58. Interesting Dynamic
Chapter fifty-eight
Interesting Dynamic
T he sun was drifting below the western horizon when Solveig finally woke. Casting the city in shades of soft orange, blush pink and dusty violet. Boats swayed out by the northern harbour; their bells and rigs clanging softly against one another, as music and chatter from the port hub drifted along the wind. She pulled herself from the warm cosiness of the bed. Walking barefoot across the cool marble floor, the sensation odd against the still warm air.
When she arrived at the palace that morning, it had been like coming home. A servant led her to the chambers she inhabited as a child during term breaks from Erynmar Academy. Yet it still surprised her to find the wardrobe and cabinets stocked with everything she would need. As though Adira had prepared the rooms for this eventuality as soon as they returned from North Watch. It was Adira’s own version of a peace offering, one that they had no need to extend but that Solveig would accept, regardless.
She wore a light blue gown; the material fluid as the ocean’s rolling waves over her curves, cinching in at her waist with a golden belt. She stepped into a pair of jewelled leather sandals to walk over to the balcony as she haphazardly tied and twisted her hair back into a knot at her nape.
Running her hands across the rough sandstone, Solveig watched the last rays of sun fall away from the world, casting the garden in shadow. Trivellian came alive with the blue glow of elemental flame. Voices sounded on the raised terracotta patio below, not loud enough to make out the words, but enough to catch her attention.
Two people sat across from each other beside the sparkling infinity pool. One was dressed similar to Solveig. Their golden accented braids draped over one shoulder as they reached out to grip the hand of the man before them. He had warm golden-brown curls falling haphazardly over his face, where his skin glowed even beneath the blue lights. Solveig’s grip tightened on the edge of the balustrade as her eyes zeroed in on their joined hands. Wondering how and when the Prince of Elithiend had become a close friend of the future Sovereign of Farrenhold.
Under the flickering lights of the patio, Solveig’s dress appeared darker, as though deepening with the souring of her mood. She stormed across to where the prince and the future sovereign sat. Mercifully, there was a good foot of distance between the two of them now. As she came to a stop, her fiery gaze alighted solely on the prince, who sat stoic. Refusing to meet her gaze, instead sipping slowly on the glass of water before him.
“I don’t recall inviting you,” she seethed, though Emmerich kept his eyes anywhere but on her. “A prince of the realm must be invited to visit another kingdom.” Solveig continued as Adira swallowed down the amused chuckle that rose in their throat. Solveig’s gaze swung to them.
“Since when are you friends with an enemy prince?”
“Who said I was?”
“You looked pretty friendly from the balcony,” Solveig accused, throwing an arm toward her rooms. Adira’s gaze followed it as another smirk crossed their lips.
“Spying again, Solveig? Perhaps I should reconsider the freedom I have afforded you.”
“Why is he here?”
“I was bored.” Adira shrugged.
“Bored? You were bored?”
“I’d heard rumours.” They glanced between the two of them, “of the interesting dynamic between the two of you. I received your note first, whereas his arrived a day ago, and I must admit, I was more than a little curious to see this for myself.”
Solveig only glared at her friend.
“Your jealousy is showing,” Adira muttered. “Take a seat, order a drink, and cool off. Dinner won’t be ready for another hour, which reminds me. I must check how things are progressing. Try not to kill each other in my absence. I hear it’s terribly difficult to wash bloodstains out of the tiles.”
Adira hurried back inside with a conspiratorial wink in Solveig’s direction, as she took the seat Adira had vacated. She stared the prince down as he finally met her gaze, the blue swirling like a maelstrom, as a smile picked up one corner of his mouth,
“Hello, Princess. Did you think you could run from me that easily?” In one moment, the prince and the princess burned each other with their gazes. In the next Emmerich was drenched head to toe as Solveig flung out a hand and sent a wave of water from the pool crashing over him. He stared down at his now water- stained suit, blinking in shock before an amused grin decorated his face once more.
“There’s no need to ruin my clothes to get me to remove them,” he chuckled, reaching for the lapels of his jacket. “You need only ask.” He grinned as he slowly removed the jacket to hang it over the back of his chair.
The water had seeped through to his white shirt beneath, turning it transparent in places as it clung to every sun warmed ridge and valley of his chest and arms. Solveig realised a moment too late that she had been staring when she heard that smug chuckle escape his damned throat once more.
“My eyes are up here, Princess.”
Solveig fought to keep the scowl on her face, but couldn’t conceal the blush that travelled across her skin. Nor the drying of her mouth at the small glimpse of him.
Adira returned a moment later, coming to an abrupt halt beside them as their eyes went back and forth between the drenched prince and the blushing princess. They sipped at their refilled glass of wine, laughing lowly to themselves. “This is going to be rather entertaining indeed.”
Solveig jumped to her feet then, ignoring her friend, “You were supposed to go home!”
“My investigation is far from over, which means, Princess, we are still partners.” Emmerich stood, crowding her space until he engulfed her senses, and she didn’t know where to look.
“Get used to it, Princess, you’re stuck with me for a while longer.” He leaned down, lips at her ear. Breathing in the soft scent of orange blossom that clung to her skin. “Besides, the sooner you get used to having me around, the easier this will get, and the drier we’ll both be.”