“Although I do miss home, I’m happy,” I murmured. “You’re here. I feel as if I belong with you.”
His expression lit up and he scooted closer, his warmth enfolding me like an embrace. “I feel I belong with you, too. You’re remarkable, Eileen, and I don’t need any princess test to show me that.”
I stared at him in wonder. “You really do care for me.” The thought was remarkable.
“Very much.” He caressed my cheek, and I leaned against his hand, even as my old fear pleaded for me to pull away before I got hurt.
But I couldn’t. Each sweet moment I spent with Aiden not only broke down the defenses I’d built around my heart but stole another portion piece by piece.
How had this happened? How had he so effortlessly laid claim to that which I’d fought for so long to protect? And why did I no longer mind that my near-constant battle had ended with him as conquerer?
“I didn’t know it was possible to care for anyone as deeply as I feel for you.”
His sweet words prodded at the cracks in my heart, opening it further for him to steal, an act that I now realized was inevitable.
“I know your heart is protected,” he said. “I used to protect mine as well. I feared losing it, but now I know that’s not the worst thing that could happen.”
“What could be worse?”
He cradled my face. “Losing you.”
In that moment, I knew I’d never push him away, not after he’d trusted me with his own heart. We’d travelled too far down this path, and there was no turning back.
Aiden lightly pressed his lips to my brow; all the feelings I’d fought to suppress burst free, and they were far more beautiful than I could have ever imagined. I felt as if my heart were soaring, with no intention of ever being grounded again. A new path was unfolding before me, one I’d hesitated exploring for so long but which I now felt brave enough to risk taking a tentative step down in order to discover what amazing destination lay ahead. If it led to my Aiden, then any obstacle would be worth overcoming.
I loved him, and that’s all that mattered. Thus, I could choose him. I pressed my hand to his heart. It was mine, just as my own was his. It was time to put aside my fears and take a brave step forward.
Aiden’s soft, cradling touch stroked my cheeks, his movements incredibly careful, as if he was knew how fragile my heart was and feared I might break. With each gentle caress, I felt my heart opening further to him.
Aiden leaned down and as I lifted my face to meet him, his caressing fingers stilled as he once more searched my eyes, seeking permission for the next step on this beautiful journey.
“Please,” I whispered in answer to his unspoken question. He smiled before bridging the remaining distance and kissing me softly.
For a moment time stood still before Aiden laced his fingers through my hair and kissed me fervently—not a quick kiss but a tender, lingering one. I felt my heart blossom as healing warmth washed over me. My arms hooked around his neck, pulling him closer. His hand lowered to wind around my waist to mold me against him, his touch gentle, his lips soft on mine, perfect.
I realized I was crying as the salt of my tears stained the sweetness of our kiss, but despite my tears I wasn’t at all unhappy. How could I be when my heart—which had been locked away for so long—was not only free but being treated so gently by this wonderful man? It was such an incredible feeling, far more beautiful than I could have ever imagined.
All too soon he broke the kiss, but thankfully he didn’t pull away. My arms tightened around him as our gazes seeped into one another’s. A heated blush crept across my cheeks as I smiled shyly at him. He returned it before leaning down to kiss me again, this one as gentle as a caress, and I kissed him back, needing to express the emotions which swarmed my heart, even though I still didn’t fully understand them. How could I have resisted him for so long?
A rustling in the hedge tore us apart. We turned just in time to see a shadow from within the maze withdraw from peeking through the leaves. Someone had been spying on us. For a moment we stared, clinging to one another. I could feel Aiden’s pounding heart beating frantically against mine.
The lingering shadow of Aiden’s kiss, once so beautiful, now caused my stomach to knot with worry. I wasn’t sure whether it was forbidden for me to be with someone above my own station, but now that someone had caught us, I fervently hoped it wasn’t unacceptable. The thought of being taken from Aiden after I’d finally allowed myself to choose him was torturous.
“Was someone spying on us?” I asked, my voice breathless. Aiden’s hold tightened around me protectively.
