“The hardest things to reach,” he echoed her words, his voice quieter now, “are usually worth it.”
Her eyes widened, just a fraction, as they stood staring at each other.
The dance had ended. They should’ve stepped apart, but neither did.
Reiyana remained still, her fingers resting lightly in his, her pulse flickering beneath his thumb. A heartbeat passed, then another.
Her lips parted, as if she meant to speak. But the moment stretched too long, the weight of it tipping and unravelling before it could take shape.
She blinked, then curtsied. Without a word, she turned away.
Alarik stood alone and took in a lungful of air, bracing himself.
Freedom. She spoke of it as though it were forever beyond her reach, but he had glimpsed something else—an unyielding spark. Even beneath the crushing duty, even within these gilded walls, that flame refused to be extinguished.
By morning, their paths might diverge, this fleeting connection dissolving into nothing more than memory.
Yet, as he watched her retreat, sapphire silk trailing behind her like a wave returning to the sea, he found himself wondering.
Had her freedom truly slipped away, or was it simply waiting to be claimed?
Chapter Five
KAELENDRIN
Kaelen had watched how Alarik and Princess Reiyana twirled across the ballroom. She moved with practiced grace, every step flawless—but beneath that refinement, something was held too tightly, as if sheer will alone kept her composed.
Alarik’s hand rested lightly at the small of her back, meant to guide her, but she barely leaned into it.
Most women softened under Alarik’s lead; this one resisted.
Kaelen had seen the shift—the flicker of curiosity in Alarik’s gaze, the way he held the turns just a fraction longer than necessary. The princess had done something few managed. She had made Alarikwonder.
Now, as the final notes faded into polite applause, Kaelen straightened. The princess was already retreating to her family at the royal table, her posture impeccable but distant.
Before she could slip away, he stepped smoothly into her path and dipped into a bow, extending his hand.
“Princess Rei,” he greeted, warmth threading through his tone. “May I steal this next dance?”
He knew full well he risked irritating her with his overly familiarapproach, but he took the chance, hoping to break through that polished veneer and see what lay beneath.
She tensed like a wary creature sensing the faintest ripple of danger. Her hesitation stretched on, edged with defiance rather than polite refusal.
But she hadn’t declined.
He felt the weight of every gaze on him as he remained bowed, waiting for her decision. Expectations pressed in from every corner of the ballroom, none heavier than the silent pressure of her parents’ watchful eyes.
Finally, she placed her hand in his. Without a word, he guided her back to the floor, weaving through the dancers until the music wrapped around them, the silence between them as loaded as the court’s collective gaze.
At last, she spoke—smoothly, but edged like a blade kept sharp beneath silk. “You may call me Reiyana, Prince Kaelendrin. ‘Rei’ is for those I consider kin. And we”—her blue eyes lifted to his, cool and cutting—“are far from that.”
Kaelen inclined his head. “Of course, Princess Reiyana. Apologies if I presumed too much.”
Her gaze held firm. “Presumed, insinuated. The line is thin.”
His hand at her waist shifted slightly, keeping her closer as they turned. “I’ve never been fond of unnecessary distance. Formalities have a way of keeping people at arm’s length.” His voice dipped, lighter now. “You’re more than welcome to call me Kaelen. Truthfully, I prefer it.”
She glowered, her grip tightening ever so slightly. “Sometimes distance is preferable, especially with those who assume familiarity where none exists.”
