“I’m sorry about those ladies,” he says.
My head tilts to the side. “You didn’t encourage them.”
“It’s my fault they turned so aggressive. If I had—”
The door behind us opens, and Garrett steps out, followed by two camerawomen. “Do you want me to come with you?”
Prince Kevon shakes his head. “Keep Briar company.”
Garrett pauses, as though wanting to argue. I glance at the camerawomen who stand at a respectful distance filming Garrett from the back. He shakes off whatever he was about to say and opens the dining room door again. “Enjoy the fresh air.”
He steps back into the room, but the women don’t follow. Prince Kevon huffs out a breath. “I will return Miss Calico before the end of the evening. For now, I wish to spend some time alone.”
They step inside the dining room without a word, and a layer of tension melts from my shoulders. It’s stupid that I’m more worried about what thousands of people I’ve never met think of me when the prince at my side might have the power to order my execution.
Now that we’re alone, I slide my hand away from his, making him frown. After Ryce’s message of love, the last thing I want is to encourage any kind of physical affection.
Prince Kevon nods, and we walk down the hallway to a set of doors. “Forelle says you wanted to see the botanical gardens.”
I bite down on the inside of my cheek. Was the prince asking questions about me, or did my friend volunteer that information? “Where is she today?”
“Garrett’s sister is taking her to the ice rink.” At my blank look, he explains that it’s a winter biosphere set within the botanical gardens. “The domes are open. Would you like to see them?”
My mind races for ways to ask him to take me to the palace, but my empty stomach takes control. “Only if there’s something to eat.
I’m kicking myself as Prince Kevon grins and leads me down a stairwell to another underground space with a mass of vehicles. He stops at a sleek, silver car on a charging pad with a flat roof of solar panels that stretch down to its hood. It looks like something out of an old documentary but far more streamlined.
Prince Kevon opens the passenger door, releasing a blast of cold, polish-scented air. I slide inside to find that its interior consists of enough leather to provide protective footwear for every family on my street. I have to hold back a gasp at the waste.
He gets into the driver’s side and places his fingertips on a screen in the steering wheel that scans his prints. The car makes a low hum and welcomes him by name. I shake my head. Technology like this is beyond the imagination of any Harvester.
“Montana never shows us cars like this,” I say.
“It’s hardly an appropriate subject for the government channel,” he replies with a smile.
I can’t comment because Carolina’s voice keeps screaming at me to ask Prince Kevon to see the palace, and a shudder runs through my insides. What if he misinterprets my request and takes me to his bedroom? Nausea wriggles down my throat as realization hits that this might be what Ryce suggested.
“When will I get to see the palace?” I blurt.
“I think Prunella has one more trial planned before the ball.” He turns to me with a dazzling smile. “Would you like a tour?”
“Yes!”
“There’s always a floorshow of professional dancers at the ball performing a rendition of an ancient routine. That might be our best opportunity to sneak out.”
My lips part to let out a shocked breath. I want to go to the palace now, not later, but how can I say that without sounding forward?
Prince Kevon turns to the dashboard, and the tension in my shoulders and gut dissolves with relief. I don’t need to visit the palace tonight.
The car drives itself and takes us out of the building, down a tree-lined street through the city, and onto a familiar-looking highway. As we descend down and around a hill, a view of glowing interconnected domes appears through the windscreen.
From a distance, I can tell that they consist of patterns of five hexagonal frames set around a pentagon. It’s even more magical in the dark than during the day, as the structures form a circle around the entire Oasis.
“Can anyone in Phangloria visit the domes?” I ask.
He gives me a kind smile. “If you want to invite your family, I can arrange a permit.”
That had been a stupid question. We’re not even allowed out of the Harvester Region without the relevant permission. Harvesters and Industrials make up seventy-five percent of Phangloria, and the Nobles only account for one percent. After spending time in the Oasis, I understand that sharing with us will dilute their wealth.
Even though the word sticks in my throat, I manage to say, “Thanks.”
I stare out into the lamp-lit highway toward the botanical gardens. Prince Kevon explains that each cluster of domes contains plants and environmental controls that mimic the climates that used to exist on earth before nuclear weapons set off a chain of natural disasters that destroyed our planet.
My breaths turn shallow, and I have to contain the excitement that thrums through my insides. This is like the time when I was so engrossed in the French onion soup that I hadn’t noticed Prince Kevon not expressing his appreciation for the Harvesters who grew the ingredients.
I turn away from the arresting sight and stare at his profile. “Did you get a chance to investigate my supervisor’s wrongful arrest?”
“It’s one of the things I wanted to talk to you about,” he replies.
I long to know which other subjects he wants to raise, but ask, “What did you find out?”
“Someone reported your former supervisor for the production and dissemination of persimmon-based alcohol. He would have gotten arrested regardless of whether that guard got stung.”
A shocked breath huffs out of my lungs. That makes no sense. “Krim wouldn’t—”
“I looked
