The Heir's Bargain (Of Fire and Lies)

Chapter 24

What hasyou smiling like you just caught the biggest buck of the season, brother?

I straightened in my seat and tried to wipe the grin off my face at the sound of Terin”s voice in my mind. I failed miserably, though, the corners of my eyes wrinkling.

I hadn”t stopped grinning like a smitten fool since Dani and I had parted ways two days ago. Despite my attempt in the carriage—because I had thrown caution out the window once I had gotten a taste of her—she had declined to go any further than kissing—something about not wanting Jorian and Lance to hear.

I could have cared less, of course. Lance had the unfortunate (or fortunate, depending on one”s opinion) task of taking the night shift one too many times over the years. Overhearing what I did in private would have been nothing new to him. But then, when I kissed Dani below her ear, and that sinful moan escaped those soft, plump lips, I no longer wished to share that beautiful noise with anyone.

So, seeing her lips swollen, cheeks flushed, and breaths shortened had to suffice.

And that was precisely what I had been thinking about as the advisors discussed the success of the solstice ball.

I took a sip of my tea.

A success, indeed.

Never mind. I don”t want to know,Terin thought.

I refrained from chuckling and propped my chin on my fist, pretending to listen to the advisors as they changed topics. They went back and forth about some dispute about a lord”s land and a wolf infestation.

My mind, however, was still stuck on the solstice.

”Daises or roses?”I asked Terin as we headed down the hall in the opposite direction of the advisors.

Graeson walked ahead of us, his fists deep in his pockets. When we left the meeting, he shook his head after glancing my way and mumbled something unintelligible.

I didn”t care about his sour attitude, though. Not today.

”Excuse me?” Terin asked as we exited the castle and headed toward the training grounds.

I shook off the stiff jacket and tossed it over my shoulder. ”You”re right—both are far too simplistic. Perhaps a bundle of those purple ranunculuses from Mother”s garden.”

”Are these for Dani?” Terin pulled me to a stop.

”Yes. One often gives flowers to one’s partner. Perhaps you should try it, Ter.”

Dani had said that she had never been courted—after all, those frivolous outings with her mother”s suitors did not count. Not when they made a woman go running for the hills on horseback. While this might have started as a fake courtship, it would be impudent of me not to show her what it was like to truly be courted.

”While you two continue to prattle about flowers, I”m going to go do something worthwhile,” Graeson grumbled ahead of us, not bothering to wait.

Terin rolled his eyes at him and slapped my arm. ”Wait, is this why you”ve been smiling nonstop?”

I folded my arms over my chest, cocking my head to the side. ”Is it a crime now to smile, brother?”

”No, but. . .” Terin”s gaze swept over me, assessing me. He hummed and continued walking, trailing behind Graeson who walked as if his life depended on it.

”You truly are smitten with her then?”

”I—” I sighed, brushing my hair back. The crisp breeze of the ocean brushed across my face. ”I really like her, Ter.”

My brother’s forehead creased with concern. ”Don”t break her heart, Fynn. She”s our best friend.”

My hands rolled into tight fists at my side, and although I didn”t mean to reach out, I did.

Feelings of doubt and disbelief coated the invisible thread before Terin closed off our connection, throwing his shields up.

Terin closing himself off was a sword to the gut, but that wasn”t why anger heated my skin.

It didn”t bother me that Terin believed I was some man who played with women”s hearts. He wasn”t right, but he also wasn”t necessarily wrong either. I knew what people said about me. I knew how many women I had courted over the years. But what was I supposed to do when every woman that I allowed to get close to me only wanted me for my crown? Was I expected to settle for someone who didn”t care about me?

I always tried to give my past partners the benefit of the doubt. It was easy for someone to pass judgment before they got to know someone. But after a few weeks or months of courting, their opinions never changed. Even Rosalina, whom I had gone back to time and time again, never altered her reasoning for pursuing me.

But with Dani, it was different.

She knew me.

Her interest wasn”t in the crown. Dani wanted to protect the crown, not wear it. By the gods, if I ever tried to make her my consort, she would probably throw the crown at me or try to stab me with it.

What hurt the most, however, was that Terin didn”t believe I could change. That I would not treat her differently than the others.

She was my best friend, and that meant more to me than anything else.

”I won”t break her heart,” I said.

But as we headed toward the training grounds, a small voice in my mind whispered, She might break mine, though.