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“I t was my idea,” I lied. My back was still pressed against the cold cobblestone wall of the tavern while Lukas loomed over me, his hands pinning my wrists to my sides. “I made Raena take me here. She didn’t want to leave the palace.”

Lukas pulled his hood back to reveal his handsome, tanned face and piercing grey eyes – so piercing they felt more like daggers as he glared down at me. He knew I was lying, but I didn’t care. If anyone should take the blame for tonight, it should be me.

“You need to tell me right now what in the realm you’re doing here,” he growled, drawing closer. “Because I have a small army waiting outside for my signal, and if anyone is forcing you to stay—”

“I just needed a distraction,” I cut him off, breathless.

“A distraction?” he scoffed. “Naria, I could’ve organised you a ball. Or maybe a banquet. Or, Forge’s Flame, a walk around the palace grounds.”

“That’s not the same.”

“This isn’t safe. You are a princess,” he argued. “And my future wife,” His tone deepened as he pulled my wrists closer. “Do you have any idea how many men I caught leering at you while you danced? What if one had tried to touch you while you were out here, unprotected,” he snarled. “I can’t keep you safe if you’re sneaking out of my palace at night.”

My throat tightened. Visions of late-night horse rides and secret meetings with a certain faery prince flooded my mind. Squeezing my eyes shut until they hurt, I shook my head.

“I’m sorry,” I whispered. “It won’t happen again.”

Lukas sighed and dropped my wrists. But before he could speak again, another voice cut through the roar of the tavern, followed by a panicked squeal.

“Unhand her, or you’ll have the end of my sword to deal with!” Erik charged towards us, a flustered Raena clinging to his arm.

“Naria, don’t panic! Erik will save you!” she called out, flapping her hands.

Wincing, I opened my mouth to stop them, but Lukas had already pushed away from the wall. With a frustrated groan, he turned to face them.

Raena’s jaw unhinged. “Oh sh—” But Erik’s hand clamped over her mouth before she could finish.

“You two are in big trouble,” Lukas grumbled. “And you especially,” he cast a heavy look at Erik, whose tanned skin had paled to ivory, “you’ve held your position for less than a season and you’ve already betrayed your king. How could you be so reckless?”

“Forgive me, Your Majesty.” Erik bowed his head as guilt throbbed inside me. “It won’t happen again.”

“You can be certain it won’t,” Lukas said, keeping his voice dangerously low. “Why, if I were anything like my father, I’d have you stripped of your title and banished. Sneaking my fiancée out to a tavern… You’re lucky I found her unharmed.”

“Please.” Pushing forward, I planted myself between Lukas and my friends. “Just stop. They did nothing wrong. This was all me.” My voice hardened as I met his gaze. “Punish me if you have to. Punish me, and I’ll never leave your palace again, but don’t let this hurt them.”

“Naria…” His brows pinched together. “You know I’d never stop you from leaving Drothmore. You’re not a prisoner.”

I winced. “I know, and I’m sorry,” I said again, exasperated. “I just wanted a rest from it all, to forget… To forget and pretend.” I clenched my fists. “But you’re right. This was reckless. We should go home.”

There was a brief silence while I felt Lukas studying me.

Eventually he sighed. “I am not like my father.”

I lifted my head to see conflict warring across his features.

“You just wanted a distraction?” he asked.

Chewing my lip, I nodded.

He glanced around the tavern, scowling at the oblivious crowds still dancing and drinking around us. Eventually he sighed again. “I’ll give you one more hour here.”

My mouth dropped open. Behind me, Raena squeaked in surprise.

“But once I’ve sent my guards back to the palace, you don’t leave my side.” Pulling his hood down over his face, he slipped his fingers around my arm and drew closer to my ear. “And, Naria?”

“Yes?” I whimpered.

“No more dancing.”

My breath stuttered as he drew back.

“Because if I catch another man staring at you in that filthy way again, I won’t feel anywhere near as merciful.”

