Page 53 of The Royal Throne
“You’re not coming with me?” Sabine asked.
“Nope. It’s safer this way if none of us see what you’re doing or who you’re doing it with.”
She squeezed Harper’s hand, then headed along the narrow trail. After about a hundred feet, the path curved to the left. Up ahead, Evander stood leaning against a tree trunk.
Even though she didn’t see anyone, she knew he could have guards hidden nearby. “Are we alone?”
He pushed off the trunk. “I am. And it appears you are too. When Harper and Drew told me their plan, I was impressed at how well thought out it was.”
They stood facing one another. “So,” she said, wondering what they were going to do. Maybe they’d just sit and talk for a bit.
The corners of his lips pulled into a grin. “Shall we?” He gestured to the dirt path ahead of them.
“Where are we going?” She had no idea where this trail led.
“You’ll see.” He smirked.
“How is it you know where we are and what’s around here?”
He tapped his head. “Assassin, remember? Before I came here the first time, I memorized over a dozen maps of the area and the terrain.” He left the trail, heading deeper into the jungle, past lush vegetation.
“This is quite different from Avoni,” Sabine said. The humidity was so thick it was almost hard to breathe.
“That it is.” After a moment of silence, he glanced over his shoulder at her. “How come you didn’t tell me you hadn’t consummated your marriage?”
“In the beginning, I didn’t know you. Otto insisted I keep it a secret.” She stepped over a skinny tree that had been uprooted. “Then I was afraid.”
“Afraid?”
There had to be a way to explain it so he understood. “I was afraid that if we were together, then Rainer would know.”
“I hadn’t thought about that part.” He scratched the side of his neck.
The trees abruptly ended revealing a crescent shaped beach spread out before them. The white sand met crystal clear water. The waves were small, only a foot or so.
“This is beautiful,” Sabine said. “How did you find this place?”
He eyed her sidelong. “Seriously?”
She rolled her eyes. “Forget I asked. Of course you know every beach along this coastline, oh mighty assassin who knows all. We should all be so lucky to have your knowledge.”
He nudged his shoulder against hers. “These past few weeks have been so peaceful without your sarcastic comments.”
“You missed my sarcastic mouth,” she said, teasing him, glad for the light mood and bantering.
“You have no idea how much I missed your mouth,” he mumbled, sending a jolt of warmth through her, making her toes curl.
Peering up at him, she examined his lips, remembering the feel of them against hers.
“Don’t look at me like that,” he said. “I’ll end up doing something that will get us in trouble.” He plopped on the sand, stretching his legs out and folding his hands behind his head. Lying there, he focused on the light blue sky.
Sabine sat next to him, watching the waves curl before crashing onto the beach, the sound calm and peaceful. They didn’t have beaches like this in Bakley. There, the water was frigid and the coastline covered with rocks and cliffs.
Evander closed his eyes. “I do enjoy the sun on occasion, and this is one of those occasions.”
Sabine wrapped her arms around her bent legs. “Thank you for bringing me here. I needed this.” Not only did she appreciate being outside, but she was glad to be away from the palace and the people there. Today, she could just be herself. It felt like a holiday.
“You know,” Evander said, his voice softer than before, “since your marriage isn’t consummated, it’s not binding.”
