There were toasts followed by more toasts. Delicious food was followed by more delicious food. Eve, who’d finally started talking to me again after she’d had quite a lot of wine, watched the scene. “These Northerners play rather hard. You’d never know we’re leaving at daybreak, the way they’re tossing it back.”
I nodded, laughing as Austin arm wrestled another sentinel and beat him handily. The soldiers around him erupted into cheers. They clanged their goblets together, slapping Austin on the back. “I don’t think he’s going to stop until he’s beat everyone in this room.”
Eve scowled. “I’d take him on, but he’d likely demote me when I crushed him.”
I laughed. “He would, you know.”
“I do know! That’s why I’m staying far away!”
I took another look around at the party. Tamara was frowning at Lord Bryson, who was drawing on a napkin. Balkyn was staring at his drink. Shaye and Lucas were engaged in a heated conversation, probably about how to best save the world or the dolphins or both.
I leaned over closer to Eve. “What do you think Tamara’s frowning about?”
Eve closed her eyes for a moment. When she opened them, she laughed. “Lord Bryon’s trying to convince her of his considerable homestead, but she’s unimpressed.”
I giggled. “Could you hear him?”
She nodded. “If my kind concentrates very closely, we are able to listen to isolated noises and conversations even if they are some distance away.”
“Right. Of course.” Abigor had told me as much. I pushed the memory away. “What’s wrong with Balkyn?”
“Well, I can’t read minds. But he looks a little… I dunno.”
“Eve, he looks lonely.”
She cursed under her breath just as Balkyn stood up and came over. “Lady Eve.”
“Yes?” She kept her expression neutral and not gobsmacked.
“Would you care to take a walk with me?” Balkyn raked a hand through his hair. “I need to clear my head from all the wine, and I’m worried His Highness is going to ask me to arm wrestle him next.”
Eve rose immediately. “You and me both.”
They smiled at each other, and I put a hand over my heart as they walked out, laughing and chatting. Tamara motioned to me from across the table. She gaped then did a fist pump. Lord Bryson said something to her. He pointed to the napkin, and she groaned.
I laughed, but something cool on the back of my neck made me shiver. I whipped around to find Austin grinning broadly.
“Were you fake breathing on me?”
He shrugged, still grinning. “Is it working?”
“Yes.” I laughed. “Have you beaten enough sentinels for one night? I daresay they won’t fight for you tomorrow if you keep gloating like that.”
He chuckled. “That’s why I’m putting myself to bed. A hot streak like this can’t be contained. It’s better for everyone if the champion excuses himself.”
My shoulders shook with laughter. “You really are ridiculous.”
“I know. That’s why I need to pack myself up.” He held out his hand for me. “Let me escort you to bed, my lady.”
I gratefully accepted his hand, and he led me from the room. Once the cooler air of the hall hit me, I realized I was very tired. I yawned. “It’s been quite a day.”
“Indeed.” Austin gently wrapped his arm around me and brought me up the stairs to my room. I leaned against his powerful body, his familiar heady scent wafting over me.
“Have you had a lot of champagne?” he asked.
“No.” I yawned again. “I had a lot of dessert, though. I daresay I’m in a food coma.”
“A food coma.” Austin considered the phrase. “Your body needs to rest because you ate too much?”
“Exactly. It happens to me quite a bit.”
Austin arched his eyebrows in mock surprise. “You don’t say.”
“Ha ha.” We reached my door, and I smiled at him. “Thank you for a wonderful day.” I refused to think past this moment, because he was with me, and he was safe.
He kissed my forehead. “Good night, Blake.”
I sighed, holding onto his hands and not letting go. “I’d say good night, but I don’t really want to.”
Austin hesitated. He looked at my door then back at me. “I could come in.”
I bit my lip as my heart thundered in my chest. “I suppose you could.”
He held my gaze. “Not to do anything untoward. I vow to protect you and your honor. It’s just that I don’t want to say good night, either.”
“Oh, I trust you.” I blew out a shuddery breath. “Which makes one of us.”
He chuckled. “We’ll be fine. As I said, I’ve vowed to protect your honor. Not even you could convince me to break that promise.”
“Ugh.”
“What was that?”
“Yay,” I lied. “Well, come on, then.” I opened the door and gasped when I saw it was lit up with dozens of candles. A beautiful vase of flowers sat on my nightstand. “What’s all this?”
Austin shrugged, but he looked pleased. “I wanted to do something nice for you. I had your maids prepare it.”
Beast rolled out from underneath the table and sat at attention, as if he were somehow responsible for how pretty the room looked.
I clutched the prince’s hand, overcome with feeling. “That’s very kind.”
He pulled me close against him then stroked my face. His gaze was intent on mine. Suddenly the room got very, very hot, and it had nothing to do with the blazing candles. Beast whined then rolled underneath the table to his spot as if he could tell we needed privacy.
Austin took a deep breath. “I want to talk to you about us, but I am not someone who excels at eloquence. I excel at so many things, yet that one skill continues to elude me.” He chuckled.
“Ha ha. But you did all this.” I nodded toward my carefully decorated room.
“I asked someone to do it.”
“Then you are more eloquent than you give yourself credit for, Your Highness.”
“Thank you, my lady. I will try my best to say what it is that I feel.”