Lukas returned shortly after disappearing outside, having relieved his ‘small army’ of their duties for the night. When he approached our table, I rose from my seat to make space for him. But before I could find somewhere else to sit, I gasped as he caught me by my waist and pulled me firmly against his chest.

With a squeal, I landed ungracefully on his lap. The rest of the table stared with wide eyes, but the young king ignored them. As if it were only the two of us, he hovered his lips near to my ear, whispering, “I told you not to leave my side. Disobeying orders already?”

My cheeks heated as I adjusted my skirts. “No.”

“Good,” he said, louder this time as he settled back in his seat. “Please proceed with any matters you were discussing. You have an hour, like I said before.” He waved a hand at my friends dismissively.

Silence fell over the table, and despite the roaring noise of the tavern, I suddenly became very conscious of my own heartbeat in my ears.

That was, until a loud snort from Ivy sent the entire table glancing her way.

“I’m so sorry,” she giggled, covering her mouth to try and stifle her laughter. “It’s just… this is all so bizarre.” She hiccuped, but the loud sound only made her giggles worse.

“Please tell us your fiancé isn’t always like this, Naria,” Marius blurted. Beside him, Terrence was stifling his own laughter.

“I really don’t see the humour here,” Lukas growled, leaning forward.

I swallowed down a smirk before placing a hand on his chest. “It’s alright,” I murmured soothingly. Sliding closer, I whispered in his ear, “Perhaps just try to relax. You’re among friends here, not subjects.”

His eyes narrowed as I pulled away to address the table. “Lukas has generously agreed to treat us all to another round,” I announced with a grin.

Laughter turned to cheers while I felt Lukas stiffen behind me.

“He’s a good king after all,” Marius joked. Within seconds, the table’s usual banter resumed and I rose out of my seat to allow Lukas to pass.

“Thank you, Your Majesty ,” I teased as he stood.

Lukas fixed me with a glare. “Is it wise to draw attention to our titles in a place like this?” He glanced at a few of the busy tables around us, each one full of people too focused on emptying their tankards to care about us.

I shook my head, snorting. “I’ve been here all night and not had a single curtsy.” Lukas’s brows shot up. “If my own people don’t recognise me, I doubt you’ll need to worry.”

“That doesn’t bother you?” he breathed, confused.

“Why would it?” I laughed. Technically, I had been recognised by a few girls from my home village on the dance floor, but they didn’t make a scene. We were good friends. The last thing I wanted was for them to start bowing to me, as if I was some queen.

I paused, blinking.

“The bar’s that way.” I frowned, pointing to the stone bar before I could let myself think more. I didn’t need any more thoughts. Not when I’d already spent the last three weeks with my head on the verge of bursting.

Lukas narrowed his eyes, but thankfully, he must’ve sensed my urgent need for more ale. He stomped off in the direction of the bar, muttering something about bewitching forest princesses and this being servant’s work under his breath.

Minutes later, he returned with a tray of overflowing tankards and a sheepish expression on his face. Though any hesitance soon gave way to a slight smile. The moment the tray hit the table, cheers erupted once again.

“Three cheers for our most generous king!” Theo cried out, nearly toppling while reaching for drinks for himself and Ivy. My Corlixin friend had grown more confident throughout the night, now almost sitting on Theo’s lap.

“Yes, thank you, dear Lukas,” she slurred, taking a sip of her tankard.

Lukas nodded before leaving the tray to move towards me.

“And I suppose now you expect me to thank you for that humiliation?” he murmured, pulling me back into his lap.

I smiled proudly. “I just made you six new friends.” Warmth buzzed through me as his arms curled around my waist. “You really should be grateful.”

A soft hum vibrated through his chest. “Thank you,” he breathed.

Leaning back into him, I sighed. My friends began to speak of happenings in Corlixir and all the parties I’d missed. Raena filled in the gaps with gossip from around the palace. Until almost an hour had passed, and our tankards were just as empty as our minds.

