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“I know.”

I want to ask him to follow me to my chambers, to a rooftop, to the back stairs—anywhere to feel his skin on mine. But I also want him to suggest it. Like a terrible wretch, I want him to be jealous having seen me on Jamys’ arm.

“Now you’re showing off,” Tomas says with a grin.

“How so?”

“Keeping the shield up for no reason at all.”

I bat my eyes—the picture of innocence. “I am supposed to be preparing for the trials.”

“Is this very good practice?”

Practice. An unlikely word to excite every nerve in my body, but I’ve had a unique training regimen.

***

I watched from the bridge as the Cerauno banners disappeared in the distance.

It was done. The contract was signed. I was officially betrothed. Days after having the memory of Tomas’ body branded into my mind, I was planning to give mine to someone else.

The cave which this bridge from the west tower led to had always called to me. I needed its comfort then, the shadows near its entrance guarding me from this reality.

My future husband was on his way back to my future home. How could I live in a place I couldn’t even picture? The entire thing was abstract—something happening to someone else. I could see someone who looked like me being happy at Jamys’ side, but I didn’t know the feeling myself. There’s time. It’ll come.

“Is this still your preferred hiding spot?” Tomas was halfway across the bridge before I noticed him. Now he came to my side.

“What do I have to hide from?”

“I can’t begin to imagine what the most powerful of Queen Elea’s children would need to hide from.” It sounded like it was meant to be playful, but a dark edge tinged his voice.

“I’m not the most powerful.”

“I think you are.”

“You are mistaken. I can’t even keep myself a couple of inches off the ground when I’m kissed.” I couldn’t say things like that now. But when those memories took up all the space in my mind, what other words could I conjure?

“Perhaps that speaks less to your weakness and more to the quality of the kiss.”

My jaw clenched as I put all my focus on not biting my lip or pressing my lips together as they yearned to feel his again. I kept my eyes trained on the horizon where my future husband had just gone out of sight.

“I’m sorry,” Tomas said. “I’ve overstepped. I shouldn’t—”

“No.” I turned to face him. “It’s quite all right. I don’t want you to tread carefully around me.” My gaze dropped to his lips then snapped back up to his eyes, a blush warming my cheeks. “I don’t want you treating me differently at all. We’ve always teased each other, and I don’t want that to go away. After all, you may be right. It was a lovely kiss. But I should be able to hold my power all the same.”

“I’m sure that would come with practice.”

My resolve to keep my lips still melted. I rolled them in and ran my tongue over them, remembering Tomas’ tongue doing the same. Slowly, I backed toward the cave. “I’m sure it would. And I am expected to master my power.”

“An important responsibility.” He followed me step for step.

“It is.”

“Well, as is my duty, I am at your service for whatever you need, Princess.”

We were blanketed by the cave’s darkness now. My heart was going to rupture. “Your commitment is without comparison.”

His chin dropped, and his eyes sparkled. “I should hope so.”