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“Where do you stay when you’re here?” she asked.

“At the official residence.” He waved up ahead, and she saw a building rising up over the others in the wide street, nothing overtly ostentatious, but solid and gracefully proportioned.

She followed Theo through the arched entryway, where they were met by stable hands. Their group had broken up as soon as Ta-lin had come into sight, some racing ahead, and it was controlled chaos in the big courtyard in front of the entrance.

She slid off her horse with relief, and held her bag awkwardly while Theo was pulled aside by someone who looked official.

He shook his head firmly at something that was said, and then turned to her, hand out. “Ava’s given you one of the guest suites while they sort out a permanent arrangement for you. Roderick will show you the way, because apparently I have something I have to attend to.”

The official-looking man’s eyes widened at being designated as a guide, but he inclined his head cordially enough.

Theo took her hand, and as his warm fingers closed over hers, she regretted that they hadn’t had a chance to speak much to each other over the last two days of wild riding, let alone anything else.

She missed the closeness. The connection she felt between them.

“I’ll be up as soon as I can to see you.”

She nodded, suddenly unable to speak, and then he walked away, swallowed by the chaos of horses and soldiers.

“This way.” Roderick waved a hand toward the building, and she followed him up some stairs, along a passageway, and into what looked like a bedroom for visiting royalty.

“All right?” he asked.

She turned, taking it all in. “It seems like too much,” she admitted.

“It’s usually for heads of state, so enjoy.” He grinned. “If the queen wants you here, she must like you. Can I get you anything else?”

She gave a nod. “I’d really like a bath.”

He eyed her thoughtfully. “I’ll arrange a bath and some food. Dinner is usually at seven, and it’s very informal, but if that’s all you have to wear, I’ll find some clothes to send up to you, as well.”

He left her with another incline of his head, and she sat at the window and looked out on the town, suddenly discombobulated at her new circumstances.

She had always looked at the Kassia and Cervantes soldiers and wished she had the same easy camaraderie and closeness they seemed to have with each other. Now she was in the bosom of the palace, in a room for visiting heads of state, and with a purpose that fulfilled what she’d wanted since she’d first seen the glow of spell work and understood what it was.

The food arrived first, and then the bath and clothing, and when she was fed, bathed and dressed, she realized she couldn’t sit in the room any longer.

She ventured out and wandered the palace, learning the layout and enjoying its clean, simple lines.

She took a door outside and walked through a small garden and then out onto an older street that looked like it was anoriginal part of the town. The little shops that lined it on either side were full of interesting wares, but she came to a stop in front of the goldsmith’s.

She was studying the jewelry on display when she saw Theo walking toward her.

He stopped beside her, and unable to keep away, she sidled closer and slid her arm around his waist.

He went still for a beat, and then curved his arm along her shoulder.

“I couldn’t find you,” he said. His voice sounded a little frayed.

“I waited, but then I needed to move. I came onto this street by accident.”

“Would you ever want to go back to this?” he asked, nodding toward the window.

“I enjoy it, so perhaps I can keep it as a hobby. Especially if I find items that can be used for protection.” She had put her ring back on her finger, and she held it out.

“Dinner is usually in the hall,” he said, tugging her back toward the palace. “But I organized a more private meal in your rooms for the two of us, if that suits you?”

“It does.” She glanced up at him. Frowned. “Why do you seem nervous? Do you have bad news?” She remembered the hard shake of his head while he’d been talking to Roderick.