“Yes, from inside the maze, and I have a hunch who it was.” Disappointment for our ruined moment filled his eyes as he looked at me. “I need to confront them.”
He helped me to my feet. I picked up my discarded shoes and wove my arm through his, but he intertwined our hands instead, giving mine an assuring squeeze.
“I don’t want to leave you. I wouldn’t if it weren’t necessary.”
I nodded. As much as I ached to stay with him, my mind was spinning. I needed time and distance to sort out my rushing thoughts.
Aiden led me around the outside of the maze and paused at its entrance. There he tucked my hair behind my ear. “Are you alright?”
Despite my disappointment from our interruption, the kiss itself still left me with fluttery warmth. “That was wonderful. I didn’t know it’d be like that.”
He chuckled. “It did exceed my own expectations.” He started to pull away but I clung to his hand, desperate to keep him near for a little bit longer. “Will I see you soon?”
“I’ll make sure of it.”
He leaned down and lightly kissed me again before squeezing my hand and pulling away to disappear into the maze. I stared after him for a moment before slowly returning to the palace gardens. I lightly traced my lips as I not only relived our beautiful kiss but tried to figure out who’d been spying on us and why.
Chapter 19
The heat of Princess Seren’s narrowed gaze had been locked on me throughout breakfast, scrutinizing my every move as if to gather evidence for her suspicions. I’d passed a restless night reliving my kiss with Aiden over and over, the sweetness of the memory marred by my worry over who’d been spying on us. With her frequent glowers, I didn’t doubt it’d been the Dragon Princess. The question that remained was why.
“Are you alright, Gemma? You’re looking a bit pale.” Princess Elodie leaned close, eyes concerned. I took a steadying breath, fighting the urge to glance over at Princess Seren to see if she was still glaring at me. She undoubtedly was.
“I’m being watched.”
Seeing my eyes flick in her direction, all four Dracerian royals glanced towards Princess Seren. Princess Rheanna’s forehead furrowed. “Goodness, she’s glaring at you. Did anything happen between you two?”
“No, I’ve never even spoken to her.”
“You must have done something.”
I frowned, considering. “Yesterday, someone saw me in a certain…situation. Perhaps it was her.” My heart tightened in guilt. If Princess Seren had been the one spying from the hedge maze and had witnessed my stolen kiss with Aiden, she was likely affronted I’d kissed Aiden when I was supposedly competing for her brother’s hand.
Prince Liam’s eyes flashed mischievously. “What kind of situation? Do tell. I’m excellent at keeping secrets.”
All three of his sisters snorted at that and I rolled my eyes; I’d already experienced his lack of ability to keep secrets and wasn’t keen on doing it again.
“You know it’s true,” Prince Liam said. “The closest I get to spilling any secrets I’m entrusted with is basing my intriguing tales on them, but since no one really believes a word I say, your secret would still be safe with me.”
The thought of Prince Liam spreading my special memory with Aiden as the latest gossip caused my cheeks to burn. Princess Elodie noticed and gasped knowingly. “Ooh, did she see you with so
meone? Perhaps a man?”
I lowered my gaze to my eggs and bacon and didn’t answer. Princess Elodie squealed.
“Are you involved with a member of the court? Well, no wonder you’ve been messing up during the tests on purpose; you want to marry the man you love, not the prince. If Seren caught you two together, perhaps she’s jealous.”
Hot envy burned through me at the thought that Princess Seren pined for Aiden. Could she have been his original fiancée? The grip on my knife tightened at the thought.
Prince Liam smirked down at my fist as he twirled his own knife between his fingers. “There’s nothing that stirs women to violence quite like love, but considering this is Seren, you have no need to worry. I can’t imagine her being in love with anyone. She’s the Dragon Princess—prickly and unpleasant, with a heart made of stone. She’s likely plotting something conniving and has chosen you as her victim. My congratulations.”
