Page 13 of Peril


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He squeezed her fingers in return. “You don’t have to come. I can go alone.”

Jalissa’s spine straightened, her eyes flashing with determination mixed with a hint of anger. “Of course I will come. I am not going to let you walk into Mongavaria alone. We are in this together.”

The sight of her determination twitched a smile onto his face and eased some of the tension in his chest. She was afraid, as she should be.

But as he’d known she would, she’d shown him her courage. Assuring him, but assuring herself as well. She was as ready as she could be for her first spy mission.

Ahem. Diplomatic mission.

Although, come to think of it, this wasn’t her firstdiplomaticmission. She’d gone to Escarland a year ago to negotiate continued peace after Escarlish weapons had been used by the trolls. And she had been far more the diplomat than he had on their recent trip to Kostaria.

It was the added element of the danger of spying that worried both of them. This wouldn’t be like her visit to Escarland, where Essie and Farrendel’s marriage had already started a shaky peace between their kingdoms.

Right now, Mongavaria and Escarland were one wrong word away from war. The only thing stopping them was that neither side could be assured of victory. If a war started now, it would be long, grinding, and would likely lead to mutual destruction. Mongavaria had the bigger army and slightly more resources. Escarland had strong, magical allies in the elves and trolls.

Edmund and Jalissa’s job was to find enough information to keep Mongavaria at bay and continue this uneasy but cold almost-war.

On the other side of the glow of the border magic, a Mongavarian ship waited. Its sides were covered in iron plating while masts and sails still jutted into the sky alongside the smoke stacks for the steam engine.

Edmund turned to put his back to the Mongavarian ship and pulled Jalissa into his arms. They only had a few more moments to just be themselves. Once they boarded that ship, they would have to pull on their masks. Even in private, it would be difficult to set aside the mask since they wouldn’t dare fully relax.

Jalissa snuggled against him, her head against his chest. “I wish we had more time before…”

“I know.” He rested his cheek against her hair. They’d been married for a mere week.

But at least they’d had their wedding. They’d had an amazing week. He would have to be thankful for the time they’d had rather than mourn that it had been cut short with this trip.

Edmund raised his head, then tipped Jalissa’s face up so that she met his gaze. “I know you’re nervous. I am too. But this will be fun, too.”

Jalissa shook her head, giving a hint of an eyeroll. “Only you would call dangerfun.”

“Admit it. You secretly like a bit of danger in your life.” Edmund gently brushed a strand of her dark brown hair behind her ear. “Otherwise you wouldn’t have married me.”

That earned him a hint of her smile. If she would have said anything in response, he didn’t wait to find out. Instead, he kissed her, losing himself to the kiss as he wouldn’t dare to do once they were in Mongavaria.

All too soon, a throat cleared. “Your Highnesses, we are nearing the border.”

Edmund pulled away from Jalissa just enough to lean his forehead against hers for another long moment before he gathered the strength to step all the way back.

Sarya stood a few feet away, her arms crossed and a stern expression on her face. Edmund hoped the stern expression was exaggerated. He thought Sarya liked him well enough, but it was hard to tell sometimes with Jalissa’s stoic guard.

At least there would be someone else looking after Jalissa in Mongavaria. Even if Edmund failed, he knew Sarya would see to it that Jalissa was safe.

Drawing his shoulders straighter, Edmund pressed another kiss to Jalissa’s forehead, then stepped back. “Excuse me for a moment. I need to change into my disguise.”

“Disguise?” Jalissa raised her eyebrows at him. “We’re still going as ourselves.”

“Sort of.” Edmund flashed her a grin. “You’ll see.”

He strode away, letting himself strut just a little bit. He couldn’t wait to see the look on Jalissa’s face when he reappeared.

He stepped into the cabin assigned to him and Jalissa, opened one of the trunks Weylind had provided for them, and found the outfit he was looking for.

As he finished tying the lacy neckcloth into a complicated knot, Jalissa’s footsteps sounded in the passageway a moment before the door behind him opened. “Edmund, we are—what are you wearing?”

He turned and gestured at himself with a flourish. “What? You don’t think fuchsia is my color?”

“No.” Jalissa grimaced, her gaze flicking up and down his outfit.

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