Page 20 of Taken By the Storm King

“I’ve watched you both. The way she looks at you when you’re not watching. The smile that lights her face when you enter a room.” Maris leaned forward, her expression warm. “Give her the time she needs. But don’t give up hope.”

A flicker of light caught my eye. One of my guards stood at attention, his armor gleaming like polished pearl.

“Your Majesty. The human woman wishes to walk the grounds.”

My chest tightened. What was she looking for? What did she need? “Have someone watch over her.”

Lucy stepped around him before he could move, her arms crossed. “I don’t know what you just said, but if you’re assigning me a babysitter, it’s not necessary.”

Her gaze flicked between me and the guard, her lips pursed. “I’m safe here, aren’t I? Within the storm wall?”

She exhaled, then---surprisingly---smiled. A small, knowing smile.

“As you wish, mighty Storm King.”

Then she rose onto her toes and pressed a soft kiss to my mouth.

Heat bloomed where her lips touched mine, a jolt running through him. It was over too quickly---before I could deepen it, before I could curl my fingers into her hair and pull her closer. She slipped away, moving past the guard with effortless grace, leaving me standing there like a fool.

I sank back into my chair, fingers brushing my lips.

Maris smirked. “You’ve got it bad.”

“I know.” I dropped my hand. “What am I going to do?”

She gestured at the paperwork strewn across my desk. “Your job. While thinking about her every second, of course.”

I shot her a glare, but she only laughed.

The afternoon dragged on. I read reports without absorbing them, signed documents I barely saw. Outside, the city pulsedwith life---the distant hum of water currents through the palace walls, the faint chime of bells from the market district, the occasional boom of waves against the storm wall.

But my thoughts remained with Lucy.

Where was she? What was she seeing?

I wanted to be the one showing her the wonders of my world.

More than that, I wanted to know what this meant.

Could we find a way forward together? Or would duty tear us apart?

A soft tap at the door pulled me from my thoughts.

“Your Majesty?”

I looked up to find Naia in the doorway.

“Yes?”

“Lady Lucy has returned to her chambers.”

My heart leaped. “Thank you.”

I found her waiting in the dining room, the nearly sheer foam green of her skirts offering a tantalizing glimpse of her legs. She was trying to kill me.

She offered me a small, almost shy smile as I took my seat.

The food before us was exquisite---sweet fruits bursting with juice, tender fish seasoned with fragrant spices, delicate pastries layered with honey and cream---but I couldn’t taste any of it.

---