Page 63 of The King's Sword
“They’re just being overly cautious,” he said, not meeting her gaze in the reflection.
“You being in here won’t help the situation.”
“Then no one can know I’m in here.”
She turned toward him but he remained facing the window, not meeting her eyes. “Is something bothering you?” He wasn’t acting like himself. After she asked the question, she wished she could take it back. The entire delegation he’d traveled to Lynk with had been killed. Of course he was upset. She reached out and rubbed his arm. “I’m sorry.” There was nothing else she could say.
“We need to deal with the assassin,” Evander said, still not meeting her eyes. “He’s been spotted outside the wall again.”
She moved to stand in front of him. “Are you mad at me?” She wouldn’t blame him if he was.
“No.” He finally looked at her.
The more time she spent with him, the more handsome he became. She took a deep breath, letting the air out slowly. “Then what’s the matter?”
His focus went back outside the window to the lake, not looking at her. She wanted him to turn his beautiful eyes her way again. When he looked at her, she felt like she was home.
He shook his head. “Honestly?”
“Please.”
He glanced at her. “I spoke with my parents. They’re not happy with me. I’ve been reprimanded for kidnapping you.”
“I’m sorry I told your mother.” In her sorrow, she’d forgotten she told the queen about what really happened. “She said my life depended on telling her the truth, so I did.”
He closed his eyes. “And…they’re not happy about our…relationship.”
“Our friendship?” she asked. “Isn’t us being friends a great benefit to both our kingdoms?”
He peered at her. “My family feels I’ve formed an unhealthy attachment to you, and you’re skewing my thinking and reasoning.”
Taken aback, she didn’t know what to say. She wasn’t manipulating Evander. She truly cared for him.
He ran a hand over his face. “Sabine.”
She loved the way he said her name. She smiled at him. When he looked at her, a warmth blossomed inside her.
“Sometimes I can’t figure out who you really are,” he mumbled.
His words hurt her. “What’s that supposed to mean?” They’d spent enough time together that he should have a good idea of her character.
“All our spies say you’re a flirt, you have suitor after suitor, and take nothing seriously.”
Something unpleasant formed in the pit of her stomach. “Is that so?” The fact that he was even bringing this up and asking her to defend her actions spoke volumes. She would not dignify it with a response.
“But the Sabine I know is none of those things.”
The unpleasant sensation in her stomach evaporated as quickly as it had formed.
He reached out and took hold of her hand. “I can’t help but wonder who the real Sabine is.”
“I ask myself that question all the time.” The rain started coming down harder.
“You don’t know who you are?” he asked, his voice laced with skepticism.
“No. Do you know who you are all the time?”
His brows drew together.
