Page 35 of A Touch of Royalty

“I can understand that a little.” She lifted a hand and a tiny light popped into being, flickering on and off briefly before she looked up at him. “If I called out, would you answer?”

She blushed scarlet in the dim light and pulled away from him. “That was- forgive me, Highness, I-”

“I would.” He reached for her. “If you called for me, Emryn, I would answer.”

23

CALL

“If you called for me, Emryn, I would answer.” His voice and his eyes were so sincere, it was hard to remember that she was only the city healer he’d wed so he didn’t die.

“You didn’t need to marry me, Cas,” she told him in a shaking voice. “No one would have known except you, me, and Asan that we were bonded.”

“Why wouldn’t I?” He looked down at her and raised a hand to cup her cheek. “What are you thinking, Emryn?”

Emryn leaned into his hand. Healers weren’t touched as a general rule. They touched others, but were never touched. “Cas, I-”

“No, Emryn,” he said gently. “I know you’re afraid, but I’ll help you. You aren’t alone now, and I suspect that’s the first time you’ve heard that.”

She nodded, eyes sliding closed. “I was left to my own duties most of the time. It’s true. But I knew what I was supposed to be doing. I don’t know that now.”

“I wanted to give you a few days to relax,” Cas said. “But I was wanting to talk to you about perhaps having tutors. To give you the information that you need to operate under your new title.”

Emryn nodded, relief rushing through her. “I would like to learn.”

“Then I will put the word out.” Cas nodded, wrapping her in his arms and laying his head on top of hers when she came to nestle against his chest.

It was nice, warm and sweet, being held in his arms. It was almost enough to banish the guilt she felt. But they would not be like this forever.

No, this was a temporary marriage, and she needed to remember that with everything that she was. It was only going to last until the First Wizard found a way to remove the illness from Cas, and then she would be left on her own again.

She needed to remember that. She needed to guard her heart against the feelings that were starting to build in it. There was no way she could afford to fall in love with the prince of Rodilla. Cas couldn’t love her, she was common and no matter that he’d said he was going to court her, she couldn’t fall.

“Emryn, I don’t know what you’re thinking.” He said quietly. “Will you tell me why you’re hurting?”

“I’m alright,” she replied, knowing she was lying. “I’m just trying to figure it all out.”

“Alright,” Cas held her, lifting his head to kiss the top of hers. “Are you ready for our snack and then bed?”

“I don’t want to impose on you again.” Emryn shook her head and tried to back away. “I’ll be better tonight, so you can do as you like.”

“I want to hold you, Emryn.” He looked puzzled. “Do you want me to go?”

“No,” she blurted and felt her face flame. “It’s not that, it’s just that I can’t- I can’t have feeling for you, Cas. This is only until Asan figures out the illness and-”

“Emryn, no,” he stopped her near panicked words. “Asan said the tie was permanent, don’t you remember? Even once the illness is removed, we are still bound.”

Emryn shook her head, refusing to look at that. “There’s a way to undo it, but-”

“I don’t want it undone, Emryn.” He said gently. “We are wed, and to me that is binding. For always.”

“You can’t-” she forced the tears back. “Cas, you can’t be happy with this, with me, I’m not anything-”

“You are not noble, Emryn, that’s all.” He stepped back, just enough to cup her cheek again. “Come on, let’s go have our snack and rest. Tomorrow I’ll gather your tutors and you’ll start feeling better about this.”

He took her back to her room where there was a steaming pan of something that smelled utterly delightful.

“Oh, you’ll love this.” Cas looked at the pan and then at her. “Cook makes this for family affairs where the court isn’t involved.”

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