Page 40 of Muse

Rowan pulled away when he noticed my hesitation. His eyes were immediately filled with concern. "Is everything okay?"

"Yes," I assured him with a smile, putting my hand on his chest. "I'm a little light-headed, and… I leave tomorrow."

“It’s no good to be starting something only to say goodbye,” he reasoned sadly, coming to the same conclusion that I had.

“It’s not,” I agreed just as gloomily.

He took my hand again. “Let’s go inside and have some fun with the others.”

Rowan was kind, handsome, and talented. But I was leaving tomorrow, which was certainly motive enough to avoid getting too attached.

I didn't think that was the reason for my hesitation, though. Something else was weighing on my heart that I couldn't quite explain.

The rest of the night was mostly a blur, albeit a pleasant one. I stayed out as late as possible, dancing with the other muses,but I still cut out earlier than most. I wasn't that surprised that Wrenley wasn't in our room when I arrived.

I’d only just started undressing when I heard a mimicaro bird singing my name. I turned to see the round little guy. When he opened his beak, it was Soren's voice saying, "Congratulations on your wonderful conduction! I look forward to seeing you when you return tomorrow."

And that was when I understood. Soren was the hesitation on my heart.

Chapter 26

It wasn't until I woke up and saw that Wrenley's bed was empty and still made from yesterday that I began to worry. I hadn't seen xer much at the Dandy Days after-party, but there were so many people, and I had spent a lot of time with Rowan and Madge.

But now I tried to remember the last time I had seen Wrenley.

As I debated whether I should alert Madge to my friend's potential disappearance, the door opened, and Wrenley burst inside. Xe was wearing xer costume from last night, but it was rumpled, and xer makeup was smeared. Despite all that, xe was smiling and looked utterly happy.

"Wren! Where were you?" I leaped out of bed and rushed to make sure he was, in fact, all right. "What happened?"

“I…” Xe stared off wistfully into space, a contented smile on xer slender lips. “I am in love.”

I gasped. “With who?”

My mind raced to think of anyone xe'd interacted with over the past few weeks. Mostly, it had been me and Rowan, andsomewhat with Madge, but I hadn't noticed any romantic spark between the two of them. The only person that xe had seemed to have any chemistry with was the King, but that would be…

My eyes widened in disbelief, and xe finally looked down at me.

“Asmond,” xe confirmed with a dreamy smile. “I know it sounds ridiculous, but it’s true. We’ve been sneaking off to be alone together every chance we get, and I really think he loves me, too.”

“Oh my,” was all I could think to say.

My initial response was to be happy that my friend had found love, but an uncertain fear crept up beneath it. Wrenley was obviously worthy of a King’s affections, but he was still a King.

If xe married him, xe would have to move to Lamida and become the Consort to the King. Would xe want to be a monarch? Xe never seemed that interested in politics or social climbing, and xe despised being told what to do.

“I know, I know,I know,” Wrenly said with a dramatic sigh and walked over to xer bed. “Itisridiculous. Asmond and I spent all night discussing what we want and how we can be together." Then, with a wink, xe added, "Well, we didn't spendall nighttalking.”

"Are you discussing a future together already?" I asked in surprise. As far as I knew, Wrenley had never been that serious in xer romantic relationships.

Xe shrugged. "We sorta have to. It's challenging for a King to casually date."

“I suppose that makes sense,” I relented. “So, how does one go about dating the King of a neighboring kingdom?”

"We're figuring it out. Asmond hasn't dated much in his entire life, and not at all since his coronation four years ago. The next step is him presenting our relationship to his advisors andfamily, and they…" Xe pressed xer lips into a grim line. "They will decide if I am worthy enough to be a monarch of Lamida."

“So your relationship is going to be decided by a group of strangers?” I wrinkled my nose. “That sounds so unpleasant. I don’t know if I could handle that. How do you think it will go?”

"Asmond's optimistic, and his sister really took a shine to me after the conduction," Wrenley said. Still, xe sounded more uncertain than xe likely wanted to let on. "I'm from a good family, just not a perfect one."

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