Chapter 26 #2
Alina paused a few steps from daylight, giving her dazzled eyes a chance to adjust. She was about to move forward when she felt a gentle touch on her arm. She looked up inquiringly, to see Xavier’s eyes boring down into hers.
“There are things I need to say to you,” he told her.
She nodded, looking at her shoes. “Me too.”
“Alina, when I realized they’d taken you…” He cut himself off, drawing a ragged breath.
“When you realized they’d taken me, you did something dangerous and foolish, didn’t you?
” she said, lightening the tension. “From the linking enchantment I suddenly felt flare fully to life not long before you appeared, and the fact that it seemed to dissipate once I was in your arms, I’m guessing you convinced them to transfer it to you. ”
He gave her a crooked smile. “I was just copying you.”
Alina shook her head, but she wasn’t really annoyed. Not when Xavier was looking at her like she was his whole world.
“I couldn’t help it,” he said. His voice had turned husky. “I had to do whatever it took to get you back.” He drew another breath, and the words came swiftly. “Alina, I love you. With every bone of my body. There’s nothing light or flirtatious in what I feel for you. There never has been.”
“I know,” she told him simply. “I don’t doubt you.
I was wrong to hold you back. I’ve been refusing to admit it to myself, but I already knew I could rely on you.
I had the choice when I was attacked in the alley near my aunt’s house to either hold my shield or call to you for help, and I didn’t hesitate.
There wasn’t time to use my head. My heart just knew I could count on you.
Because the truth is…” Her words slowed, but she pushed herself forward.
It was time to be brave. “The truth is I love you as well. I don’t think I ever stopped, and it’s certainly too late for me to stop now. ”
Xavier didn’t wait for more. He swept her into his arms with total disregard for their generally disheveled, filthy state.
Alina put all of her heart into the kiss, holding nothing back as they both surrendered to the need to be near each other.
His lips were hungry as he deepened the kiss, but she had no fear of being consumed.
Or maybe she wanted to be consumed. All she knew was that when he pulled back, it was too soon.
She lifted on her toes, placing a light kiss on his jaw by way of protest. Xavier let out a small growl, his arms snaking around her waist and tugging her against him so suddenly the breath was startled from her.
He lowered his head, his nose skimming down her jaw before he retraced the ground, this time with his lips trailing the line.
“Don’t start a game you can’t possibly win,” he murmured, his lips provocatively close to her ear.
“Your Highness?”
“Go away,” Xavier mumbled toward whoever was hailing him from outside. But there was no heat in the words.
Alina was so breathless as she wriggled out of his hold, her chuckle came out painfully similar to the giggles of the silly girls at court.
“We’re in here,” she called out, ignoring Xavier’s heavy sigh.
They emerged into the sunlight, climbing up the steps carved into the quarry. Captain Mitchell was waiting just inside the fence. Alina saw some of the tension leave his frame when he laid eyes on the prince.
“Is all in order?” Xavier asked, with a tone of command that secretly impressed Alina.
“Yes, Your Highness,” the captain assured him. “We found one more conspirator trying to leave. We’ve interviewed everyone on site, and we’re fairly confident that’s all of them.”
“Excellent,” Xavier said. “Where are they from?”
“Their documentation says Carrack,” the captain said. “But so far, we haven’t been able to find anyone who knew them before the project. I’m skeptical.”
Alina had been looking up at the flapping of the huge fabric tubes high above them, reflecting how cleverly the conspirators had found a source of movement that wouldn’t be suspicious. But the captain’s words brought her attention back to the conversation.
“They’re from the continent,” she said. “No question. They were full of insults for their neighbors on the Peninsula. I think they must have been planted here a long time ago, though. They’re deeply in their role. Even to each other, they spoke our language.”
Captain Mitchell considered her words, his face for once free of the wary look she’d become used to.
“There’s a great deal to be learned from all this,” he mused. His eyes strayed to the prince’s face. “I must congratulate you on taking them all alive, Your Highness. I confess I didn’t expect such restraint.” His eyes lingered on Alina.
“Yes, I was angry enough to kill them,” Xavier acknowledged, slipping an arm around Alina’s waist. “And maybe it would have been satisfying for a moment. But it wouldn’t do much to help us learn the full extent of their scheme and protect the whole region from the continent’s further plans for us.”
He seemed to feel Alina’s gaze. He looked down, narrowing his eyes.
“What are you laughing about?”
“I’m not laughing,” she said, wriggling contentedly into a better position against his side. “It’s just…when did you become so responsible?”
Xavier’s smile was rueful. “Is it very dull and dreary? You know me, I’m easily bored. My old way of doing things was getting stale, so I thought it was time to try something new.”
“Not boring at all,” Alina assured him, smoothing a bunched section of his tunic. “In fact, I find it very attractive.”
“Is that so?” There was a wicked glint in Xavier’s eye. “That’s convenient, given that my primary aim, since I saw you in that dressmaker’s shop, has been to attract you, regardless of the cost either to my duties or your peace of mind.”
“You’re a scoundrel,” Alina laughed, shaking her head.
“Yes, probably,” Xavier agreed. “But I’m your scoundrel, so you’d best get used to it.”
Alina smiled secretly to herself. She had a feeling she could get used to it very easily.