Page 10 of The Ever King

Mira giggled, letting her head fall to Aleksi’s shoulder.

Sander smirked. “Daj wouldn’t save him. He’d shame him by bringing everyone around to gawk at him.”

“This entire conversation is pointless.” Jonas blew out his lips and rubbed the stubble on his chin. “First, Daj would never shame me; I’m his favorite. Second, there is no realm in any kingdom where I would getstuckorinjureddoing what I am skilled at doing.”

“Oh?” I said. “And what is that?”

“I think you know, Liv, but I’d be happy to describe it in detail. You might learn a thing or two.”

I snorted and rose to my feet. “Ah, Jonas, one day some fearsome creature is going to steal your heart and you will not know what to do with yourself.”

He reclined onto his elbows and crossed his ankles, a wicked kind of grin on his face. “One lover for the rest of my days? I think not.”

“Speaking of lovers,” Aleksi said, eyes on me. “What do you think of rumors that more than one noble sod has been talking to Uncle Valen, Liv?”

The brän all at once didn’t sit right in my gut. I waved the thought away. “I think if rumors are true, they are brave souls to approach my father instead of me.”

“Well spoken, Livie! Make them kneel!” Mira shouted. She clapped a hand over her mouth, squeaking out a drunken laugh when it dawned on her she’d bellowed her declaration.

Sander laid back on the sand and closed his eyes. “They’re fools if they think your father would hand you over for some political alliance.”

A smile teased my lips. Talk of suitors had changed over the turns. In a different time, perhaps it would be common for a father to arrange his daughter’s marital vows. Not my father.

When my parents met each other, it had been at my mother’s dowry ball. The king had arranged for her to be bartered for a strategic match, and the highest bidder would be the winner. My father was not even in the running; now they were rulers over a realm. They of all people would never force a match on their children.

I supposed I’d always been waiting for the burn in my heart, a feeling of insatiable need and desire. I wanted the passion I saw among my own folk, and now, looking back, I’d likely passed opportunities to be daring, feckless, to be left breathless from a night meant solely for pleasure.

A Jonas way of thinking, but not such a silly idea. I had nothing but inexperience to offer anyone.

“Maybe you won’t be forced to take a husband,” Jonas said, voice heavy with drink. “But if drunken bastards start to hang all over either of you two, they’ll wind up missing.”

There was a bite to his tone. Even drunk, even nearly a turn younger than me, Jonas was like a protective brother who didn’t take well to men looking at Mira and me for our rank alone.

Hazy with drink herself, Mira hooked one of her slender arms around his neck and pressed a loud, wet kiss to his cheek. “You know, as stupid as you are most days, you have one of myfavoritehearts.”

He sloughed her off and flopped back onto the sand, humming the eerie song of the sea—one that tantalized the hair on my arms, like a frightening memory. “A man he’s not, we work we rot . . .”

I turned away, their songs, laughter, and drunken insults to each other at my back. My steps were unsteady, so once I reached the water’s edge, I carefully positioned myself on the ledge of a thick stone to watch the sun fade over the dark sea.

A moment later, Aleksi sat beside me. “Thoughts?

With a sigh, I let my head fall to his shoulder. “Many.”

“I have two ears.”

“I don’t know, Alek. Something feels different. Now, all this chatter about vows and suitors. I feel like I’m spinning forward, yet not really living.”

“What do you mean? You’re the heir of the Night Folk.”

“Yes, because I was born to it. I spar with you and Uncle Tor, but beyond knowing the blade, what have I done? I hardly use my fury. I haven’t . . . well, I haven’t even tried to know people outside of you four.”

“You mean men?”

Heat flushed my face. “I mean everything. I look at you, all handsome in your new gambeson, and I realize I’ve not really strived to be more than comfortable. Even Rorik has a desire to be something more than his birthright, and he’s nine and insane.”

Aleksi grinned. “Then be reckless, Liv. This festival, forget propriety, forget the nerves. I know, I know, easy for me to say. But maybe this is your gut telling you to be daring. A little bold. Who knows what might happen?”

I nudged his side with my elbow. “Odd thing coming from you, honorable Rave.”