Page 98 of A Veil of Gods and Kings

He reached for me again, but I stumbled out of the bed, snatching up my discarded clothes from the night before. “I honestly can’t.” I paused, taking in his bared shoulders peeking out from beneath the blankets, the disheveled jumble of his hair. “But later?”

He sighed and dropped back onto the mattress. A pillow jumped. “Later. Enjoy your meetings.”

I smirked and strode into my dressing room. I couldn’t miss the meetings, not with Father gone. But, more than that, I couldn’t lie there in bed and stare at Apollo as if he held the golden sun of my future rather than the devastating blades of anguish that already peppered at my heart.

And so the day slipped by, but tension lingered around me, zipping down my spine. Apollo arrived ready to work and focused, as though we hadn’t spent the previous night exploring every inch of the other’s body. I, on the other hand, found myself irritatingly distracted. Each time he shifted in his seat, the movement snagged my gaze, shattering my focus again. On the dozenth such moment, he spoke without lifting his eyes from the page. “I suggested we stay in bed this morning, Prince. It was you who wished to go to work.”

I huffed a sigh. “I suppose so.”

He lifted his face, grinning wickedly. “Let me know if you’ve changed your mind.”

“I think we should finish here.”

He shrugged. “No problem.” And then he slouched down in his seat, revealing the muscular lines of his thigh.

I shuddered and bit back a groan. How would I make it through this day? Forget the day, the next six months? And whenever he flashed me a grin, my heart fluttered about like a flower in a spring wind. I dropped my head to my hand, using my fingers as a shield to keep my focus on the page ahead of me.

By the time we sat for dinner, the desire for him warred with the swirling winds of emotions I couldn’t make sense of, and I clinked my ring against the wooden arm of my chair as attendants brought in the meal.

As they dished out the eggs, beans, sliced cucumbers, bread, and olives which trailed a briny scent into the air, Emrin scowled—likely at the lack of meat or fish—but kept his thoughts to himself. I took a swallow of wine. “Where is Epiphany?”

Emrin shrugged. “Her and Temi are always off doing something when she finishes her lessons.”

“Do you know what they’re doing?”

Emrin shook his head and stabbed his fork into the eggs on his plate before frowning at them. Apollo, however, scooped his dinner into his mouth like he’d never seen food before.

“Hmm.” I took a bite of cucumber.

An attendant with short, dark hair walked in and bowed before me, and I nodded at him. “Forgive me for interrupting your meal, Your Highness,” he said, “but there is a Lord Galeson of the kingdom of Segion here to see you.

I frowned. “I was not aware of any scheduled visitors.”

The attendant pressed his hands together. “He was not on the schedule, Your Highness, but he says he is expected.”

I considered that, letting my fingers trail along the stem of my glass. I would know if a visitor was expected. But perhaps there was a misunderstanding. “Very well. Show him in.”

The attendant walked out and returned a moment later with a tall man with light skin, sea-blue eyes, and a thick head of hair so pale it gleamed the color of cream. His features had a softness to them. He couldn’t be over twenty.

He bowed, and I leaned back against my chair, weaving my fingers together and resting them against my stomach. “Forgive me, Lord Galeson, but I wasn’t expecting your visit.”

His skin flushed, a warm rush of pink spreading over his nose and up to the tips of his ears. “I… I apologize, Your Highness. My aunt made me understand that you expected me.”

“Your aunt?”

“Lady Otonia. Wife of Lord Paios.”

I paused for a moment, letting him stand in the weight of my decision. He swallowed hard but didn’t fidget or break my gaze. “For what purpose,” I said, “is your visit, Lord Galeson?”

The color on his face deepened, and he bowed his head. “I’m of the understanding that your sister will have her presentation this autumn. My aunt… well”—he wrung his fingers together—“she believes our temperaments may align, and… that is…” He paused again, coughing into a fist before continuing. “As I’m to take over the governorship of Segion’s capital in a year and am a first cousin with the king, she believed it may be a suitable match as well. She suggested I spend some time with Epiphany before her official presentation to determine if we might suit one another.”

I lifted my wine glass to my lips, let the tang of it wash through my mouth. “As you can see”—I gestured to Apollo and Emrin—“my sister is not here presently. I’ll have an attendant find you a room, and you may meet with her at her leisure.”

“Thank you, Your Highness.”

He bowed again and turned, walking out of the hall.

As soon as the door shut, Apollo leaned over, whispering, his voice so low I struggled to make out the words. “There you go, being a badass again. I have to say, I find it sexy.”