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The idea of the guard seeing Neve in her nightclothes was enough to make me get to my feet. In doing so, I shifted my body, hoping to hide my erection.

Her soft gasp and subsequent giggle told me I’d failed.

I shook my head. At least the door was near the bathroom. I went to the door, opened it, and poked my head outside. “Give it here.”

The knight handed over the missive, and I shut the door again and ripped open the letter.

I’ve secured the training hall. We’re all waiting.

We’re all waiting? I’d figured that Sian would be there, but who were the others?

Neve came padding down the hallway, her eyes twinkling with mischief. “What does it say?”

She was trying not to look at my cock, which only made things worse.

I cleared my throat. “Sian is in the training room. He says to hurry.”

“Then we should.” Her top teeth dug into her bottom lip. “You should . . . ummm . . . Get working on things.” She laughed at her own awkwardness, her gaze panning to the tent in my pants. An irresistible shade of pink flushed her cheeks. “I’ll get ready out here and use the bathroom after you.”

“Perfect.” I lost no time in shutting myself into the bathroom.

I’d never been so happy to go to the palace training facilities. That said a lot considering that when I was a youngling nearing adulthood, I’d loved little more than practicing with swords. Today, though, sparring and training meant I’d no longer be in my rooms. Nor alone with Neve—the far too attractive female who wouldn’t stop throwing me coy sidelong glances and amused smiles.

Since we’d left my suite, she hadn’t said a word about the events of the morning but was clearly still thinking about it. That mademethink about it and wonder what she’d have done if I’d pulled her into me and kissed her.

Our first and only proper kiss, the one not witnessed by friends and family at our wedding, played in my mind for what had to be the hundredth time. It had been a surprise, but perfect. Despite the deal we’d made, I wanted that again.

“I hear swords,” Neve said as a feral grin slipped across her face. “Are you ready to lose?”

I laughed. She was far too pleased with her win. “We’ll see if you get the chance to be sneaky again.”

“Sneaky or not, I still won. In a fight for my life, that would be all that mattered, right?”

“What of honor?” I couldn’t help but ask. My own sword master had proclaimed loud and clear that honor was of the utmost importance. He’d drilled it into me.

She turned to me; her expression thoughtful. “Worries of survival dominated my life—still do. I suppose if I were you, honor would consume me more. But me? I want to defend myself and live to tell the tale.”

Again, I was reminded that though she looked every bit the princess; we came from two different worlds. Both deadly in their own ways, nevertheless very different.

Not for the first time I wondered how well I would have fared in her position. Probably not as well as I’d like to think.

“Do what you must.” The corners of my lips lifted in amusement. “Though don’t expect me to fall for those violet eyes again.”

She smirked. “After this morning, I’m not sure I even have to work that hard.”

Heat crept into my cheeks. Bleeding skies, I’d walked right into that one.

Thankfully, we’d reached the double doors of the training facilities, so I pushed one open, pretending like I hadn’t heard her, which elicited a snigger from my wife.

“There you are!” Sian called out while parrying an attack from his younger brother. The clang of steel rang through the vast, empty room. “About time!”

“They’re married, Sian! Give them a break,” Sayyida shouted, not far from the Balik males. Wooden practice sword in hand, she faced off with none other than Marit Armenil, who appeared red-faced and out of her depth.

Neve sucked in a breath. “We?—”

I grasped her wrist and my voice dropped to a whisper. “Let them believe.”

Her lips pursed, but she nodded. Friends or not, and I counted Sian as one of my dearest friends, it was best that they thought Neve and me were like any other newly married couple.