My heart rate kicked up. “Okay.”
“I told you earlier about my true feelings. I love you, Blake.” Austin gently ran his thumb over my jawline. “I’ve never met anyone like you, and I’ve never felt like this before. I’m excited to see you every day. I relax as soon as I lay eyes on you, as if something I’ve desperately needed has shown up.”
I laughed, pure joy singing through me. “I feel the same way.”
It was true. As soon as I saw Austin in the morning, I’d felt revived, as if I’d just had the most important tea of my life.
Austin beamed at me. “You do?”
I nodded. “Love is a funny thing. You never know how desperately you need it until you have it for the first time. Now I feel as though I couldn’t live without you, like air or water.”
“It’s the same for me.” He took my hands in his. “When the fighting is over, I would like you to consider something.”
Our gazes locked. “Yes, my lord?”
His eyes blazed. He seemed nervous. “Stay here with me. Stay in the North and make it your home. Stay by my side forever.”
We held hands, just staring at each other. It was just as I’d said to Shaye: I couldn’t prepare to fall in love, because it was already happening. It had happened before I’d even realized it.
“Of course I will.” I gripped the prince’s hands. “I know in my heart I belong by your side, and you by mine. It’s as natural as the sky above us, or the wind out on the grounds below.”
He sniffled.
“Are you crying?”
“No.” He looked abashed as he roughly wiped his face. “I have something in my eye.”
“Liar.” I grinned. “Nothing to hide, anyway. I already knew you could cry—I caught you weeping after I beat you at basketball.”
Austin’s shoulders shook with silent laughter, but he had to wipe his eyes again. “You’re incorrigible.”
“Yet you love me just the same.”
“I do.” He brushed the hair back from my face. “So you mean it—you will stay with me? You will make the North your home?”
I nodded. “Yes, my lord.”
“You’ve made me very happy, Blake. Happier than I’ve ever been—and I’ve existed a long, long time.”
I kissed him quickly. I had a million questions about the future, but I made myself focus on the moment.
His expression was joyous when we broke apart. “I want to kiss you and hold you and talk about our future all night, but we must get you to bed now. It’s late, and I have to leave at daybreak.”
All the happy vibes drained from my body, replaced by dread and fear. “I don’t want you to go.”
“Shh, there now.” He kissed the top of my head and held me briefly. “I promise it will be all right.”
He motioned toward the bed, where my pajamas were laid out. “Go and change. Then while you’re falling asleep, I’ll play with your pretty hair and convince you that you needn’t worry. I am immortal after all, darling. These things usually go my way.”
His good humor and confidence made me feel a little bit better, but I still moped as I brushed my teeth and put on my pajamas. I was only cheered when I came back to my room and found Austin already in my bed. He’d changed out of his tunic, and his bare chest peeked out from beneath the covers.
I clapped my hands together. “I feel better already!”
“Don’t get any ideas.” He chuckled as he patted the bed beside him. I felt certain that, despite his admonition, he was flexing his bicep. And who could blame him? I happily climbed in and edged closer toward him. But I stopped at what I considered the halfway mark of the mattress, clueless as to what came next or what I should do.
“What are you doing?” His voice was husky.
I giggled. “I’ve absolutely no idea!”
He laughed, too, then scooted next to me under the covers. He pulled me to him, and for the first time since the pond, I felt his skin beneath my fingertips. I relished the sensation, running my hands down his arms and then, finally, over his sculpted chest. Austin didn’t move a muscle. He kept completely still as I explored the hard planes of his body.
“Are you all right?” I asked.
He exhaled. “Yes. I just didn’t want to respond.”
“Why not?”
He rolled toward me, and I could see his eyes sparkle in the darkness. “Because unlike you, I don’t trust me one hundred percent. And I’m worried that if I start kissing you or running my hands down your gorgeous body, I won’t be able to make myself stop if you don’t want me to.”
I shivered but grinned. “I don’t want you to.”
He chuckled. “Exactly why I’m going over here.” With a chaste peck on the cheek, he moved away from me and toward the edge of the bed.
“Ugh, no.” Even though his skin was cool, I was freezing without him. “Come back!”
“I will. I just need a moment to collect myself.” He took a deep, dramatic breath.
“Please come closer.” I reached for him and pulled him back. I didn’t want to miss a second of this night, but my darned eyelids were heavy. Sleep crouched at the edges of the darkness, waiting to take me. “I’m worried I’m going to fall asleep. I want to be near you while I can.” Emotions jumbled inside me—happiness and desire mingled with fear and trepidation. But sleepiness ruled them all. Dang being human!
Austin kissed the top of my head then nestled me against his chest. I could feel it rising and falling. Whether he needed to do it or not, his steady breathing comforted me.
He wrapped his arms around me. “I love you, Blake. You’ve given me everything I could ever hope for. I didn’t know I could be this happy.”
“I love you, too.” I brought my lips to his and kissed him gently but urgently. “When you leave tomorrow, remember this moment. Remember holding me like this and saying that we are going to make plans for our future. And come back to me.”
He stroked my hair. “I’ve vowed to you, my lady—I will come back to you. Always.”
With that promise floating in my head, and my face on his cool chest, I fell asleep, both happier and more afraid than I had ever been.