Page 88 of Hearts on Fire
I made an effort not to snort a laugh at his words. My clothes were wrinkly. My braid looked like an angry porcupine with hairs sticking out all over. The damp spot on the shoulder of my tunic must be from me drooling in my sleep. And I was pretty sure I had the imprint of my sleeve on my cheek.
But beauty was in the eye of the beholder. And Elex’s eyes told me he was telling the truth. To him, I was beautiful.
I leaned forward and kissed the tip of his nose.
“How long did I sleep?”
Bright sunlight flooded the room from its many tall windows. It was clearly way past sunrise.
“You slept as long as you needed. It was a busy day yesterday. I have guards by the door with the order not to disturb you. But I missed you.” He looked guilty.
“So, you decided to wake me up?” I laughed.
“I just wanted to check on you. And…” he pointed at the tray of food on the low table nearby. “I brought you breakfast.”
My empty stomach spasmed at the mention of food. All I’d had to eat last night were a few pieces of fruit I stole from Zenada’s dinner. With everything that had happened, I wasn’t feeling hungry back then. But I was starving now.
“Breakfast sounds wonderful. Thank you.” I sat up on the throne. “How is Isar?”
“She’s much better. Still resting but awake.”
“Oh, thank goodness.” I pressed a hand to my chest as a calming wave of relief washed over me.
“We’ll go see her after breakfast. But you need to eat first.”
“You don’t have to ask me twice, darling. I’m so hungry, I could eat a—” I was covered by a blanket that I recognized as one from our old bedroom. “Did you go to see Zenada?”
He poured a glass of sweet berry juice with lemon and handed it to me with a nod.
“I did. I had to meet my great-great-grandmother.” He smiled, pouring a glass for himself, too.
“Oh, you heard me then, last night?”
“Every word. Thank you for telling me. I wouldn’t have slept at all otherwise. I…” He took a drink from his glass. His throat bobbed with a swallow. “I feared this would be the morning I might not wake up.”
“Oh God, Elex…” I put the glass back on the table and hugged him around his neck. I’d feared the same thing before I’d spoken to Zenada, but I didn't wish to even recall that. “It’s so, so good to have you here.”
He wrapped his arms around me and kissed me before leaning back.
“Isn’t it amazing how things work out sometimes?” The same deep line appeared between his long, dark eyebrows. Only this time, I smoothed it out with a kiss.
“As long as they get sorted out, darling. What did Zenada say?”
I let go of him, and he sat on the throne next to me, then pulled me into his lap, turning me to face him. The throne was wide enough for us to sit side by side, but I preferred it this way. And he clearly enjoyed me straddling his thighs.
I lifted my glass again and took a jam-filled pastry from the table, making myself comfortable in his lap.
“You two look so much alike, you and Zenada,” I said between the bites of my breakfast. “I’ve no idea how I didn’t realize there must be a family connection between you two. If you stood next to each other, anyone would see you’re closely related, like brother and sister. Or…you know, a great-great-grandma and her great-great-grandson.” I took a drink of my juice, shaking my head. “It sounds so crazy when I say it out loud.”
He laughed. “I can’t believe it myself. But you’re right. There is every reason to believe Ahrit will be the next king and my grandfather.”
“Did you explain that to Zenada?”
He pressed his lips together. “No. I decided not to tell anyone where I came from, unless it becomes unavoidable. There is no need for any added instability in the kingdom due to confusion about my origins. Right now, people believe I’m an illegitimate son of King Edkhar, and I’ll leave it at that. As long as there is royal blood in me, my claim to the throne is valid. That’s all that matters.”
“All right.” I finished my pastry and picked up a slice of pear from the breakfast tray. “So, people will accept Ahrit, too, because of his blood, right?”
“Ahrit will be raised as my legitimate son. That’s what Zenada wants.”