Chapter 14
Rabbits
Damien left the hospital, returning to the long list of families he needed to talk to. Evelyn and Leo remained at the small table in her private room.
“How are you feeling?” Leo asked. “Have you regained your magic?”
Evelyn took a moment to feel for it. Her magic lived between her shoulder blades, then flowed through her arms and out her fingers. Except when she pretended to be a dragon and sent it through her throat. But she’d drained her power last night to quell the explosion.
“I could probably light a candle, at least.”
“If you feel well enough, I can take you back to the palace,” Leo offered.
Evelyn thought about it. “Could we go to the beach?”
Leo’s brows rose in surprise. “Why there?”
“I want some fresh air. Everything smells like smoke.”
And I can smell the antiseptic and burned skin from the patients here.
“Of course, Princess,” Leo agreed.
He brought Evelyn to a quiet section of shoreline. She held her skirt above her ankles and allowed the waves to rush over her feet. Starlight sparked off the ocean’s surface.
I can breathe again.
Leo dropped down on the dry sand. Evelyn could feel him watching her as the tension in her body dissolved, the stress of the past twenty-four hours washing away with the tide.
After several minutes, Evelyn sat beside Leo.
“The ball is tomorrow,” he reminded her.
She blinked. “It’s not being postponed after everything that happened?”
“Apparently not.”
“But doesn’t that feel… inappropriate?”
“I believe the goal is to lift everyone’s spirits.”
“You mean everyone who isn’t actively being treated for severe burns?”
“I’m on your side, Evelyn,” Leo said to calm her. “It wasn’t my idea to begin with, and it isn’t my decision now.”
“I know.” She sighed. “I just can’t imagine going to a party tomorrow.”
“I’ll be there. I won’t let anything bad happen. Although Damien will also be there, so who knows how the night will go.”
“If the two of you didn’t insist on taking turns being the responsible one,” she teased, “the rest of us wouldn’t have to worry about it!”
“What would be the fun in that?” Leo laughed.
The two of them fell into a comfortable silence while they listened to the roar of the ocean.
“About tomorrow…” Leo said after a while. “I have a part to play at the ball. The king will expect me to be charming, make conversation, and dance with the ladies of the four courts.”
Evelyn understood all of that, but something about it still stung. “That makes sense. My role probably isn’t all that different. Hannah has to meet everyone and spend time with the prince, but I don’t have a betrothal to tend to.”
“If it were up to me, I wouldn’t leave your side tomorrow. I wouldn’t dance with a single other person.” Leo absentmindedly ran his fingers through the sand. “Evelyn, I need to tell you…”
She looked at him expectantly. “Tell me what?”
He fell back in the sand and closed his eyes. “Never mind. I’m so fucking tired right now.”
An anxious curiosity flared in Evelyn’s chest.
What was he going to say? Was it something good or bad?
“Will you save me a dance?” Leo asked sleepily.
Evelyn smiled, even though he couldn’t see it. “You know I will.”
He reached out to take her hand. She laced their fingers together, loving the comforting warmth.
This feels right, being with Leo. Whatever he isn’t telling me yet can wait.
Leo was asleep within minutes. Evelyn was wide awake, but she didn’t dare move. It was like having a sleeping cat in her lap. So she listened to the waves and Leo’s deep breathing beside her.
Leo woke about an hour later, startled suddenly out of a dream. He grinned wildly when he realized Evelyn was next to him, their hands still joined.
“You fell asleep so quickly, I didn’t want to wake you,” she told him.
“I appreciate that,” Leo said, sitting up and brushing sand out of his hair.
“I hate to say it, but we should probably return to the palace.”
“I’m sure your father already sent out a search party.”
“I can see a corner of the palace from here!” Evelyn pointed to their right. “If someone is looking for us, they aren’t trying very hard.”
“Wouldn’t it be funny if you managed to sneak back into your room while they were out trying to find you?”
“Shall we try it?”
Leo jumped to his feet, then reached out to help Evelyn up. “I’ll put an illusion on both of us so we can’t be seen.”
Evelyn agreed. Leo waved a hand over her head and then over himself. She couldn’t tell anything was different, but he held on to her arm since he couldn’t see her. Leo reminded her to stay quiet because his illusion was only visual and wouldn’t cover their voices.
There were more guards on duty around the palace than usual. Evelyn didn’t have enough magic to make an arson-based distraction. Instead, Leo created a new illusion so they could open the door and slip through undetected.
Leo walked Evelyn upstairs and they stopped outside her bedroom door, no longer invisible.
“What was the illusion you made?” Evelyn asked. “The guards looked so confused.”
“The guards have never been trained on how to remove several dozen surprisingly aggressive rabbits from the grounds.”
“Why rabbits?” Evelyn giggled madly.
“I thought of dogs first, but I wouldn’t be able to make them bark or growl.”
Evelyn’s fit of laughter continued, and she had to focus on her breathing to calm down before she woke Hannah two doors down. “I really wish I could see your magic.”
“Me too. I would create anything you wanted.” Leo closed the space between them. He tucked a lock of hair behind her ear, then let his hand linger in her curls. “What do you want, Princess?”
Her heart raced. “You.”
Leo lowered his head until his face was mere inches from hers.
“Can I kiss you?” he whispered.
“Yes,” she breathed.
Leo’s lips found hers, the touch featherlight. Evelyn’s fingers trailed up his chest to feel the strength beneath his tunic.
Gods, this man is perfect.
Leo broke the kiss and looked into Evelyn’s eyes.
He’s checking on me, giving me a chance to change my mind. Why would I?
Evelyn reached up and grabbed the back of Leo’s neck, dragging him to her. The kiss was rougher this time. Magic ran through her body, but not the Fire magic she was used to.
I need more of him!
Leo buried one hand in her hair, holding her close. He gripped her hip with his other hand and pushed her against the door.
Fuck, just shove me onto the bed.
Evelyn moaned softly as she kissed him, savoring the heat and pressure of him against her body.
I can’t imagine being anywhere else in the universe. The only thing that matters anymore is touching him.
Something hard pressed against her stomach. Evelyn was about to reach for his belt when Leo pulled away from her. She let out an embarrassing whimper at the injustice of it.
Why isn’t he kissing me? Did I do something wrong?
They stared at each other, their breathing heavy. Evelyn saw the change in Leo’s eyes as he composed himself. He showed no sign of regret, only restraint.
Please don’t be a gentleman right now!
He bowed to her. “Good night, Princess.”
Dammit, dammit, dammit.
She touched her swollen lips while he walked away. “Good night.”