Russal leaned close, though his words werefar from personal. “I originally wanted your parents in chambersnear the Laurentses, but with so many citizens of Paddlyrun andKonright also housed in the castle, I thought they would prefer tobe close to more familiar people.”
Kambry nodded, his attentive blue eyesraising a tingle up her spine. “I think they enjoyed theLaurentses’ company last night at the grace board dinner. Thecorridors are not so long if they choose to visit.”
“I didn’t want them to feel displaced orviewed as less than others.”
“Being in a castle alone would feel far abovetheir station. I don’t think they would even note such aslight.”
He pulled her fingers to his lips again.“What did you think of our sneaky Laurentses separating us soexpertly?”
Kambry tipped her head and considered if thecouple had manipulated them. Lord Laurents had left her sideshortly after Lady Laurents’ arrival on the balcony. What had shewhispered to him? “You’ve spent time with them. Are they thatdevious?”
Russal snorted. “That was nothing, hardly achallenge to them at all. I wasn’t paying attention, too busyfeeling sorry for myself.” He laughed into her fingers. “You andLord Laurents hadn’t taken two steps onto the balcony before shearrived.”
“What did she say to you?”
“‘Who took your favorite puppy, Russal?’ shesaid in that high nose-in-the-air voice of hers. And before I coulddeny, huff or tell her to mind her own business, she sat down andstared at me. You know the look. The one that makes you feel likeanything you say is self-denial.”
“She went the guilt route with me, pointingout how unhappy you were.”
“You’ve nothing to feel guilty about,” hesaid pointedly. “Well, when I was properly subdued by that look,she said, ‘Good. You’re ready to hear sense.’ And then sheleft.”
“Oh, they are devious.”
“But they were also right, weren’t they?”
“King Russal, you are as bad as LadyLaurents.”
He laughed and pulled her into his arms.“Lord Laurents said I should play to my strengths.”
“And what are those?” She raised her gaze andsmiled at his laughing eyes.
“Showing you how dear you are to me and...and how strong my faith is in you.” He glanced around and Kambryfollowed his gaze. The two guards in sight were staring up at theceiling intently.
A crooked smile formed on Russal’s face, andhe drew her close to him and kissed her. The kiss was slow,questing, pausing for permission with each tentative deepening. Shegripped his tunic and pulled him closer. How long were the guardswilling to memorize the swirls in the plaster ceiling?
He withdrew from the kiss, keeping hisforehead pressed to hers. “Kambry, I love your spirit, yourunwillingness to be a figurehead in this realm, how much you’vefought to protect me, Amily and Kavin. Please give me time to showyou I’m worth loving back.”
“I do love you, Russal.”
“But you are undecided on how much you canbelieve in me. I keep letting my desire to protect you get in theway. This flawed fellow could ruin our beautiful beginning,couldn’t he?”
“No more than this flawed woman.”
“You are perfection, Kambry.” His handscupped her face. “Never think you are not the most perfect womanI’ve ever met. You’re beautiful, but that is not what drew me toyou.” His eyes glistened. “You step forward always. Frightened,out-fought, imprisoned, you keep rolling forward, determining yournext move. Nothing stops you. Don’t shake your head. You didn’tbecome this amazing woman just because you stepped onto the KavinCut. You’ve always been a woman in charge of her fate. I would be atrue tyrant if I didn’t see that I was crushing you down.” Heclosed his eyes, and his lips quivered. “I hate to think what moveyou would have taken if I didn’t open my eyes, or have them forcedopen, and realize what I was doing. You’ll give me another chance?Please, Kambry.”
But he had done it again when he grabbed ather reins and kept her from finding out who was spying on them. Shepushed back the frustration that rose with recalling her determinedrace to the woods. Taking a page from Lady Laurents’ book, Kambrysaid, “Shut up, Russal, and kiss me.” A snort sounded at her back.“The guards will not find the ceiling interesting for muchlonger.”
Russal dropped his lips to hover just aboveher own, his eyes gazing into her own. “Thank you.” Then he kissedher, and Kambry was certain the guards were having trouble ignoringthem.
Someone cleared his throat, twice. “YourMajesties, these public displays of affection, while good formorale in the castle, are holding up traffic. Servants and guestsare milling about around the corner. In both directions, I mightadd.”
Russal sighed and grinned at Kambry.
She returned a bewildered smile, altering hisgrin to a self-satisfied smirk.
He pretended to whisper, his voicing carryingwell. “The marshal is telling us to move along as if we were a pairof teenagers loitering in the stables.”
Kambry dropped her forehead to his chest,knowing her face was red with embarrassment.
Burty grumped. “If you were just loitering,I’d have little issue with you.”
“I’ll have you know we’re on our way to seethe so Kon and do Runiya,” Russal said, laying his arm overKambry’s shoulder and facing Burty.
“But will you ever arrive, YourHighness?”
“I believe they are just around the corner,”Russal said.
“Indeed they are, waiting with the rest ofyour guests and staff.”
Kambry drew out from under his arm and strodeto the corner. She peered around the edge and then stepped back,flattening herself to the wall. “He’s not making up stories,Russal.”
“I didn’t think he was. He never was thatinventive, except at coming up with challenges for me to face onthe training boards.” He joined Kambry and gave her a jolly smile.“Let’s go say hi to your parents. I’m feeling quite tickled withlife right now.”
Kambry swatted him and heard Burty say behindthem, “None of us doubts that.”
They rounded the corner, arm in arm. Kambrymodulated her voice into a casual ease and said, “Mom, Dad, wereyou coming to see us?”
Mom rolled her eyes, and Dad gave the two ofthem a bland look.
The servants had scattered when they’d comearound the corner, but visitors from Kavin Wood watched from wherethey stood lining the walls. What were they all
