“See you in the morning,” Zyacus called and then the door closed.
I swallowed hard. Why am I afraid? Toughen up, Visteal! I berated myself silently. But I still only watched him.
Ugh, that beautiful boy came into view. His dark hair tousled and windblown. He scratched at his scruffy, perfectly cut jaw. It looked like he hadn’t shaved in a week. Standing at the foot of his bed, he opened a dark wooden chest and placed the sword strapped between his shoulder blades inside. Then he slipped his navy blue shirt and sword holster over his head and tossed them to the floor. I stared at his tanned sculpted body. The muscles in his back flexed as he bent down to remove his boots. I was practically drooling but my heart sputtered. What if he’s undressing to take a bath?!
I had to speak up before he waltzed into the bathroom stark naked. I stepped through the archway and into his room. He whipped toward me, pulling a dagger from his belt. His winter blue eyes watched me with suspicion. “Who are you and why are you in my room?”
I pulled my silky gray hood back and revealed my face. His tense features relaxed into confusion and he lowered his dagger. “Visteal?” he questioned as if he didn’t believe I stood right in front of him.
“Zyacus, after you didn’t return any of my letters—” My mind burned with the fury I’d felt waiting and wondering why he ignored me, furthered more after what Jennika said. I walked over and slapped him hard in the face.
He blinked several times, the silence between us growing heavy.
“How dare you ignore me for weeks. Bastard! And what’s this about—”
Shockingly, he smiled like I’d just given him a compliment. Then he shocked me further still when he tossed his dagger on the bed and his lips crashed into mine. All at once wrapping his arms around my waist.
I pressed my palms against his bare chest and pushed back. Confused, I demanded, “Tell me why.”
He kissed me again, this time softer. “I did get your letters.” He released his hold on me and moved to his bedside table, taking them into hand. “I wanted to write you back, Visteal.” His fingers touched the center of his chest where I noticed for the first time the absence of his magic blue stone and wolf pendant. “My father took my stone. I would have had someone else send a letter for me but he forbade anyone to use magic in my stead. No one dares defy him.”
One of my fears. Enden must truly hate me. Unless Zyacus did something else to warrant having his magic taken away. “Is this because of me?”
His gaze clung to mine. “Not entirely.”
“So in other words, yes.” I looked out the window and sighed. Why did I have to fall for him? Why did being with him have to be difficult when he was all I wanted?
He took my hands into his, kissed my knuckles then draped my arms around his neck. “I’m intrigued that you came all the way to Hesstia, snuck into my castle and then found my room to see me. How?”
He was getting me sidetracked. I’d heard Jennika myself talking about them being together. Missing his kisses. “So your silence has nothing to do with Jennika?”
His eyebrows pulled closer. “No, why?”
“She left you an invitation to her room tonight. I-uh-burned it.” My eyes fell to the pile of ashes on the floor. “But only a fool wouldn’t know what she wanted you in there for. She also said she missed your kisses. When was the last one you shared with her?”
Half his attractive mouth pulled up when he too found the ashes. “Long before you and I got together. And I won’t lie, she’s been attempting to snake her way back to me,” he sounded annoyed at that, “but I want you. Only you. Did I not make that clear before?”
My cheeks warmed thinking of how he’d made it very apparent. He made sure everyone knew at the academy that he wanted me the first time we sat together at his table in the dining hall. With his arm usually around me in the halls and asking me to the winter formal, he made sure all knew that I was his to pursue. “You did but what did you expect me to think when I hadn’t heard from you?”
“I should have made a better effort to send word. I apologize. I planned on sneaking off castle grounds and paying someone in the city to send a note for me but I got caught both times. If only the guards were as loyal to me as they are my father.” Pulling away, he went to his bed and sat. “You have no idea how frustrated—no, that’s not a strong enough word. How unbelievably furious I am with my father. He canceled my birthday celebration and threatened to make my younger brother Drakonus his heir if I didn’t do what he said.”
So that’s why I hadn’t gotten an invitation to his party. Not a good move on the King’s part, yet Zyacus had confessed previously that he’d thought of giving up his position and running away. Part of him didn’t want to be the King of Hesstia and if he weren’t destined for that, it would make our relationship easier. I felt selfish even thinking this. “And what did he say?”
His eyes fell to his closed fists. “To accept the betrothal to