My heart had no sooner begun to settle at the thought that the Dragon Princess wasn’t interested in my Aiden than it flared to life at a new unpleasant possibility: was Princess Seren beginning to suspect I was posing as a royal? If she was, then one whispered suggestion to Prince Deidric or the king would be enough for her suspicion to be investigated, which wouldn’t end well for me.
These worries haunted me the remainder of the morning. I wandered the gardens with my sketchbook tucked beneath my arm in search of the perfect scene to draw in order to distract myself. Despite the artistic beauty and storybook splendor of the grounds, no scene beckoned me to capture it with my pencils. Instead, other thoughts tugged at me—being in the gardens reminded me of yesterday’s stolen kiss with Aiden, the soft sweetness of which I could still feel.
As if my thoughts about him had drawn me to him, I heard his familiar voice drifting from the rose garden. My heart lifted. I crept closer and peered around a hedge.
Aiden paced the garden, Gavin watching with amusement. I tensed at Aiden’s hardened expression. I hadn’t seen such darkness in his eyes since the day we’d met in the Forest, and then briefly when we’d spoken of his mother near the musical lake.
“Goodness, I hate her,” Aiden snapped. “If she ruins this for me out of spite, she’ll pay dearly.”
“Is she certain then?”
Aiden shrugged. “She drops constant hints and threats with that knowing smirk of hers.” He continued pacing with long, agitated strides. As I watched, someone stepped up behind me. I nearly leapt when my permanent shadow whispered into my ear.
“Spying, Your Highness?” Guard Alastar asked, his expression stoic as ever but his eyes lined with disapproval. I made a shushing motion and turned back towards the conversation.
“Can you blame her?” Gavin asked. Aiden glared at him, but Gavin didn’t even flinch. “I hate to point this out, but you’ve never been nice to her. Can you be surprised she’s seeking her revenge?”
Aiden’s manner darkened further and his fists clenched. “I don’t deny I deserve revenge, but so help me if she uses Eileen to accomplish it.”
At hearing my name, I sidled closer.
“Princess Seren never has played fair,” Gavin said. “I wouldn’t be surprised if she follows through on her threats. Has anything happened recently that would compel her to act?”
Aiden sighed and rubbed his face with his palms. “She caught me kissing Eileen.”
Gavin snorted. “You kissed her?”
Aiden glared at him once more. “Why do you sound so shocked? Would I have dragged her into such a ridiculous scheme if I didn’t feel what I do for her?”
Gavin instantly became solemn. “No, you wouldn’t.”
“And now meddling Seren is going to attempt to ruin everything.”
“It’s your word against hers,” Gavin said.
Aiden considered that before nodding firmly. “You’re right, and I’d wager my word carries more weight than hers, but I refuse to stand idly by. I won’t have anyone jeopardize the future I’m fighting for.”
“Do you have a plan?”
Aiden nodded and motioned towards the opposite exit. “Walk with me and I’ll share it with you.” He left the garden, Gavin close behind, while I resisted the impulse to follow. Their voices drifted farther away until I could no longer hear them. Only when I was sure they were gone did I step from my hiding place and turn to a frowning Guard Alastar.
“What do you think of that?”
“What do I think of what, Your Highness?”
I pressed my hands on my hips. “The conversation we just overheard, obviously.”
“I didn’t overhear anything, Your Highness. It’s not a guard’s place to eavesdrop.”
“You may pretend you heard nothing, but you clearly did, whether you wanted to or not.”
I furrowed my brow as I recalled the strange conversation I’d witnessed, my thoughts whirling. It appeared that Princess Seren was Aiden’s ex-fiancée—although wouldn’t I have heard about it if the princess had been betrothed all this time?—which meant Aiden’s rank was higher than I’d initially supposed to have been engaged to a princess. I ached to ask Guard Alastar for further details, but I doubted he’d be much help considering his past stubborn refusal to share information with me.
But there was one primary concern I couldn’t quench. “Does Aiden behave so harshly very often?”
