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I stare at him. “What? For real?”

He gives a slight nod. “That’s what happens when you get in as much trouble as I’ve gotten into. Which is why the princess shouldn’t be hanging out with me.”

“I’m not going to rule Valora, and I told you not to call me that.”

He sits up straighter. “I didn’t. Just said that’s what you are.”

“I don’t care about any of that. Why can’t you go to the surface?”

Bash closes his eyes for a moment before looking at me. “I can go. It’s that I won’t lose my tail, which is obviously problematic.”

“What did you do to get that punishment?”

He draws in a deep breath. “You don't want to know.”

“I just asked.”

“Trust me.” He frowns then mutters something.

“What was that?”

He holds my gaze for a moment. “You’d never look at me the same.”

“You don’t know that.”

“I do.”

“Why? Did you kill someone?”

“No.” He shakes his head. “Definitely not.”

“Then just tell me.”

“I’d rather not.”

I study him. His expression is tense and stress lines crease around his forehead and eyes. I put my hand on his. “If you don’t want to tell me, you don’t have to.”

His face relaxes. “Thanks. Maybe someday.”

“Don’t worry about it. We all have a right to secrets.”

Bash tilts his head. “Do you have secrets?”

“Everybody does.”

“Now I’m curious.”

“Maybe someday.” I fight a smile from forming.

He scoots closer, my hand still on his. “What kind of a secret does a princess who grew up on land have?”

I pretend to zip my lips.

Bash looks me over. “Now you’re even more mysterious than before.”

“I’m mysterious?”

“Are you kidding? Your family was banished to live on land and now you’re back amid rumors of your father killing his brother.”