He snorts. “I didn’t think that one was capable, with all her bossing around.”
“She terrified me at first,” I admit.
He leans in to mock whisper, “She still terrifies me half the time.”
“She does not.” My laughter erupts unbidden upon the comical image of this battle-hearty Islorian commander—and king!—afraid of a tiny mortal whose forehead reaches his chest.
A secret smile touches his lips, and my cheeks flush.
“Who else have you befriended since?”
I sense he’s gathering information on me, but I don’t mind. I have nothing to hide. “Um … Dagny. That’s the seamstress—”
His chuckles interrupt me. “I think everyone in the castle knows Dagny, for better or worse.”
“And Sabrina has been kind to me.”
He flinches at the mention of his tributary’s name. “Yes, she is special.”
Is. None in the household has seen her since last night, but she’s still alive, at least. “She watches over my daughter often.” I hesitate. “Lilou was asking after her this morning. She hopes she will come play with her again soon.”
The king opens his mouth, but stalls. Whatever he’s thinking, he doesn’t say it. “It is good to find a few trusted friends, and keep them close.”
“Do you have any of those?”
“My two captains. We’ve fought together for many years. I trust them with my life.”
“I’m happy to hear that.” Especially if you’re marrying that monster from Kettling.
The king leads me to a pavilion draped with vines of bold fuchsia and sapphire flowers, some the size of my palm.
“These are beautiful.” I reach up to rub one of the petals between my fingertips. “They feel soft, like velvet.” Lady Danthrin had a blue velvet dress. That’s the only time I’ve ever felt fabric like that.
“They were my mother’s favorite.” Plucking a smaller bloom off its stem, the king saunters over and tucks it in my braid, his fingertips grazing my temple in the process, sending a tremble through my core. His eyes drift over my face, lingering on my mouth.
My cheeks flush at the attention. He is a natural flirt, that much is obvious.
The king hops down from the dais and dives behind a thick and sturdy bush. He frowns with disappointment. “Your son might be smarter than I was at his age.”
“There doesn’t seem to be a secret passage or trap door he can’t find,” I admit.
His gaze wanders the library. “What’s his name again?”
“Mika.”
“Mika!” he bellows, his deep voice carrying through the library. “This is your king. Your mother and I are looking for you, and we need you to come out now.”
Silence answers.
“Maybe he’s not here, after all.” Fates knows where he might be, then.
The king bites his lip in thought. “I heard Corrin mention something about apple fritters,” he says loudly.
A metal clatter sounds, followed by a thump, and then footfalls as someone runs along an aisle. Mika suddenly appears.
The king bellows with laughter. “I am glad to see you have your priorities right.”
“Mika, you know you aren’t allowed in here!” I admonish, beckoning him to come to me with my outreached arm.
“I was bored.” He wanders over sullenly. “Are there actually fritters?”
“You’ll need to ask the baker.” The king drops his voice to a mock whisper to add, “But I hope so. They’re my favorite.”
Mika’s eyes light up. “Mine too!”
“Anything sweet is your favorite, my dear child.” I push my hand through his brown mop of curls. Both of my older children inherited my unruly hair. It’s yet to be determined if Suri will be blessed or cursed with it too.
Mika reaches upward, aiming to stick a hand inside the sling to disturb the sleeping baby.
“Don’t you dare.” I grab hold of his little fingers before he has a chance. “Thank you for your help, Your Highness. I will try to keep Mika out of here.”
“Not on my account, I hope. I should be thanking him.” The intense gaze he levels me with makes my cheeks flush again.
“Well, surely, you have matters you must attend to, so we won’t keep you.”
Shaking his head as if snapping out of his thoughts, he says, “Books are meant to be read, not to collect dust on shelves. You are welcome to borrow one. Though I doubt you’ll find such stories as Hania’s.” He winks, then moves his focus to Mika, leaving me with my mouth hanging in shock over the generous offer. “And you, stop giving your mother such a hard time.”