Page 70 of Ties of Dust

The words weren’t spoken dramatically, but with simple sincerity. Nevertheless, Flora suddenly found it impossible to meet his eyes.

“But that’s not what I meant,” Cassius went on. “There are different types of fear. I can’t think of any reason for someone to hide if there’s no fear involved.”

“Hide?” she repeated warily, bringing her gaze back to his face.

Cassius held her eyes with his, his expression still calm and uncomfortably penetrating. “Surely you don’t intend to deny that you’re hiding, even from me.”

Flora said nothing, her mouth suddenly dry. No one had ever seen through her as completely as Cassius had. It was the tether at work. It must be.

Suddenly, the prince was on his feet, his air still relaxed and his steps confident as he moved toward her. Flora found herself shifting backward, forgetting that she was standing against the wall, like a guard was supposed to. Her back connected with the stone, and she stopped, trying to keep some shred of her poise. It didn’t help that she was seized by a desire to reach out and grip the prince’s tunic with both hands when he placed one forearm along the wall next to her head. He raised his other hand to brush his thumb gently against her jawline.

“I wish you wouldn’t,” he said softly.

“Wouldn’t what?” It took her two tries to get the words out.

“Hide from me.”

His voice was low, with just a hint of huskiness, and it made Flora’s knees feel absurdly weak. Some guard she was—more like a fainting damsel. She was overcome by animpulse to pour out her heart to him, tell him all her history. But what would it achieve? It wouldn’t change their current situation, and it would make it impossible for the dynamic between them to go back to the way it had been.

Still, his nearness made her feel bold, and she lifted one hand, her eyes following its progress as her fingers traced the embroidery at the throat of the prince’s tunic.

“Haven’t you ever wanted to hide from the life you were born into?”

“Yes.” His answer was immediate. “But I don’t have that luxury. I have no choice but to face things head on.”

Flora bit her lip, refraining from pointing out his inconsistency. She understood why he was hiding from the tether rather than facing it head on, and it would give her no pleasure to make him feel like a failure for the decision.

“What will you do?” Cassius asked abruptly. “Where will you go when the alliance is complete and we’re free of the tether?” The intensity of his gaze made it impossible for Flora to look away.

“I…I don’t know.” She was struggling to gather her thoughts.

“Back to Siqual?” the prince pressed.

She shook her head. “I don’t think so. Not if Miriam isn’t there.”

He frowned. “Then where?”

“Maybe to Torrens,” she said vaguely. “There may be a role for me at the academy. Or the mistress may have useful contacts to help me find a position.”

The furrow on Cassius’s brow told her he didn’t like it. But they both heard the unmistakable sounds of the door being opened, and the prince straightened quickly.

Flora schooled her features as he stepped back and aservant girl entered the room. She had a broom in her hand, and she stared uncertainly between the prince and the guard.

“My apologies, Your Highness,” she said. “I thought the room was unoccupied.”

“It’s about to be,” he assured her casually. “I’ve just concluded a meeting with guild representatives, and was on the point of leaving.”

“Yes, Your Highness.” She bobbed a curtsey as he strode around the table.

Flora’s thoughts were reeling as she followed the prince out of the public area of the castle. Her main conclusion was that she was a hopeless cause. She found it impossible not to respond when Cassius was in a mood of anguished frustration over his various dilemmas. But it seemed that the lighthearted, casual version of him was equally irresistible to her.

It was a mess, that much was certain.

“What were you thinking about?”

“What?” Flora started guiltily.

The prince was walking just ahead of her, his gaze flicking back to where she followed.

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