trusts me."The snarl cracked the stone facade.He took a step toward her, looming, and for a second, she thought he might grab her."He trusts me with his life.With yours.He called me brother."
She stared at him.
"So that's it then?"Her voice trembled."You just… shut it off?Go back to being the perfect soldier?"
"Warrior.And yes."
"And what about us?What about what happened?"
"Nothing happened."He locked his jaw, his eyes shuttering."Nothing can ever happen.I will protect you, Emily.With my life.If danger comes, I will be your shield.I will die before I let harm come to you."
"To touch you is treason.The penalty is death."He looked at her then, and she flinched at the blankness in his eyes.
