by Hope Hart
She clears her throat, pushing her hair off her face, and the smile disappears. I’m sad to see it go. My cousin doesn’t smile enough anymore.
“Good morning, gentlemen.”
“Don’t let us stop you,” Arix says, gesturing for us to continue, and I squirm in embarrassment. His eyes are lit with amusement, and I shrug. If he didn’t want us to act like children, he shouldn’t have given us beds stacked with approximately nine hundred pillows.
Arix’s brow raises at our awkward silence, the corner of his mouth twitching.
“I was wondering if you’d like to join us for the midday meal,” he says. “I try to eat with my advisers and some of my guards occasionally. It’ll be a good opportunity for you to meet them, since you’ll be staying here until you can fix your ship. It’s close to the river with a view I think you’ll both like.”
There’s no trace of the man who dropped the “c-bomb” yesterday while staring at me like I was the sun and he was freezing to death. I don’t know what this new tactic is, but whatever his true reasons are for inviting us here, his generosity is allowing us to have a real chance of getting off this planet.
I glance at Sarissa. I’m down if she is. She nods, and I smile at Arix, pulling my robe tighter around myself. “That sounds great.”
The guys leave, and I groan as Cauri glares at me, pointing her finger toward my room. Great, now I’ve pissed off my maid. Given that she likes to show her displeasure when she does my hair, I’ll be surprised if I have any left after this.
Sarissa snorts, Hesa—her own maid—waiting quietly, her face amused, behind Cauri.
“Good luck with that,” Sarissa murmurs, and I scowl at her.
“Just you wait. My revenge will be swift and sweet.”
“Uh-huh. Keep telling yourself that, V.”
Cauri lectures me the entire time she’s helping me get ready. I manage to tune out most of it until she decides my hair simply must go in a complicated updo if I’m having a meal with the king. The sharp tug of her brush down my hair reminds me of my mother getting me ready for pageants as a kid, and I’m so tense I’m about to put my foot down and tell her to leave when she pushes one last pin in my hair and steps back.
“There. Now you look like a lovely female and not a romping child,” she says.
I roll my eyes. “We were having fun.”
Cauri frowns as if the concept is completely foreign to her, and I sigh, getting to my feet.
I’m wearing a long forest-green dress. The material itself has some kind of soft-gold sheen to it, and it shimmers in the light. My hair has been brushed, curled, and braided into submission, and my scalp aches. I’ll last approximately half an hour with this tension on my scalp before I take it down. I’m not planning to end up in bed with a migraine today.
My stomach flutters at the thought of being in bed for an entirely different reason, and I can’t help but think of the intrigued look in Arix’s eyes when he stared at me in Sarissa’s room.
The king is arrogant, suggestive, and charming. But beneath all that, I occasionally get glimpses of a man I’d like to know better.
Cauri nudges me, dragging me from my daydream.
“What are you waiting for, silly girl? Don’t be late!”
I sigh. “Thank you for helping me get ready.”
She harrumphs, turning away, but I catch the surprise on her face. Do people not usually thank her for her work?
Sarissa meets me outside my door, and I glower at her. “How come you get a ponytail and I get this?”
She attempts to hide a smirk as she stares at my complicated updo. “Because I’m not scared of my maid, that’s why.”
I narrow my eyes. “I’m not scared of her.”
Cauri opens my door and glares at us, and I jump.
“Go!”
I jolt into motion, ignoring Sarissa’s low laugh.
“Not scared, huh?”
“Shut up.”
Chapter Five
Vivian
The guards escort us close to the dock behind the castle, but we don’t get into a hydro. Instead, we cross a long bridge over the river, walking down a stone path for a few minutes before it opens up to a large clearing.
To the left, the river flows, hydros full of people traveling up and down the water, many of them craning their heads to get a glimpse of the king. To the right, a large group of tables and chairs has been set up, and servants are busy placing huge dishes laden with food on the tables.
