Page 73 of The Enemy's Daughter

My eyes go wide. “You were going to... Tristan, are you saying that—?”

“I’m not turning my back on justice. I will always hope for it. But if you’re right that ending your betrothal cripples the Saraf and will lead to... well, I just think it’s wise to wait and see what happens.”

This is the first time he’s given me even a flicker of hope that retribution against my father might not be in our future. “I can’t tell you how much this means to me. I know you didn’t want peace—”

“I’ve always wanted peace.” I pull back, and at my stunned expression, he pushes a lock of hair from my cheek. “We just had different ideas on how to achieve it.”

But he listened to me, and now how many lives will be saved?

“Then I know what I want to do with my time here. I mean, aside from the obvious, which is to glean everything I can from Dr. Henshaw.”

Tristan smiles. “Dr. Banks. I like it.”

A thrill sails through me at him using his last name on me. I do, too. I give my head a shake, trying to get back on track. “I want to help you become mayor.” Enola was right: it has to be Tristan who’s elected. Nobody else would consider this kind of patience over war. I’ll have to discuss with her what more I can do.

Tristan’s chin drops. “I’m not sure I want it.”

“It is a big job. But you can do it, Tristan.”You must.“You’re level-headed. You listen, and the people listen to you. Did you hear the way they quieted when you spoke at the funeral? They respect you.”

A warmth begins to gather in my belly, followed by a very pleasant swoop. I meet Tristan’s eyes, which have turned to pools of green.

“I like hearing you talk about me.” His arm pulls me back to him in a hug.

I go still, caught up in the awareness of him. “I can do it some more if you’d like.” My gaze falls to his lips.

Tristan groans, then drops his head back. “This is really bad timing, but I should probably warn you before people walk through the door: I have a meeting with the elite guard this morning. Probably any minute. Here in the war room.”

“Oh.” I sag in his arms. Now that we’ve firmly moved pastenemy status, I was looking forward to time alone. Time to get to know each other better—the real us.

He presses his lips to my cheek in a kiss, then speaks against my skin. “Seriously, Iz. You’re killing me. I’m two seconds away from locking the front door.”

No one has ever called me Iz before. I like it. “When will you be done?”

“It’ll probably take all day. Then we’re meeting with the town council this evening.” He grimaces. “I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay,” I say, trying really hard to make it so. “Maybe I’ll go to the hospital and beg Dr. Henshaw to let me shadow him again.” I pause. “Actually, I’ll need Enola to do that, but... I kind of got angry at her when I heard about your trip to Hanook.”

“I’m sure it’s already forgotten.”

I don’t know about that, and the thought that she might still be upset makes me a little sick.

Tristan sends me a memory of how to get to Enola’s house, then presses a kiss against my forehead. I lean into it, not wanting it to end. His mouth slides lower to place another one down by my cheek. My hand twists in his hair.

“Or I could be late for my meetings and take you to Enola’s myself.” He ducks and his lips skim the delicate skin of my throat.

I sigh and lift my head, giving him better access to me. He pauses to nip at the corner of my lips and tingles race over my body, leaving me heady and hazy and desperate for more. Tristan’s touch is so much more intoxicating when he does it while inside my head.

“But then people would”—I briefly lose my train of thought as he greets my mouth with a proper kiss—“blame me for distracting you from your job.”

A job that, if he were to lose, could cost my people their lives. Reluctantly, I climb off the couch and adjust my clothes.

The heat coming from Tristan’s gaze could combust me into a ball of flames.

“We should... ah.” My brain struggles to think. “Move.” That’s not quite the word.

Tristan continues to watch me with a piercing steadiness I can’t read. He’s not conflicted. He definitely would like to continue with our kiss—or maybe that’s me. I wait for him to speak since he obviously has something on his mind. I don’t have to wait long. “I know how we met is messed up,” he says. “But you’re the best thing that’s ever happened to me.”

I let his words marinate inside me before I respond. It’s like a bath in ecstasy. “Same,” I mouth. Then I touch my lips and blow him a kiss, sending it with all my heart.

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