31. THIRTY-ONE #2
“Does that mean you watched me on the nights I was alone in the palace?” My first nights were anything but peaceful, filled with nightmares and tears.
He shrugs. “Had to make sure you weren’t planning anything nefarious.”
“Well, I am, just not toward anyone here.” My jest earns a laugh, but his violet eyes assess my reaction. So far, Alexi’s had no filter. He says what’s on his mind at all times, yet I sense hesitation now.
“When the time comes…” His gaze sharpens to a finely honed blade. I’ve never seen him so serious. “I’m there if you need help.”
Alexi would kill for me, despite how little we know one another? I picture Zala’s blade at his throat, or aimed at the others, and my pulse spikes. I feel the truth in my bones like molten steel being poured into a cast.
I’ll kill anyone who tries to harm my friends. I wanted to keep everyone at arm’s length, but somehow they broke through the guards around my heart. The fractures my family left behind are still there, but the edges don’t feel so sharp now.
“I’d rather you not have to kill anyone at all.” That’s a burden I’d take from him if I could.
His smile is a mixture of amusement and sorrow. “It’s all I’ve ever known. At least Darius and Staefan give me the freedom to choose.”
I grab his shoulders and pull him in for a hug. He stiffens before slowly wrapping his arms around my torso. He feels so small like this, coming up only to my shoulders. “Thank you, Alexi. But this is something I’ll need to do myself.”
He nods, understanding settling between us. Zala’s blood will be on my hands alone.
He pulls out of my grasp, a deep red painting his cheeks. He fusses with his hair, feigning annoyance.
I’m tempted to tease him, but time is a limited commodity today. I need to meet with Darius about the mayor position soon.
Nerves flutter around my stomach. Do I play it cool and pretend last night never happened, or pull him into a kiss to disarm him? Every imagined interaction ends in awkwardness.
I bite back a sigh. If Natalie can be brave enough to take the position, I can be brave enough to fight for it.
I find Darius near the perimeter wall overseeing the new guard rotations. After studying the raiders’ movements, he adjusted Brastrova’s security to ensure an occupation never happens again.
He marches around barking orders, a dark blue jacket hugging his muscular shoulders. I watch from the shadows of the nearest building, trying to drum up the confidence to approach him.
His seriousness unnerves the people around him. A few younger soldiers flinch as he calls out another stumble. Before, I would have viewed the exchange as cold, but now I know Darius is just focused. His delivery could definitely use some work though.
He demands perfection from himself and seeks it in others. I just have to convince him that Natalie meets those exacting standards.
Staefan trots through the gate on a massive tan and white steed. He notices me against the wall and waves.
Darius glances back, searching for the source of distraction for his right hand. I step out into the warm sun, shivering when his eyes land on me.
Despite what happened last night, his expression never changes. Not even a flicker of acknowledgment before he turns back. Frustration stamps out my earlier nerves. I straighten my shoulders and march over to the confusing man barking orders.
“Run it again. The whole point of the drill is to close the gap of opportunity for seizure, not encourage it with ill-timed mad dashes for the gate,” Darius growls at the commander next to Staefan.
“Of course, Your Majesty.”
Staefan rubs his horse’s nose and turns to greet me. “Queen Mina, how are you faring this morning?”
“Far better than you all, it sounds like.”
I expect Darius to join the conversation, but his focus remains on the drill.
I smile at Staefan, but it’s taking all of my willpower not to kick the back of Darius’s knee and drop him on his ass.
“The clinic is a success so far, and Lady Kailani is almost finished with all the disputes. Hours ahead of schedule,” I add.
“Leave,” Darius commands to the open air. His eyes roam the wall in front of us as soldiers run along its base.
Staefan and I exchange a confused glance, unsure whom the command was for.
“With clear instructions like that, it’s no wonder the soldiers are struggling,” I tease.
He releases a low sigh, the weight of the day heavy on his shoulders. He turns to Staefan. “Would you please give Mina and me a moment?”
“Of course.” Staefan works to hide a smile. “Though perhaps it would be better if I took over the drills so you two can focus on each other.”
“No—”
“Thank you, Staefan,” I say, cutting Darius off. His glare could dim the sun, but I find myself smiling at his mirth. “We will take you up on that offer.”