Arix sits at the head of the longest table, talking to a few men who are nodding in agreement with whatever he’s saying.
“Ah, here they are,” he says as we approach, still surrounded by our guards. “Vivian, you remember Bevix?”
Bevix is the adviser who interrupted the first time Arix was propositioning me. The one Arix was determined wouldn’t see me in my “nightclothes.” Honestly, the nightclothes here cover more than the clothes I would wear to the mall on Earth, but from the frown on Arix’s face, he’s likely remembering that little interaction. And he’s still not happy about it.
“Nice to see you again,” I murmur to Bevix, ignoring Arix’s warning look. Bevix introduces himself to Sarissa, who nods her hello, and then Arix gestures to the older man on his left.
“This is Tridi. My father’s brother.”
Tridi smiles at me, his face puzzled as he runs his eyes over Sarissa and me. He’s Arix’s uncle, then, but from the cold look on Arix’s face, there’s no love lost between them.
I find myself intrigued by Arix’s life here. For some reason, I’m almost desperate to know all about his inner circle. I want to know who he trusts and why, who he considers family, and the problems keeping him up at night.
It’s just because he’s a king. Sure, Rakiz and Dexar are kings of their tribes, but Arix obviously rules over a much larger territory and many more people. It’s natural for me to want to learn everything I can about a king on an alien planet.
Mm-hmm. It’s his history you have a fascination with. Not his body. Keep telling yourself that.
“This is Rachiv,” he says, nodding toward the guy sitting next to Tridi. “He is also one of my most trusted advisers.”
Rachiv doesn’t look at all impressed with us. In fact, he’s looking at me the way I used to look at the three-day-old sandwich I’d occasionally find in my purse.
I see you, I tell him with my eyes, and he waits until Arix begins introducing us to someone else before he sneers back at me.
Dickhead.
Arix gestures to a couple of servants, who begin pulling out chairs for us to sit in. I blink, hesitating until Sarissa plunks her butt in her seat and raises her eyebrow at me. I kind of assumed we would be sitting at one of the smaller tables surrounding this one, perhaps closer to the edge of the forest or on the other side—near the river. I hadn’t imagined we’d be sitting at the “royal table,” and from the look on Rachiz’s face, he feels the same way.
Korzyn appears, leaning down to murmur in Arix’s ear. Arix shakes his head, gesturing to the empty seat next to Sarissa, and Korzyn’s scowl is so deep I almost laugh.
“So,” Bevix says, once we’re seated and the servants fill our cups. “What is it that you do on your planet? I must admit I’m fascinated at the way you ended up on Agron.”
I smile at him, and he nods at me. He can obviously feel the tension as well as I can, and he’s attempting to make us feel welcome.
Arix’s midnight eyes find mine, and he raises one dark eyebrow. “Yes,” he says. “The human females are indeed intriguing.”
I stare at him, willing myself not to blush. Thankfully, this time, my cheeks don’t heat. Maybe I’m getting better at this.
Bevix glances between me and Sarissa, obviously waiting for an answer.
“I’d tell you, but then I’d have to kill you,” Sarissa says sweetly, and the entire table freezes.
Good move, Sarissa. I grind my teeth, shooting her a look, and she sends me a wicked grin.
/> Next to her, Korzyn is practically vibrating with tension.
I clear my throat, channeling my mother with an airy laugh. “That’s an Earth joke,” I explain with a wave of my hand.
“I don’t find it amusing,” Korzyn says.
“You wouldn’t,” Sarissa mutters, and I kick her beneath the table.
She sighs. “I work for our country’s government. I’m one of thousands of people who help protect our country from foreign threats.”
Korzyn is studying her like she’s a bug he’d quite enjoy dissecting.
She sends him a cool look and then smiles at the table at large, and several of Arix’s advisers can’t help but smile back. It’s not often that Sarissa turns on the charm, but when she does, it’s like standing under the heat of the sun. You can’t help but bask in the warmth.