“So Lukas,” Raena started, her voice far too loud from all the ale, “you must tell us how in the realm you found us here?” She leaned forward eagerly while I raised an eyebrow. It was a good question. Especially since we’d deliberately waited until most of the palace was asleep, and I was almost certain Lukas wasn’t a frequent visitor of any Corlixin taverns.

Clearing his throat, he spoke in a relaxed tone. “I had some important news to share with my fiancé,” he explained, drawing lazy circles on my thigh. “Imagine my surprise when I found her bed empty and the guard outside shaking in his boots.”

“Oh, that absolute snitch,” Raena fumed. “I knew we shouldn’t have asked him for gown advice!”

While Erik struggled to calm her down, I turned to Lukas, tilting my head. “What news?”

He sighed. “Word has spread about the rebuilding efforts of your kingdom. The other rulers are requesting a formal meeting as soon as possible.” Pausing briefly, he added, “We’re leaving for Ryntook tomorrow afternoon.”

“Ryntook? Tomorrow?” I repeated, just as a crash sounded across the table.

“You’re going to Ryntook?” Raena squealed. She’d pushed herself up, her tankard now laying in a puddle of ale. “Oh my Oceans, Naria. This is wonderful! How exciting!” She swayed in place, ignoring Erik’s attempts to sit her back down again. “When do we leave? I can’t wait to introduce you to my family. And oh! The beaches! We have to visit the beaches!”

“Well actually,” Lukas started. “This trip was supposed to be just for royals—”

“Did she just say Ryntook?” Ivy cut him off. “Naria, you have to take us with you! I’ve always wanted to see the ocean. And think of all the different plants we could find for our medicines!”

“The wildlife there is so beautiful,” Raena sighed, stumbling back into her seat as Erik finally managed to force her down. “There are creatures that swing from the trees and birds in so many wondrous colours. Oh, it’s a dream, and I miss it dearly.” She clutched her chest, and for once, Erik didn’t flinch as she leaned against his shoulder.

Grinning, I turned to Lukas. “How long must we all pack for?”

His lips flattened, but to my surprise, he didn’t bother to argue. “A few weeks, most likely. Could be longer or shorter depending on how negotiations proceed.”

“How wonderful!” Raena chimed. “Plenty of time to see the beaches then.”

“Of course,” Lukas said to his tankard before downing the rest of his drink.

After listening to another ten minutes of Raena marvelling about her home kingdom, a bell sounded from the bar to signal last orders. My eyelids felt heavy, but I hadn’t noticed until we all funnelled through the doorway that dawn had crested over the horizon. Winter morning sun filtered through the leafless trees. It melted frost from the cobblestone walls of the tavern as I hugged my Corlixin friends goodbye.

“Thank you for such a wonderful night,” I said, stepping out of a group hug. “I’ll make sure a carriage is sent to your homes so we can meet you along the journey.”

Ivy grinned while clinging onto Theo’s arm. The ale had turned her cheeks the colour of rosebuds, but somehow she stayed standing. “May I steal your precious knight?” Her green eyes remained fixed on Theo. “The journey to Ryntook is long and I’m afraid Marius and Terr aren’t the best swordsmen.” Cheeks heating, she blinked. “And well… there might be wolves or goblins or—”

“I’ll go wherever my fair lady needs me,” Theo replied, kissing the back of her hand.

I left the four of them in a fit of blushing laughter as Lukas guided me away from the group and towards his horse. The grey stallion huffed impatiently while Lukas untied its rope from a tree.

“You should try and get some sleep once we return,” he suggested, helping me up into the saddle. “I’ll wake you up when it’s time to leave.”

Yawning, I nodded, determined to stay awake at least until we reached the palace. But there was something else, too. A tiny, rather panicked voice insisting that I should stay awake even after we reached the palace. At least until the moon rises. At least until—

A hiccup burst from my throat as I giggled without meaning to. With all the ale sloshing around my mind, it was very easy to ignore any silly little voices.

The moment I was seated upon the horse and Lukas’s chest was flat against my back, I couldn’t resist the drunken urge to nuzzle into him, my eyes fluttering shut as the horse trotted along beneath us.