Before Darius protests further, I swing onto the horse and hold out my hand. Onlookers glance at us with naked curiosity, waiting to see if the mighty emperor’s anger extends to me.
Darius sighs under his breath. He kisses my outstretched hand before mounting the horse behind me and taking the reins. He kicks twice, setting us off around the perimeter along the inside of the wall.
With his back to the soldiers, Staefan grimaces, mouthing, good luck.
Darius’s rigid posture makes for a difficult ride, like trying to balance against a marble statue. He keeps a modest sliver of space between us. His focus is obviously on the buildings and guards we pass.
He’s hardly in a mental space to speak about Natalie. I need his undivided attention, and only one remedy comes to mind.
I use the momentum from the horse’s pace to slide back against Darius, pressing my ass into his groin. Before he can try to adjust me forward, I feel just how much his distant demeanor is a farce.
He pushes against my hip, thick and rigid. My body flushes as I discreetly grind my hips again.
“Mina,” he growls, clamping an arm around my waist to keep me still.
“Oh, are you done ignoring me now?”
“Does it feel like I’ve been able to ignore your presence?” His low hum tickles my neck. My core clenches at the memory of his lips there last night.
Focus. My plan to catch his attention is forcing mine to slip.
“My mistake.” I relax into his chest a bit. Strategically. Not because I fit like the space was made for me. “I need your mind more than your body right now, unfortunately.”
His rigid posture remains, but the arm around my waist relaxes. His thumb brushes the sliver of exposed skin on my ribs. “Then you shall have it,” he says.
“I’d like to discuss the mayor position. I’m sure Lord Duponte and Baueman already submitted their options for a suitable replacement.”
He barks an order to a soldier lazing against the wall before turning his attention back on me. “They have.”
“I would like your consideration for a different candidate. The only suitable one, in my opinion.”
I feel his nod, encouraging me to continue. I suck in a lungful of fresh summer air, imagining it’s a breeze from home for strength. “Lady Natalie.”
I have my explanation all prepared. The finer points of why Natalie is perfect and which characteristics will most appeal to Darius’s ruling style. I anticipated every question he could throw at me. What I did not prepare for was his one-word response.
“Alright.”
I whip around to face him. “Excuse me?”
Laughter rumbles from his chest to mine, but his stoic expression never changes.
“I said alright.”
“I heard you.” We stare at each other as he steers the horse around the corner. “So, Natalie will be mayor?”
The side of his lips tilts up for a brief moment. “Yes.”
“Do you want to hear why I think so?” I ask, astonished by his nonchalance. Where is the strategist who fought me last night?
“If you feel it necessary. Though I doubt you came up with anything I haven’t already considered.”
I grab the reins and stop the horse at a bend in the perimeter wall that keeps us shielded from prying eyes above. I can tell Darius is noting the blind spot to fix later as he scans our surroundings.
I swing one leg over the horse’s head so that I’m sitting side saddle and able to face him fully. His arm adjusts on my waist to keep me secure.
“You were going to make her mayor already?” I ask, not bothering to hide the surprise and doubt in my voice.
“If there’s anything I’ve learned from being with you, Mina, it’s to think about things from new perspectives.” My heart does a little flip, warming at his words.
“I suspected you might select her as a candidate, so I researched the idea and found it to be an agreeable solution. She certainly isn’t the only suitable candidate. She’s not even the strongest candidate, but I see the potential now.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Because I wasn’t going to select her unless you brought forward the idea yourself. I was curious to see if our thoughts aligned on this particular issue. Had you remained silent, I would’ve selected another stronger candidate.”
It is my turn to laugh. Just when I think I have Darius figured out, he does something to surprise me.
“So, Lady Natalie is mayor,” I confirm, needing to hear it again.
“We’ll announce it together before we leave. I’ve already allocated extra resources to ensure her success. You can look over them and make any necessary adjustments.”
I can’t help the smile that breaks free. “Thank you.”
I slide my fingers into his silky hair, pulling him down for a kiss. His shock melts away as our lips move together, familiar and warm. He strokes my cheek with more gentleness than I thought his callused hands capable of.
The tightness in my chest grows, but not from grief this time.
He pulls back, peppering a kiss on my hairline as he breathes me in. “You know the people might not be as accepting as I am.”
I nod, not willing to pull away just yet. “I’m prepared for that. Which is why you and I won’t be the ones convincing them.”