At least that’s how one of her ex-boyfriends described her to me when I ran into him at a bar three months after they broke up.
“It’s pretty boring, really. Vivian has a much more exciting job. Why don’t you tell them about it, V?”
I grind my teeth at that.
“Wow, I’m hungry,” I say. “This is a beautiful setting, by the way. Thanks for inviting us.”
Arix says nothing, his eyes hot on my face.
“And what is your ‘job,’ then?” he murmurs.
“I model.”
“Model.” He tastes the word, saying it in English because there’s obviously no Braxian equivalent.
The entire table seems to be staring at me, even people situated down at the other end, who are craning their heads.
I get it, of course. Korzyn likely has questions about Sarissa’s job that she can’t explain without sounding exactly like what he thinks she is.
A spy.
Unfortunately, that means she has to throw me under the bus.
Thanks, Rissa. Why don’t you back that bus over me while you’re at it?
“On Earth, brands hire me to wear their designs. I’m photographed in their clothes so that others can see those clothes and hopefully decide to buy them.”
It takes an eternity to explain what a photograph is, and a couple of Arix’s advisers seem to think we’re playing with them, while Rachiv murmurs that it sounds like sorcery.
The first course has been taken away by the time they understand how cameras work.
Arix’s eyes are now burning into mine. “And people keep these…pictures of you?”
“Ummm, I don’t know if they keep them,” I hedge, and Sarissa snorts.
“Remember that one stalker you had a few years ago? He sent threatening notes, and all the letters had been cut out of the newspaper.” She laughs. “So old school.” She grins at Arix. “The police eventually got enough for a search warrant, and the psycho had an honest-to-God shrine set up for my baby cousin. He had every photo ever taken of her, I swear.”
That’s it. I kick Sarissa under the table again. “What is your deal?” I hiss at her while Arix scowls at both of us, clearly perturbed by her stalker story.
“Just laying the groundwork, V.”
With that nonanswer, she digs into her stew with relish.
The table turns to small talk, the advisers telling funny stories, all attempting to outdo one another for the king’s amusement. It’s clear they appreciate this time with him, and he listens to them, occasionally commenting or laughing at a joke.
Tiny, sweet pastries have been placed in front of us, and they’re almost demolished when Arix’s dark eyes find mine again.
“Vivian,” he purrs. “Will you take a walk with me?”
I blush as all attention is suddenly on me, fighting the urge to throw the last bite of my pastry at him. His eyes spark as if he’s reading my mind.
“Sure,” I mutter gracelessly, and his smile widens. He gets to his feet, striding around the table and offering me his arm as I rise from my own seat.
I take it, attempting to ignore the silence that has descended. From the surprised look on Tridi’s face, whatever Arix is up to is out of the ordinary. Bevix winks at me, and Arix places his hand over mine, leading me away from the table.
He shakes his head at his guards as they attempt to follow us, and they stop in their tracks.
“Where are we going?” I ask.
“It’s a surprise.”
We walk in companionable silence for a while, heading further away from the river, the sun behind us. The sounds of people talking fade away, and soon there are only the chirp of birds and the rustle of animals foraging for food.
“It’s so peaceful here.”
Arix nods. He directs me between two trees, and we leave the forest path. He helps me climb over a fallen tree, then lifts me over a few large rocks.
We walk up a hill, and I’m slightly breathless when we finally get to the top.
“Wow.”
We’re in some kind of garden. Only, it’s nothing like the beautiful yet ruthlessly manicured gardens surrounding the castle. This is undomesticated and unkept, a free-for-all of flowers and plants.
Wildflowers bloom throughout, with little thought given to color selection or plant type. The bright colors clash in places, but the garden is all the more charming for its chaos.
From here, we have a view of the river, but anyone sitting in a hydro would have to squint to see us, hidden as we are through the trees.
It’s natural, disorderly, and untamed. I love it.
