Page 13 of Ties of Dust

Prince Cassius stared at her a moment longer before comprehension crossed his features. Before her eyes, his expression softened. The alarm ebbed, and something else took its place. Something which, fool that she was, made Flora’s heart flutter slightly.

“As for me,” the prince said steadily, “you will never need the restrictions of the tether to protect you.”

Flora nodded, some of her tension easing. Perhaps she was naive, but she didn’t doubt him.

“In that case, do you mind if I sit, Your Highness?” she asked, holding her knees steady with an effort.

“Of course.” The prince sprang out of the chair—the only one the room boasted—and offered it to her with a courteous gesture.

“No, no, you don’t need to get up,” Flora protested. “I can sit on the edge of the bed.”

“I insist,” said Prince Cassius firmly. “I don’t feel as though I can sit still another moment, anyway.”

“I understand what you mean,” Flora said, accepting defeat and lowering herself into the chair. “I’m in a sorry state myself.” She grimaced.

Something in her tone made Prince Cassius frown, his eyes raking over her before quickly flitting away. “Are you well? Were you injured during the attack?”

“I wasn’t,” Flora said. “I’m weary from the use of magical energy, but I didn’t mean to comment on my physical state.”

“What did you mean to comment on?” the prince pressed, far too interested in her idle remark.

“Nothing.” Flora ran a hand over her brow and wondered how her simple comment had managed to be so revealing. He was reading her too clearly. “I’m well.”

Prince Cassius’s frown deepened then, abruptly, he lowered himself into a sitting position on the bed. The room wasn’t large, and the movement put them face to face, his pale eyes searching hers with unsettling perception.

“I think you should tell me what’s concerning you,” he said, his voice deep and earnest. “We’re tethered together—literally—so you must admit I have some reason to think it might affect me.”

Flora wished she’d kept her mouth shut.Her first instinct was to assure the prince that her issue wouldn’t affect him, but she paused. Was that true?

“It’s just…the man in the tree.” She swallowed, feeling vulnerable and hating it.

The prince’s expression softened. “A near miss like that can rattle even experienced guards,” he started.

She shook her head again. “It’s not that. I’m not distressed out of fear for my own life, or even the princess’s safety. The trouble is that I’mnotan experienced guard. I’ve trained with the royal guard, and I’ve been acting as the princess’s bodyguard for over a year, but most of the time I don’t have to do much physical guarding. Her other guards are supposed to have it covered. I use my magic to protect her in whatever ways are needed.”

“I don’t understand what your point is.” The prince’s gentle tone prevented the question from feeling critical.

Flora steeled herself. “That’s the first time I’ve killed someone. And I confess it’s affecting me more than I thought it would.” She drew a deep breath. “I’m telling you because as a guard duty-bound to protect you, I feel I have an obligation to notify you if I’m in a condition that might reduce my ability to perform my role.”

The prince’s gaze was intense enough to make Flora drop her eyes from his face. She watched silently as he clasped and unclasped his hands twice.

“First of all,” he said, his voice still much kinder than he had any call to be, “you should not carry any guilt or regret for what you did. That man would have killed Princess Miriam had you not killed him.”

“I know,” Flora assured him. “I don’t regret my actions. I believe it was justified, even the right thing to do. But for some curious reason, that doesn’t seem to help me stop mylegs from shaking whenever I remember the sound of his body hitting the ground.”

Prince Cassius was silent for long enough that she let her eyes flick back up in spite of herself. He was regarding her silently, biting his lip in a thoughtful gesture. Flora felt her heart warm at the realization of how seriously he was taking her.

“He may not have been killed by the stone from your sling,” he pointed out. “Maybe it was the fall that killed him.”

Flora shrugged. “Maybe. But I caused him to fall, so I don’t see how that makes any difference. There’s no use dwelling on it. But it plays on my mind that we don’t know who he was or where he came from. Or his motive for attacking the princess.”

“That aspect plays on my mind as well,” the prince agreed heavily. His eyes searched hers one more time. “As for the rest of it…I wish I knew the recipe to resolve your distress, but I’m afraid I don’t.”

She nodded briskly. “Of course not. I wouldn’t expect it. I just thought you should be aware. I’m hopeful that in another crisis I would act instinctively as I did today, and wouldn’t be impaired. But I am not experienced enough to guarantee it.”

“You need guarantee nothing,” he said quickly. “That’s my other response to what you’ve confided in me. You are not duty-bound to protect me as you claimed. To speak freely, I’m enraged by the conduct of Lord Armand in tethering you to me. It was out of line, and I will be doing my utmost to persuade my father to sanction him severely.” He paused, a shadow crossing his brow before he continued. “And it was unnecessary. I have confidence in my guards toprotect me, and I don’t consider you under any obligation to serve as my bodyguard.”

Flora gave a twisted smile. “We can agree to disagree on that point, Your Highness.”

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