Page 167 of Carousel

That was sarcasm, of course. But it felt stronger. More acidic. Why? I wish I could picture them.

“Well?” she probes him, tauntingly. “Did they hold hands through the grate? Was it terribly romantic?”

“Meg.”

“Oh, tell me. I’m intrigued.”

“They... did,” he says, rather raspily. What’s going on with him?

Sharper, she says, “I hope that heart-warming sight was worth it. Breaking half The Accords. Risking your lives and those of all three of your keepers. As I said – idiotic.”

“I am not an idiot.”

“Where is Riss? No one answered your cabin when I knocked.”

“Asleep.”

“Not by choice, I take it.”

“You’re not an idiot either, Meg.”

“If you were anyone but the Crown Prince, I’d have you executed for using magic on an officer.”

“And if you were anything but immune to blood magic, I’d make you forget ever knowing my identity, and Ara’s fate. So I suppose we are even.”

Silence stretches out for an uncomfortable length of time. I hear nothing but their steady steps and breaths.

Until, in a different voice, Meg says, “How did her magic expend?”

“She tried to end his addiction to osimidite.”

“Impossible.”

“Clearly.”

“She should go to the infirmary.”

“Of course. I am sure the ship medics will know all about misuse of blood magic, and its toll on the human body.”

“If others saw you⁠—”

“They did, and I dealt with it.” A beat. “I told you. I am not an idiot.”

“I hope so. For your sake, and hers.”

“She should not trust you so much. You know far too much about things that do not concern you.”

“And yet – if she’s managing to do this to herself – she isn’t trusting me enough.”

We’ve stopped.

“Goodnight, then, Your Highness. I hope you’re not expecting me to curtsey.”

“Careful, Meg,” Drake says, voice cutting. “What if I did become king?”

“Of what? Deck 3?” I can hear the snicker in her voice. But then she’s serious. “If that were to happen by some miracle, and you went through with the betrothal, then you’d have no choice but to keep me safe by your side. Who else would be able to tell you when Ara has used her magic on you? Who else would alert you when she decides she needs to go ahead and use your magic – whether you wanted her to or not?”

Drake doesn’t like that. I can feel the pulling of the band once more.