Chapter Thirteen

 

Genevieve

Neither Julian nor Evie brought up their first night sharing a tent together for the remaining part of their journey to Willow, though they spent another week and a half sleeping inside it every night. But whenever they camped deep into the chilly depths of a forest Julian wordlessly removed his shirt and allowed Evie to huddle close to him, for which she was grateful.

But her heart hurt, and Evie could neither understand it nor do anything about it. Julian had thrown away her burgeoning feelings before she had even accepted them for what they were. She knew that, at the very least, she should be happy that Julian had not rejected her out of dislike but, rather, out of a sense of duty and responsibility. Given the fact he’d been looking out for her ever since he’d saved her from those men on the road, Evie could hardly be surprised by this turn of events.

That doesn’t make his rejection sting any less, she thought sadly as she finally entered the city of Willow. Julian was walking a few paces ahead of her, keeping to himself. He was on high alert for – something. Or someone. Evie couldn’t tell; it wasn’t as if Julian had informed her about what was going on. But his antsy energy had her on edge, too, making it impossible for Evie to appreciate the beautiful, intricate architecture of the city in which she’d been born.

It was both alien and achingly familiar to her, as if Evie’s mind itself had invented the place in a dream. Not that she’d dreamt of cities or palaces or even her royal heritage all that much over the past few days. No, all she’d dreamt about as she and Julian made their awkward way towards Willow was Julian himself.

Evie couldn’t stop thinking about the way he’d looked at her before he gave in and kissed her, or the ferocity with which he’d pushed her below him. The weight of Julian on top of her – the feeling of having every inch of his skin against hers – had been driving her insane ever since. Evie had wanted more. Needed more.

But Julian had pulled away.

Damn him being responsible and righteous just when I craved for him not to be, she cursed, dolefully watching the man stalk through the throng of the crowd. All Evie had wanted over the past few days was to ignore Julian until he kissed her with desperate longing once more, but though she’d followed through on the former Julian had not done the same with the latter.

And now it’s too late. We’ve reached Willow and soon I will probably never seen Julian again. I should not have ignored him simply because he hurt my pride.

But was it really her pride Julian had hurt? Evie hadn’t spent enough time with other people to have any pride in herself as a woman. Then was it her pride as a princess that he’d broken? The fact that he’d rejected her for the one part of her that she could not change – a part of her she could have demanded he accept if she’d really wanted to?

Evie laughed bitterly. I could never do that.

Julian stopped to look back at her, concerned. “What’s the matter?”

“Nothing,” she said, waving him away. “Nothing at all. I’m just nervous.” It wasn’t untrue; Evie’s stomach had been lurching and roiling all morning. She hadn’t eaten anything at breakfast – much to Julian’s surprise.

His face softened. “Everything will be fine, Evie. And if it’s not…well, that’s what I’m here for. And on the subject of what I’m here for…”

Evie frowned as Julian regarded her critically. She had to frown, otherwise she’d blush as red as a summer apple beneath his gaze. “What is it?”

“I think it’s probably safe to work some magic on your hair once more,” Julian said, darting his head back and forth as he looked for somewhere quieter to perform the enchantment. “And you could do with a more expensive dress.”

Evie picked at the sleeve of the one she was wearing. “But I like this one. It’s like a forest.”

“I never said you had to get rid of it, only that you need a new one. You want to look your best to meet your parents, do you not? And your brother?”

She froze at the mention of her brother, Louis. Evie had chosen not to think about him ever since Julian had first brought him up. This was partially due to him telling her that Louis was sickly and unlikely to survive childhood, but for the most part it was because Evie couldn’t imagine having a sibling. He would be the age she was when she was sent to the tower, after all. It was unfathomable. Unknowable.

It scared Evie to no end.

“Evie?”

She shook her head. “Yes, okay. Let’s make me look my best. Only…”

Now it was Evie’s turn to cast a critical eye over Julian. The wizard was hidden beneath his stained and ragged cloak, and though most of his hair was tied back there remained a few errant strands covering his eyes. Julian’s stubble had grown to the point of it almost being considered a beard; Evie longed to see it gone.

“No,” Julian said, upon realising what Evie’s expression meant. “No. I’m fine just the way I am.”

Evie crossed her arms over her chest. “If I need to look more presentable when I’m already in a nice dress then you definitely need to look better, Julian.”

He pointed at her. “You and I both know that it’s your hair that’s the problem. It’s a travesty.”

“Still not cutting it.”

“Even if I agree to cut mine?”

Evie faltered. It was an appealing bribe. However…

“No. I don’t want to cut my hair…even if it’s only for another few days. And besides, you have to cut your hair.”

Julian cocked an eyebrow. “Oh?”

“I’m the princess. You have to do what I say.”

So much for never using that against him.

To her relief, Julian laughed. “If that is the only thing you can think of to demand of me then fine, I will. But let me fix your hair first, then we can set about getting new clothes and fixing me.”

“You don’t need fixed,” Evie muttered as Julian pulled her down a near-abandoned alleyway. Had he not been a wizard Evie would never have gone down such a street; even now there were hungry eyes on them, busy calculating how much money they were likely to be carrying. But then Julian’s eyes began to glow, and his fingertips turned Evie’s hair to liquid gold, and they scurried away in fear.

Evie sighed contentedly as Julian enchanted her hair. She’d missed the feeling of it – of hot, bubbling magic coursing through every strand as he weaved and braided the lot of it into so elaborate a hairstyle even the aristocrats of Willow would be envious.

When Julian was done and pulled his fingertips away from her scalp Evie felt a keening sense of regret. It was, most probably, the last time he would ever work his magic on her.

Well, in the literal sense, she amended, watching longingly as Julian rolled out a kink in his shoulders and shook his hair from his eyes. When he smiled at her his expression was so guarded against her it hurt Evie’s heart.

“Shall we go shopping, then?” he asked. But Evie shook her head, and Julian’s formal smile disappeared. “What’s wrong?”

“I…think I want to buy a dress by myself. Can we find an inn first so that we can meet back there when we’re both done?”

The meaning behind her words was plain for Julian to translate: I can’t pretend that everything is fine between us any longer.

He regarded Evie for so long she almost repeated her request. But then, finally, Julian inclined his head, then pulled a small bag of coins from his cloak and proffered them to her. She took it wordlessly, being careful not to touch his hands. They were abuzz with magic, as if Julian could no longer contain it for some reason.

“Let’s find a good inn for the night, then,” he said, “though I doubt any inn will seem good once you return to the palace.”

“Trust me,” Evie replied, lips quirking into a smile despite her bad mood, “anything will feel like luxury after spending eleven days sleeping in a tent.”

Julian snickered. “Fair point. Here’s hoping neither of us need ever find ourselves in a tent again.”

Evie didn’t reply; she merely followed Julian out of the alleyway and down the main street as he searched for an inn. Going by the purposeful way he wound his way through the crowd he already had a place in mind. But it didn’t matter how lovely the room was that Julian paid for Evie to sleep in that night – she knew she would be sleeping in it alone.

And though camping had been hell, and she had hated most every part of it, it was a hell Evie would gladly live through again and again if it meant she did not have to say good bye to Julian.