Page 89 of Under Restless Skies

“Some guards spoke to my father. Discreetly, so as not to cause panic.”

“How did you even know where to find me?”

He narrows his eyes, his expression playful. “Let’s just say I’m good at putting pieces together when I want to. It wasn’t hard to figure out what happened and where you were.”

“An impressive ability.”

“Not really.” He has a mischievous glint in his eyes. “Once you see more of my abilities, then we can talk about impressive.”

The innuendo is clear, and I roll my eyes. “Have you ever heard of a beautiful trait called modesty?”

“That’s something you won’t find in me. If I’m good at something, I don’t need to wait for someone else to notice it. I’ll be the first to boast.”

“I guess I noticed it.”

He stops, grabs me by the shoulders, and looks me in the eye. “I told you I get everything I want, didn’t I? How do you think it happens? Do you think I hide in the shadows and wait for Foros to grace me? Do you think I sit and wait for other people to give me my due? No. I seize what’s mine. So yes, call me pretentious, arrogant, vainglorious. All it means is that I know my worth.” He takes a deep breath. “I’ll never apologize for that.”

“I didn’t ask you to apologize.”

“I know. I’m just sick of people who think that pretending to be small makes them virtuous. Meanwhile, they bathe in jealousy, wishing they were greater.”

“I don’t pretend to be small, I’m just trying to⁠—”

“Of course you don’t. Had you been one of those people, I wouldn’t waste a second with you. You were born for greatness. Like me.”

I want to chuckle and say his words are ridiculous, but then I don’t want another lecture on the value of being a prideful prick, so I ask, “How do you know?”

“One more of my brilliant abilities. Again, not among the most interesting ones.”

This time, I laugh. “And what is your most interesting ability? Because I’m curious.”

“You know what you need to do to find out.”

Even in the dim light of the scattered lumos jars, I see the way he undresses me with his eyes, his meaning obvious.

I want to scoff, and yet the intensity of his stare makes me tremble.

“What if I don’t know?” I make a playful, childish voice, as if I was truly clueless.

He pulls me close and brushes his lips on the shell of my ear. “I’ll teach you.”

Something smoky and raw about his voice makes me flustered, but I laugh. “You know, for all your abilities, I don’t think your flirting techniques are the most impressive.”

“It’s honesty, not some technique. The goal is not to get you into my bed faster. It’s to ensure you’re fully aware of who I am and what I want.”

I shrug. “You can just tell me.”

“I already told you. When you scream your highness in my bed, perhaps your memory will be refreshed.”

“You know it’s never going to happen, right?”

“Is that what you think?” The corner of his mouth quirks up.

“Yes. In fact, if that’s the reason you’re walking with me⁠—”

He lets go of my hand and looks me in the eye again. “Hey. I’m walking with you to the city because I happen to enjoy your company. It’s not some damn transaction.”

“What if I never⁠—”