“What is this place?”
Arix gestures to a wooden bench on one side, surrounded by huge yellow flowers shaped similar to poppies on earth.
I take a seat, and he sits next to me, throwing one hand over the back of the bench. He instantly looks more relaxed than I’ve seen him since I met him.
“This was my mother’s place. She loved gardening and would often attempt to help the gardeners when they were working around the castle. But people gossiped. They said it was unseemly for the queen to be working like a servant.
“She was brokenhearted, but my father brought her here. He said he’d discovered it during one of his walks and it was waiting for her special touch. My mother didn’t make many changes—most of these flowers were already growing in the area, and she added a few she felt would do well here. But she loved this place. We’d sit right here when I was a child, and she would make me tell her all my problems.”
He smiles, and my heart thumps harder in my chest. Arix is beautiful, and every smirk and wicked grin he sends my way gives me butterflies. But the simple, sad smile, the fondness in his eyes when he speaks of his mom…
This is the real Arix.
“She sounds like an amazing mom.” I hope the jealousy I feel at the thought of growing up with a mom like her isn’t evident in my voice.
Arix removes his arm from across the top of the bench and throws it around my shoulders. “She was.”
“Do you mind if I ask what happened to your parents?”
“They were murdered.”
My mouth drops open. I expected some kind of accident. For some reason, foul play hadn’t crossed my mind.
I glance at him, and he pulls me closer. He’s not looking at me, and I reach out, placing my hand on his knee.
He turns his head, gazing down at me. “A little higher, beauty.”
I scowl at him, removing my hand. “I was being supportive.”
Surprise flashes across his face, as if he’s not used to anyone offering him comfort. The thought makes me sad for him, and I don’t protest when he drags me closer, using his other hand to grab my wrist and pressing his lips to my palm.
“Do you know who killed them?”
He shakes his head. “To this day, I am working to discover who could have done such a thing. Unfortunately, a court as large as my parents’ had multiple suspects. I have my own suspicions, but my father would expect me to only act once I have proof.”
His lips twist at that, and my throat tightens. I’m guessing he’d like to round up all his suspects and torture the informati
on out of them. But he’s still attempting to honor his dad.
I shiver as he strokes the sensitive skin along my wrist, and he smiles. The bastard knows exactly what he does to me.
He studies my face. “Why do you want to go back to your planet so badly?”
I shrug. “It’s home.”
He leans down and picks a flower before handing it to me, and I smile, inhaling the light fragrance.
“Earth isn’t perfect, that’s for sure. In a lot of ways, it’s a goddamned shitshow. It’s full of wars and hunger and death. With a big ol’ helping of inequality and sadness. Just when you think you’re winning the game, the rules change and you’re suddenly losing.”
Arix tilts his head, and I smile.
“But it’s beautiful too, with sights that make you pinch yourself they’re so incredible. There’s hope around every corner. People who care about each other. People who sacrifice for others. But most importantly, it’s ours.”
He studies my face for a long moment and then nods. “I understand. My kingdom has its faults, and while I try to improve it every day, it will always be a work in progress. But if someone were to take it from me, I would not rest until I had taken it back. My father would expect nothing less.”
“I guess we have more in common than I thought.”
He grins, his eyes sharpening on my face. Then he lowers his head, giving me plenty of time to stop him, but I don’t, allowing him to cover my mouth with his.
His lips are firm and hot, and he uses the arm around my shoulders to hold me in place as he plunders my mouth. My thighs tense, and I gasp as my body goes languid and soft against him.
He slowly pulls away, and my heart stutters at the lust written all over his face.
“Come to my rooms after dinner,” he murmurs. “And let me show you how much more we have in common.”
I open my mouth, but we both turn at the sound of someone clomping through the bushes.
“They went in this direction,” a low voice says, and Arix tenses, immediately pulling me to my feet and striding toward the intruder. He’s practically dragging me at this point, but I get it.
