Shae, the High Queen of Erya, has one rule:
Not to fall in love with her husband.
Three years into their arranged marriage, Shae is still ignoring her attraction to the handsome king. A simple task when everyone knows the rumours of his love affair...
Shae watched as her husband slept on a blanket, his head against a saddle. It was approaching dawn and she would have to wake him up soon to continue their journey. They were several days away from the city of Messina, the seat of the High King, and without knowing who had attacked them, there was no way to know who they could trust. Even if the Dark God and Deva were banished, they still had supporters lurking in the lands, hiding in the shadows. There were many others who simply didn't agree with Felix's ascension to High King. Then there were random thieves and vagabonds who might just chance their luck with travellers out on their own without protection.
It was strange to think that this was the first time she'd seen Felix sleep. He'd shared her bed, of course, since the principal reason for their marriage was to create an heir to the throne, but it had been brief couplings with no emotions. Something she had made sure of, since she needed everything to feel like a business transaction. It was easier that way. Occasionally, he would try to kiss her or stay for a cuddle, but she always avoided it. A few times, he had nearly fallen asleep in her bed and she would nudge him to make him leave.
Sleep relaxed his face, easing the lines at the corners of his eyes and softening his lips. Even in sleep, he looked close to a smile. His golden-blond hair was ruffled, and without thinking, she leaned forward to brush it back with her fingers. It was soft against her skin. Her hand lingered by his temple. Normally, she never allowed herself to touch him, but watching him now, she couldn't quite bring herself to remove the hand again.
Carefully, she let her fingertips caress over his high cheekbones, the dark eyelashes resting against his cheek, and down across his jaw. Stubble tickled her fingers. Moving her hand back to his forehead, she trailed the shape of his dark eyebrows, followed the straight line of his nose. For a moment, her fingers lingered over his lips, and she wondered how they might have felt against her own, had she ever allowed him to kiss her.
Looking up from his mouth, she found herself staring into a pair of green eyes. With a startled yelp, she pulled her hand back and scooted away from him.
"I... I beg your pardon!"
Felix sat slowly, his eyes not leaving hers. "No need to apologise," he said slowly. "It was rather nice to have you touching me."
Finding his gaze much too disconcerting, she stood and turned her back to him. "I will find us something to eat," she said, dismissing him. Then, before he could argue, she disappeared between the trees.
Stupid. Stupid. Stupid. She repeated the word like a mantra as she walked through the forest, scanning the brush for berries and other edible things. What in the world had come over her to touch him like that? She continued cursing her foolishness the entire time until she finally returned to their makeshift camp with some berries gathered in the skirts of her dress.
Felix must have sensed her mood, as he said nothing, only nodded his thanks as she gave him a handful of her bounty. Sitting down as far away from him as she could without it seeming too ridiculous, she ate her breakfast in silence. Once she'd finished the meagre offering, she grabbed her saddle and began readying her horse.
"We will have to find supplies," Felix said as he followed suit. "Berries won't sustain us for long, and we have little bread left."
She nodded, concentrating on pulling the straps on her saddle tight, too embarrassed by her actions to even look at him. To think she was the High Queen of Erya, behaving like a lovesick young girl. It was mortifying.
"And clothes," Felix continued. "We don't want to draw attention to ourselves, especially if we enter towns as we continue, and I must admit, I would much prefer to stay at inns than sleeping on the forest floor. I've done enough of that to last me a lifetime."
At least the love of his life had been with him. Surely that had made it a little less tedious. She pushed away the uncharitable thought. He was right. They needed a change of clothing. Looking down at her dark-green velvet dress, she sighed. Not only was it fine enough to signal that she wasn't a commoner, but the hem was caked with a combination of mud and blood. A glance confirmed that Felix's clothes were no better, and his tunic bore his heraldry; the silhouette of a silver fox on a royal green background. If they wanted to travel unnoticed, they had to dress like commoners.
"I suggest you leave your tunic here," she said. "Without it, I don't think anyone will recognise you. No one expects the High King to travel alone."
He pulled the tunic off, leaving him in his white, long-sleeved undershirt. Despite it covering him as well as anything would, he seemed awfully undressed. Maybe because of the deep V at his chest, showing far more skin than she'd have liked. Glancing at his face, she caught him staring at her mouth. Her movements stilled.
"You..." He cleared his throat, his gaze moving to meet hers. Touching the corner of his mouth with a finger, he muttered, "You have something... Here."
"Oh." Her tongue darted out to lick at the spot he'd indicated, meeting with a sweetness she recognised from the berries she'd eaten. "Thank you."
Turning her back to him, she mounted her horse and nudged it into movement. With her hands gripping the reins a little tighter than necessary, she decided that she most definitely was not disappointed that was the reason he'd been staring at her lips.
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