Page 71 of Prince of the Sun

All this fantasizing—I know. It’s completely unlike me. But I can’t help it. With the taste of Daerios still on my lips, his smell on every inch of the bed, I can’t help it. And as I drift off to sleep, my naked body tangled up in the limbs of another for the first time in my life, I’m no longer afraid.

We walk through the door to applause.

The ride home was far more pleasant than the ride there. I adjusted to Vorrok’s rhythm, no longer afraid to lean back into Daerios as he led the stallion through winding Massachusetts streets. The happiness that lulled me to sleep seemed to carry over into the next morning, as I took in the fall colors and the early morning sunlight. Gentle ripples on the Charles River.

After we made it to the stables, Daerios walked me back to my dorm room. We walked hand in hand, existing inside this bubble of contentedness. Nothing could disrupt it. Not the wind. Not the people on the street who shot us surprised looks to see an elf and a human together. Nothing.

That is, until we make it to Quincy House.

Cara and Berendir burst off the sofa, hands clapping as fervently as if they’ve just witnessed the most unbelievable Broadway production of their lives. Daerios and I freeze in the doorway, hands still twined together. One of my shoulders holds the door open.

“What the hell?” Daerios asks.

“You did it!” they yell in unison, rushing forward. I notice, just before I’m absorbed by Berendir’s lanky arms, that he’s holding flowers.

“We did what?” I ask, voice muffled by the wool of Berendir’s cloak.

Berendir pulls back and shoves the flowers into my arms. Carnations. Light and dark red. “We thought it would never happen,” he says, pretending to wipe a tear away. He wraps one arm around Cara’s waist, placing the other over his heart. Together, they look like proud parents. “We thought we’d have to bear the repressed sexual tension forever.”

“Oh, my God.” I try to bury my face in my hands, but it ends up in the carnations, instead.

Cara speaks next. “I bet on it not happening. When I heard Daer forced Q onto a horse, I figured he’d come home with no balls at all. But then you never came home—”

I lower the flowers beneath my eyes. “I’m literally going to murder you.”

She pouts. “Who will you live with, then?”

“Out.” I whack Berendir with the carnations. He laughs and skitters over to Daerios, who is holding a hand over his mouth. I point at the prince. “And you—not even ahintof a laugh, or you reallywillgo home without balls.”

“Alas.” Berendir slings an arm over Daerios’s shoulders. “That was a short honeymoon.”

“Good-bye.” I slam the door in their face. Deep laughter seeps through the frame.

I whirl on Cara. “What the hell wasthat?”

“Tell me everything.” She dances forward, completely unphased by my anger, and grabs my hands. “Did you guys sleep in the woods? Did you havesexin the woods? In public? God, that’s hot. And soscandalous—”

“Shut up, shut up, shut up.” I tear my hands away and flapthem next to my head. “I’m not telling you anything.”

“Come on. I’m your best friend. I deserve at least afewsordid details.”

I sigh.

“At least tell me this—” She grins. “Was it good?

I can’t help it. A smile sneaks onto my face. “It was good.”

She hops up and down, clapping as eagerly as when we walked in. I roll my eyes. I’m about to turn around, to stalk through my bedroom door, when she says, “Oh! One more piece of good news—I cracked the code in that paper.”

“Youwhat?” I whirl around. “What did it say?”

“No idea. It’s all in one of those elf languages you speak. Looks like gibberish to me.” She retreats into her bedroom, then reemerges with a printed piece of paper. “Here. The code I wrote should be able to parse out any messages that have been hidden in that same manner. I’ll send you the file so you can use it on your own.”

“Thank you.” I look down at the message typed in Maevish. My heart hiccups with nerves. “Thank you so much. You’re an angel.”

“That’s much better.” She grins. “Now go rest up, lovebird. I’m sure you need it.”

I don’t rest. Not a chance. As soon as my bedroom door is shut behind me, I sit down at my desk and start to translate.