Page 61 of The Kingdom of Eternal Ice
It’s not difficult to convince Alana to come with us to buy some dresses. Kilah was a nervous mess when we knocked at her door. But, Alana proves once more to be a relaxed, straightforward and kind person.
“Goddess,” she snorts. “Stop the gibberish, Kilah. I’m coming with you.”
“Really?” Kilah asks, relieved.
“Yes, but we need to take Ita along.” As if on cue, Ita appears behind Alana.
Judging by Ita’s expression, she isn’t too happy about spending time with Kilah, but she doesn’t say anything. “You are such a softie,” she exclaims to Alana while Kilah runs off to pick up Eibhlin and Simin.
“I just don’t believe in holding grudges,” Alana replies.
Ita smiles at her. “You have a big heart, Al. If spending time with your sister is what you want, I’ll not complain.”
The two women exchange a gaze that makes me almost feel like I’m invading their privacy. I pretend to inspect some of the pictures on the wall until I hear footsteps behind me. They are too heavy to be from any of the other girls. “Royan?”
“I’m ready to go anytime,” he says, completely ignoring the fact that no one asked him to join us. I feel instantly sorry, as I know he is my protector, but I tend to forget to inform him.
“I should have told you,” I admit.
“No, it’s my task to keep an eye on you,” he says with a smirk. “As long as you don’t run, it’s okay.”
“Maybe we should invite Tynan, too,” Ita says with a grin. “And, the general.”
I can’t help but chuckle. Tynan is smitten with Shayan. It's so obvious to everyone, except to Shayan himself.
“I’d rather not,” Royan groans. “During training today, Tynan was focused more on General Shayan’s behind than on anything else.”
“And, how do you know which ass Tynan was staring at?” Alana asks with a grin.
“It wasn’t that difficult to miss,” Royan proclaims. “He literally pushed the warrior who was standing right behind Shayan aside, and then kept staring at him.”
Ita and Alana grin, while I throw invisible daggers at Royan. “You are over-sharing,” I say. “Shayan is like my father.”
“It’s not me who was staring,” Royan says, with a hint of amusement in his eyes. “I’m innocent.”
“Yes, you are innocent, so very innocent,” Ita teases him.
“You grew up together, didn’t you?” I ask in earnest. They tease each other like siblings.
“Actually, Alana, Tynan and I did,” Ita says, chuckling. “Royan is two years older and felt too cool to hang out with us. Deep inside he was just crushing on Alana, though.”
“I have nothing to say in my defense, aside from… I was ten!”
I chuckle. “Oh, Alana was your childhood sweetheart?”
“Now, sweetheart pushes it too far,” Alana snorts. “He is more like a brother to me.”
Royan smiles slightly. “And you like a little sister.”
Ita punches his shoulder. “It was a smart move not to hit on her,” she says.
“I know, Gamma,” Royan chuckles.
They can’t continue their talk, as the other girls approach us. Kilah pauses when she sees Royan. “Do we have to take him along?” she asks.
“I will make sure to stay in the background, Princess Kilah,” Royan says politely.
“It’s his job,” Ita comments sternly. “The king specifically told him to keep an eye on Princess Azadeh, unless she is with one of the alpha heirs.”
