16. SIXTEEN #2
Katherine’s eyes widen. Her relief is quickly covered by a professional smile. She squares her shoulders and curtsies. “It would be my honor. I’ll meet with each of them before I leave today. Thank you, Your Highness.”
Her assistants start to pack up their designs.
“Cassian, we will take a short break while I assist the emperor. I’m afraid I’ve monopolized too much of his time already. Afterward, we shall have tea and discuss the wedding dress and my full wardrobe. We would love to see the other pieces you brought.”
Mina traces the stones at her waist, and it takes a great deal of strength to focus on the others.
“Thank you for such an amazing opportunity. I’ll work hard to ensure the dress is to your every specification.” He bows and steps out of the room.
Lady Kailani stands and offers a knowing smile. “We’ll take a short break to discuss our dresses with Lady Katherine. I’d like to check in with the steward about the schedule for the rest of the redesign as well.”
The others are a mixture of disappointment and eagerness to shuffle out of the room. After placing the files I brought on the table, Jaime slips into the bedroom, giving us a moment of privacy.
Mina collapses on the couch in a fit of laughter. My fist tightens to keep from wiping away the tear that rolls down her cheek. The desire to touch her again, however she will allow, is damn near impossible to ignore.
The same burning urge overcame me last night at dinner. I went into the evening with the resolve to keep her at arm’s length, but she was determined to pick a fight with me.
As much as I hate to admit it, a small part of me enjoyed the challenge. The more she pushed me, the stronger my desire to punish her for her sharp tongue.
“Your response was perfect. Hopefully Katherine learned a valuable lesson about diversifying her tastes today.” Mina’s voice cuts through my lusty visions, pulling me back to the present.
“Oh, I believe she won’t forget this day until her dying breath.” I surely won’t.
Mina’s cunning. Her intelligence and grace in the face of a simple dress purchase make me look forward to the battle to come. With her knowledge and my experience, Kalisham is a guaranteed victory.
One that we will need her female soldiers to win, apparently.
“Shall we?” I motion to the papers.
Mina pulls herself together enough to slide over. She pats the seat next to her and flips through the pages. I sink onto the couch, closer than necessary with the room available. Our thighs brush as she turns toward me, pointing at a page.
“You want the women to train separately?”
Her eyes narrow, ready to do battle. I hold up a hand. “Before you accuse me of some wrongdoing, allow me to explain my logic.”
An arched brow is her only response. The challenge stirs my blood.
“Think back to your own experience with archery training. Had you failed to outshoot the men, they never would’ve accepted you. You would’ve been laughed out of the room regardless of your status. This land is set in its ways. I’ve shed an ocean of blood for what little changes exist now.”
“But I did outshoot them,” she clarifies.
I smirk. “Yes, but you have years of tutelage. The other women will be starting from nothing. None of my soldiers will open their minds about fighting next to a woman unless they achieve what you did.”
Understanding dawns on her. “You want to train them in private so that when the time comes, no man will be able to question their worth.”
“Precisely. Also, so they won’t be discouraged by comparing themselves to seasoned soldiers. You’ll need to work them hard to get them ready in such a short time. They’ll need to convince me of their abilities by the time we set sail to Kalisham or be forced to stay behind.”
“Done.”
Her confidence and excitement toward the assignment are palpable.
Her bright eyes cut back to the rest of the pages, moving back and forth rapidly to take in what few notes I added.
Her plans are excellent and well thought out, down to the budget for new, lighter armor to accommodate a woman’s figure.
“The other adjustments are satisfactory?” I ask, drinking in her company.
“Yes. They are completely reasonable.” She sounds surprised.
After the way the commander treated her, she must be on guard toward all men. I want to explain that I’m different. That her ideals line up more with mine than she could ever imagine, but I’ve spent too much time here already.
I glance down at my pocket watch. I have less than fifteen minutes to meet Staefan and the city inspector across town. Even by horse, I’ll be cutting it close. I can already hear Staefan’s lecture.
“I have to head to my next appointment.”
“I understand. Ruling is a busy enterprise. Please let me know if I can assist you with anything.”
“I appreciate the offer, but you’re about to have your hands full with wedding planning.
We’ll both be busy for the next few weeks with our duties.
” I planned it that way last night to avoid any distraction.
“I’m not sure how much we’ll be able to see each other, so if you need anything, reach out to Staefan. ”
She glances down for a moment before plastering on a polite smile.
She almost seems disappointed, but whether at my declining her help or the notion we’ll be apart, I can’t tell. Why the hell does that make me a little happy?
“Enjoy the time to yourself. After the wedding, I’m afraid we’ll see each other so often that you’ll grow quite sick of me.”
She studies me as her smile warms to something real. “I’ve stomached worse.”
As much as I want to find an excuse to banter with her some more, duty will always come first. Just as Mina’s vengeance will come first for her.
The fact that our aligned goals will force us to spend more time together should bother me, but I’m looking forward to collaborating with her. Mina’s unpredictability and wit stir something inside of me. A feeling I’ve long missed since battle.
I wonder what else this princess has in store.