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All of that was gone, now, thorns replaced by dandelions. He spent the hours either reading or writing at his desk, although he had few people to correspond with.
Just before sunset, Hawthorn declared he had a sudden desire for an evening gallop through the grounds. “It may get dark before I return. It would be dangerous for you to guard me with those weak mortal eyes of yours. I shall take another guard. Please, go down the stables and ready my horse for me.”
Juliana knew exactly what he was doing, but she decided not to question it. She followed his commands, slipping silently down to the stables where Dillon was on duty.
“His Highness requires his horse.”
Dillon leapt up from the chair where he was resting, a flicker of a smile in his tanned cheeks. “Well, we best not keep His Highness waiting.”
Wordlessly, as they had done a hundred times before, the two of them saddled Raven, fingers brushing over feather and fur.
“Did he apologise?” Juliana asked, when the task was almost completed and a runner sent to fetch Hawthorn.
“He did indeed,” Dillon said, almost proudly, reaching into his pocket to retrieve a letter. Juliana recognised the elegant scrawl immediately. “Dear Dillon. Apologies for the misunderstanding this morning. Please accept this coin in recompense.”He produced a shiny gold coin, flipping it in the air.
Juliana groaned. “He was writing all morning. Was thatit?”
“Probably because he can’t lie.”
“What does that mean?”
“Well, he can hardly say, ‘I don’t know what came over me’ or other mortal nonsense, can he? He apologised, I’ve an extra week’s wages for some mild panic—I’m not complaining.”
Juliana had no idea what had come over Hawthorn, and she decided she didn’t want to. Far easier to pretend it never happened.
Dillon’s smile wavered. “About last night…” he started.
“It was nice,” Juliana admitted. “A shame about this morning.”
“Quite.” He paused, eyes glancing downwards. “Is there something going on between you and the Prince?”
“What? No! Why would you—”
“He seemed more than a little perturbed to discover me in your bed.”
“He encouraged me to—”
“He… encouraged you?” Dillon’s brow twisted. “Did you sleep with me because the Prince told you to?”
“No!” Juliana exclaimed, affronted. “I slept with you because after years of seeing faeries going at it at every opportunity, I was curious. And you’re nice. I figured my first time should be with someone who wasn’t a complete ass.”
A stiff silence spread between the two. Juliana hated it. Things had always been easy with Dillon. Had she ruined that?
“It was my first time, too,” he said softly.
“I know,” she said. “I’m sorry. Did I ruin it for you?”
“No,” he said, “not at all. I just… I was curious too. I don’t regret it, I just—”
“You don’t want to do it again?”
“I ratherwouldlike to do it again,” Dillon admitted. “But, see, the thing is—holy vines, I can’t believe I’m saying this—I like you more than you like me, and I don’t think you’re going to change your mind towards me. So if we did… if we continued this… I think I’d just end up getting hurt, and even though I want to, it might be best if we both… pursued other partners.” He took a deep, long breath. “Gods, I hope I don’t regret that.”
Juliana reached across Raven’s saddle and took his hand. “You’re too good for me anyway.”
“I, um, thank you,” he said, his thumb brushing over her knuckles ever-so-briefly before releasing.“We’re not faeries, you know,” he said. “We don’t have to act like them. We’re allowed to want to be with just one person for the rest of our lives.”
“Do you really think they’re so different from us?”I know I do, at times. When I’m watching them be beautiful and perfect, when I watch magic fly from their fingers and charms from their voices.
