Page 68 of Mermaid on Heels
Luke snorted a laugh and dropped his folded arms. He shook his head. “You ask a lot of questions, Liriya.”
Liriya crossed her arms. “Maybe it is because I need answers.”
Luke held a hand out to her. “Come with me and I will give you some answers.”
Liriya glanced down at his offered hand, and every instinct pleaded with her to accept it. She met his gaze. “The elites are not allowed to wander out in the late hours.”
“No. But theyareallowed to go with the kingwhereverhe wants to take them forwhateveractivity he has picked for their time with him—wheneverit is,” he said, not withdrawing the hand.
Liriya’s fragile defenses almost fell but she put them up with the very little strength she had. “The day is not over yet and Lady Riley is the chosen elite to spend the day with you.”
“But you’re the elite of the night,” he said, eyes softening with a look that sent Liriya’s heart galloping. He added, “Andevery other night of this Bridal Selection Period.”
At that, her defenses fell. Yet, she held back from smiling. She couldn’t let herself be won over with a few words from him.
“Well, you cannot reject the king.” She shrugged dramatically and dropped her arms.
“May I come inside? The others shouldn’t see me here, and definitely not know I’m taking you out.”
“Oh, would they blow up the castle?” Liriya asked skeptically, but stepped back anyway.
“I don’t want to find out,” Luke quipped. He stepped inside and closed the door behind him, but left it ajar. He peered past her at her sisters and grinned. “Hey, how was your first day?”
“As good as it can be, thank you Luke.” Ella grinned back. “How about yours?”
“Not bad,” he said, planting his hands in the pocket of his trousers. “Do you mind if I steal your sister for a night date?”
“Of course we would not mind,” Sessa answered, with a big grin on her face that Liriya hadn’t seen in a long while. She turned her gaze to Liriya and added, “Go on Liriya, we shall tuck ourselves into bed.”
Liriya rolled her eyes. “Do not think you can convince me with that.”
“I am grown!” Sessa protested as Liriya approached her, but did allow herself to be tucked in anyway.
“Goodnight, angelfishes.” Liriya kissed her sisters’ foreheads after pulling the blanket over them. “Sweet dreams. And do not stay up too late talking.”
“Goodnight, Liriya,” they said, and Ella added with a wink, “Have a beautiful date.”
Liriya flushed as she straightened and slipped into her shoes. When she turned around, Luke was leaning against the wall with folded arms and watching. At the intensity in his eyes, she turned away. Blowing out the candles, she walked towards him.
Luke pushed himself off the wall and opened the door. Liriya walked out first and he followed, callinggoodnightto her sisters and hearing them murmur back. He turned to her after closing the door behind him. “Your sisters are amazing, Liriya.”
“They are,” she agreed, unable to fight a small smile. “And they like you already.”
Luke offered his hand. “I like them too. Honestly, I’ve always wondered what it’d be like to have a younger sister. So, if it wouldn’t offend you, I’d like to get to know them.”
“And why would it offend me?” Liriya accepted his hand and a strange burning spread through her skin. “Besides, I am pretty sure my sisters would have wondered what it would be like to have a brother—Ihave, at one point—so they would be happy to get to know you too.”
“Thank you for that.”
They walked past the other elites’ doors and didn’t speak until reaching the staircase.
Luke stopped them at the top of the stairs and turned to her with an amused glint in his eyes. “Do you want me to carry you downstairs like yesterday, Your Highness?”
Liriya tilted her head up and met his gaze. “And how do you think I managed climbing up and down them the entire day without you around, Your Majesty?”
“No idea. But that isn’t what I asked.”
His amusement contrasting with her cold façade grated on her. “No, I can walk just fine.”