Guard Alastar said nothing. Did that mean he did? I sighed and sank onto a bench, slumping as I stared unseeing at the surrounding roses, their sweet perfume doing little to calm my pounding heart.
“What of Princess Seren? Need I be worried about her?” The last thing I needed was a venomous, jealous ex hating me.
Once more, Guard Alastar remained silent, and after a moment of restless waiting I was about to give up any hope of him saying anything when he hesitantly answered me.
“Princess Seren is undoubtedly a determined sort, but Aiden is even more so. As such, please don’t worry.”
That was easier said than done, but his assurances did slightly abate my concerns regarding the Dragon Princess, leaving only Aiden’s conversation I’d overheard. I ached to confront him directly, but then he’d know I’d spied on him. Guilt twisted my gut that I’d done something so untrustworthy towards the man who had fought so hard to earn my own trust.
I resumed my wandering through the gardens without really seeing them, their beauty lost as my swirling thoughts insisted on reexamining the encounter I’d witnessed.
“Eileen!”
I spun around to find Aiden himself sitting by himself on a secluded bench, all traces of his earlier darkness absent. He straightened the stack of papers in his lap into a neat pile before bounding over to sweep me into a hug. My reservations melted the instant his arms enfolded me. I burrowed myself against his warmth. There was no doubt that this was where I belonged.
He pulled away just enough to dip down and kiss me, causing my entire being to become lost in him. The memories from yesterday’s kiss, which I’d been constantly reliving, hadn’t done the experience justice.
Aiden broke away, only to immediately begin trailing soft kisses along my jaw to whisper in my ear. “That was so much better than I remembered.”
I arched against him and his spoiling attentions. “I agree,” I managed breathlessly. He nuzzled my neck and placed a quick peck against my throat before pulling away, thankfully keeping me in his arms, where I was more than content to remain.
“I’ve been thinking of you and had just gotten to the point where I couldn’t bear to be apart from you any longer, so I’ve been writing you a note.” He sorted through his papers and handed me a slip of parchment.
Dearest Eileen, It feels as if it’s been far too long since I’ve seen you. How can one day feel like years? Can you please meet me at…
I peeked shyly up at him. “Where is this mysterious meeting place?”
“May I show you?” He rolled up his papers and hid them midst the fauna behind the bench where he’d been sitting. I watched curiously.
“What are those?”
He actually scowled at the now-hidden papers. “With a title comes all sorts of responsibility. To make it more bearable, I like to take my work outdoors—but I have no need to continue now that my favorite distraction is here.” His hand trailed down my arm to intertwine our fingers. My hand tightened around his, finding comfort in his touch.
“What sort of work do you do?”
“Work far too dull to discuss when we’re together.”
I frowned at his obvious sidestepping of my question. “It’s a secret, isn’t it?”
He glanced down at me guiltily. I yanked my hand from his.
“You know I don’t like secrets.”
He reclaimed my hand and cradled it between his, black eyes wide and earnest. “There will soon be a time when there are no secrets between us, but until then, please forgive me for still keeping some from you. I wouldn’t do it if it weren’t absolutely necessary. Please, Eileen.”
I searched his eyes and felt my reservations slip away at the sincerity filling them. I was tired of pushing him away in my insecurities. I wanted to trust him. I did trust him. I managed a smile in forgiveness, which he tentatively returned.
“Where are you taking me?” I asked as I rewound our hands.
“Unfortunately, I can’t tell you, but rest assured a surprise is very different from a secret.”
We resumed our stroll, which took us through the water garden with its miniature waterfalls, enchanting brooks surrounded by colorful fauna, and elegant marble fountains. We exited right by the hedge maze where we’d met yesterday, a place he’d promised to take me.
I smiled up at him. “So we’re to have an adventure in getting lost?”
“While that is one reason to explore the maze, I figured if we’re hidden inside, it’ll be more difficult for someone to spy on us again.”
“Did you discover who was spying on us yesterday?”
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