Page 45 of The King's Queen

I suppressed a cough. “I doubt it. The princess seems completely different from her father.”

“I forget that you palace prudes are allowed to know her identity. Any chance you want to let me in on that secret?”

“Ha! You’ll have to wait until she makes her debut, just like every other poor suitor.”

“Me, a suitor? Did you hit your head too hard getting out of the carriage?”

“Shut up,” I growl as he flicks my forehead, then scampers to safety only to bump into Commander Raiko. It takes all my willpower not to laugh as I watch the mercenary’s usually suave demeanor crumble into embarrassment as he apologizes profusely to his senior. Rowan never seemed to be the type to care about ranking before, albeit he kept up the pretenses of titles around Lucius, but he has shown a deep-rooted respect for the commander this trip. Perhaps one killer knows another and respects honor over coin.

“How’d you even convince the king to let me come here?”

“Oh, I didn’t.” I raise an eyebrow. “Lucius did.”

Stumbling, I right myself just before I can hit the stony path we walk on. Lucius? He got Lucius involved in this?

“It wasn’t that difficult really. All I told him was that the waters here were said to have healing properties due to the magic of mages still being present. I thought that could help your little ‘sickness.’ Lucius was more than happy to help,” Rowan speaks softly, a slight inflection of his voice during that last part drew my attention, but before I can ask about it, he’s offering me his arm and nodding towards the cliffs. Begrudgingly, I accept while the guards stay behind to keep watch. The falls are secluded, with only one way in and out of the area we are. If anyone were to come, they’d have to come through the one path my guards are stationed at, giving Rowan and me time to set off alone for whatever plan he has.

Before long, small stones appear along the side of the path. These stones gradually grow larger, until they’re the size of a small boulder, then there are clumps of them together. It takes only a moment to distinguish a ruined doorway and mapped out floor of a building. We’re walking through the ruins of temples.

I can sense it stronger then, the thrumming in my blood. Rowan had mentioned something similar earlier, a feeling, but this was stronger than any feeling I’d ever had before by tenfold. It’s as if the magic in my blood, however faint, is alive and trying to burn its way out of my veins. I gasp and grab at my heart. Rowan’s hands shoot out to steady me, but no surprise shows on his face. Concern, yes, but it is as if he expected this to happen.

“Come, let’s sit down for a moment.” I follow him to the edge of the cliff and am about to make a quip about him pushing me off when he rolls out a mat and helps me down to sit.

“Careful now, we wouldn’t want you falling for me.” He winks, earning a pebble to the forehead. His laughter chases me as I stare down the edge of the cliff. Roaring waves crash against the base of the cliffs, breaking up rock and painting the water a murky green. Any trace of the village that used to reside there is long gone now, leaving only a king and unforgiving fall.

I shudder. “Don’t even joke about those things. A fall from this height would kill us. Should we sit further back?” Rowan only rolls his eyes and kicks his legs out over the edge.

“Relax, Vera. I won’t let you fall.” He sounds so sincere that I find myself leaning back on propped up elbows beside him, allowing concern for death to fade. Instead, I focus on the steady thrum of magic simmering just beneath the surface of my skin. It has dulled slightly, enough to be just mildly uncomfortable.

It’s silent for a moment, with only the whistling wind filling the uncomfortable silence as we stare back out at the waves. Rowan just watches quietly while I fiddle with my hands, unsure how to fill the time.

“So why did we actually come here?” I finally ask, and when he doesn’t answer, I assume the wind has carried my words far from his ears, so I ask again. “I assume you have one of your famous ulterior motives.”

“You have been acting strange lately,” he whispers with a trace of mirth lingering in his voice.

I coo. “Aw, careful, it might sound like you care about me.” Rowan only scoffs and tosses a pebble over the cliffside. I can’t hear it land over the roar of the waves.

“Would that be so awful?”

“Hm?”

“If I cared about you?” Rowan’s gaze turns to me now, inquisitive and piercing. The image of his face as I passed out earlier this week flashes across my mind, and I’m quick to push it down.

“Well, I suppose it wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world.” I elbow him lightly, then dig my fingers into the dirt to keep myself from teetering forward. Rowan laughs lightly, jumping away but never losing his balance.

“But really,” he says after a moment of composing himself, “are you alright? I know Blaine and Torin finding out wasn’t…”

“A part of your master plan?”

“I was going to say helpful.” He eyes me sideways before falling silent. I take this as my cue to speak, but nothing comes out as I open my mouth. Where can I even start? How do I breach this conversation with someone who sits attached to my hip and yet feels so distant? ‘Hey Rowan, I was in love with Blaine, and now he hates me, but I don’t know if I care that he does anymore?’

Was. Iwasin love with Blaine.

The realization slams hard into my chest, and I find myself reeling and swallowing bile in my throat. When had I fallen out of love with him, was it when Emilie confirmed he still loved me? Am I really so spiteful that I’d fall out of love just in retaliation, or is it that I’d met someone who understood me? Someone who doesn’t judge the blood on my hands or in my veins, nor deem me selfish for wanting more than this stifling life.

Silently, Rowan’s hand wraps around my wrist.

“My mother was a beautiful woman,” he starts suddenly, his emerald eyes darkening. “I remember when I was younger, she was probably the most beautiful woman I’d ever seen. She was radiant and kind to everyone. We never had much money, but that didn’t matter. We were happy, and I had a father who came and went.”

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