Page 49 of The Queen’s Bodyguard

“Well, he clearly loves you, and you are more than clearly attracted to him.”

“We’ve known each other since we were children. I love him dearly, as a friend. And just because I find him handsome and adore his personality doesn’t mean I’m attracted to him in every way. Or at all, even.”

“ ‘In every way’?”

“You know.” Theora suddenly looked sheepish. “Not…you know…”

“No, I don’t know,” Argos said, with the slightest raise of his brow.

“Sexually,” Theora blurted, before pressing her lips tight, glancing around to see if the empty room had heard her. “And no, he wasn’t supposed to be here. He wasn’t supposed to even know you exist.” She crossed her arms, scowling at him. “Don’t give me that look, Argos. I most definitely hurt his feelings by introducing you as my husband.”

“Oh no,” he said, his voice monotone, “not his feelings.”

“Of course you don’t care, but I have to marry him when all is said and done, and at this point I’m not even sure I can salvage the relationship before the end of this week.”

“Given the choice, why would you want to marry someone you’re not attracted to, or love for that matter?”

She scoffed. “Things are different when you’re a queen. You wouldn’t understand.”

He understood perfectly. His marriage to Izzi had started off as neither love nor attraction. It was based on survival on his part, mercy on hers. It had been beneficial to them both, just as any other marriage of convenience.

Things weren’t different at all.

Argos sighed and unwrapped the lollipop he’d stowed in his pocket.

“Where did you get that?” Theora demanded.

He pulled it out of his mouth long enough to say, “Stole it.”

“What are you, a five-year-old?”

“Yeah, I just look twenty years older for some reason.”

“Oh, shut up.” She shoved him in the shoulder, but he could tell she was fighting back a grin. “What flavor is it?”

He held the candy to her face. He’d never thought twice about sharing with his previous wife, but Theora hesitated—there was a lot more she was uncomfortable with than he’d thought, things he thought nothing of on a daily basis. Things that she would have to get used to quickly if this act was going to work.

She stuck out her tongue carefully, avoiding her lipstick, and took one small lick, like a tentative cat. She probably hadn’t had one since she was five, and it showed. “Mmm. Butterscotch?”

“It tastes like you,” he said, popping it fully back into his mouth before she could take another lick.

Heat radiated from Theora, the smallest bit of panic in her eyes. “Excuse me?”

Argos paused. He’d spoken without thinking, but now that he ran it back through his head…wow. Unhinged. “I mean, it tastes how you smell,” he corrected quickly.

“Oh.” She relaxed. “Yes, it does match my lotion a bit.”

That wasn’t what he’d meant either, but he had the good sense not to say anything more. Instead, he got up and walked over to a painting on the wall, if only to distract himself from the strange tight feeling in his gut.

“You know,” Theora said, following him casually, “even though you’re being annoying, I am rather surprised. You’ve been oddly cooperative since we arrived.”

He crunched a bit on his lollipop. “I pride myself on receiving excellent reports on all my missions.”

“If I’d known it would make you so well-behaved, I would’ve suggested it from the beginning.”

“Suggested what?” he asked with a raise of his brow. “That we pretend to be in love?”

She blushed, clearing her throat.