Page 56 of Powerless

I bite my tongue, but it’s too late to stop the words that have already tumbled from my mouth.

He laughs.

The sound is rich, flooding me with relief. He rubs a hand behind his neck, still chuckling as he says, “Actually, that was my favorite part.”

I throw him a bemused look. “Was it now?”

“Yes.” The laughter leaves his voice when he stops to look at me, halting us in the middle of the hallway. “It was the most real thing anyone’s ever said in those interviews.”

I search his face, trying to ignore the flash of his father I see. “You mean it was the stupidest thing anyone’s ever said in those interviews.”

His warm chuckle is echoing off the walls once again. “Perhaps.” He pauses, peering down at me. “But, if it makes you feel any better, I don’t think you were wrong when you said you expected to survive this, and I admire you for voicing how you truly feel.”

I’m so shocked by the sincerity in his words that I huff out a laugh. “Then you must admire me often because I tend to speak my mind far more than I should.”

I do admire you often.

His eyes seem to speak those five words as they search mine, voicing something he never intended to. And it’s the first time that I can meet his gaze and not see the king gazing back at me.

Clearing my throat, I turn and continue heading down the hallway again. Kitt is by my side when we come to a halt in front of my room, and I’m already pushing open the door as I say, “Thank you for walking with me.” I pause to give him a small smile over my shoulder. “Now I can say I’ve been escorted by the future king.”

I’m stepping through the doorframe when words leave him in a rush. “Yes, and if you’ll let me, I’ll do it again.”

I spin around, finding him suddenly right behind me. “What?”

His face splits into a smile that seems almost too shy to be worn by a royal. “Miss Gray, will you be my partner to balls?”

I nearly choke on the next breath I suck in. And yet, instead of answering his question, a pointless one of my own falls from my lips with a breathy laugh. “Since when have I been Miss Gray?”

A sly smile replaces his shy one, reminding me briefly of his brother. “Since you started referring to me as ‘the future king.’”

“And you don’t like that? Me calling you the future king, that is.” My curiosity forces the question from my mouth since I assumed he was quite attached to the title and the power accompanying it.

“I’d rather not be called by a title I haven’t earned or lived up to yet,” he says simply.

“That’s why I called you thefutureking.”

He smiles, content to let the silence stretch between us before he finally says, “You never answered my question, Miss Gray.”

I hear the offer in his voice, see the silent question in those eyes I keep avoiding. Say yes to being his partner, and we will simply be Kitt and Paedyn. Say no, and the titles remain.

Say yes, and I play the part.

Say no, and I pass up the opportunity to please the people.

The thought of hanging off the future king’s arm and looking up at the similar face of my father’s killer isn’t personally pleasant, but it would be for the people of Ilya. I would undeniably have their attention—a terrifying yet tempting thought.

A smile lifts my lips at the image of a former Slummer and future ruler hand in hand, the perfect picture of polar opposites.

The most powerful man paired with the most powerless woman.

“It would be an honor to be your partner, Kitt,” I say softly, smiling slightly.

Play the part.

Kitt chuckles, sounding relieved. “I was hoping you would say that, Paedyn.”

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