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How had so much changed?

The last light of the day filtered in from the high windows, casting him in a soft, glowing gold. He was beautiful beyond the point of fairness, really—a statue carved to worship the human body.

He stood up. I inhaled too sharply in response, drawing his gaze. He went almost perfectly still as he spotted me, only his eyes moving, taking me in as I made my way down to him.

As I approached, I lifted the skirts of my dress and gave them a little flounce. “It’s a stunning dress, isn’t it?”

He eased back into his usual confident, relaxed stance, his gaze traveling the length of my body, admiring every dip and curve before settling on my face. “I hardly noticed the dress.”

I couldn’t stop the heat that flooded my cheeks.

“The night is young,” he said in a low voice dripping with amusement, “and I already have you blushing.”

I avoided meeting his gaze—though dropping my eyes to his body wasn’t much better.

His attire was effortlessly regal, blending comfort with understated elegance. His fitted tunic of soft white linen, draping gracefully over his broad shoulders, was embroidered with subtle silver thread along the collar and cuffs. He’d paired it with grey trousers, perfectly tailored to his lean yet muscular frame and tucked into polished boots. One hand was shoved into his pocket, a coat hanging casually in the crook of his arm.

His other hand curved around my side, steadying me and drawing me closer in the same motion. Warmth spread from beneath his touch, settling in all my most sensitive places, and already I was considering canceling our plans in favor of dragging him up to my bedroom instead.

I sensed people gathering nearby, staring in our direction.

I took a step back to gather myself.

Aleks laughed softly. “Are you going to be able to keep your queenly composure in my company this evening?”

I smoothed a non-existent wrinkle from my dress. “It shouldn’t be a problem.”

“No?”

“I know your tricks at this point—I can guard myself against them.”

He grinned a lazy grin that accented his dimples. “All of them?”

“I can’t be flustered by you.”

“That sounds like a challenge, my dear Chaos.”

“Shall we bet on it?”

“Only if I get to name my prize for whenever I inevitably win.”

My core clenched, my mind circling back to the last time he’d claimed hisprize.

Before I could answer him, we were joined by the guards my brother had insisted on.

“Our chaperones have arrived in full force,” Aleks said under his breath, “we’llreallyhave to be on our best behavior, won’t we?” The devious gleam in his eyes suggested he had no intention of doing anything of the sort.

Already trying to fluster me, I realized.

I guarded myself against another twinge of desire and presented my arm to him. “Let’s go, escort.”

He let out another quiet laugh at my business-like tone, hooking his arm through mine.

Chapter Thirty-Seven

Nova

A short roadconnected the grounds of the palace with the royal city. A carriage was offered to us, but we decided to walk, and soon enough, the city of Tarnath unfolded like an enchanted map before us, full of a seemingly endless number of points I wanted to visit.