It was Darren.
And he was laughing. “Good to know you haven’t gone soft.”
My guard shot the prince an irritable expression. “My apologies, your highness, but that wasn’t very appropriate.”
Darren just shook his head, trying to hide the half-smile from his lips. “How else am I supposed to make sure this one has kept up with her training? You, Paige, were exceptional, but Ryiah here was a little slow.”
“Slow?” I took a step forward and shoved at his chest. “Let me assault you in a dark corridor!”
He smirked. “You are welcome to try.”
I started to retort but Darren tugged on my hand and gave Paige a pointed look. “If my father sends men to look for me tell them I’m not here.”
“I most certainly will not.”
“Paige,” I begged. This was the most I had seen Darren since I arrived, and five months prior. “Please?”
The knight scowled. “I will not lie when I say I did not see where you went.”
“Paige—”
She huffed loudly. “My eyes are shut.”
“Come on!” Darren pulled me into the great library behind. I was giggling so hard I was caught off-guard when the prince abruptly turned and shoved me up against the door, shutting it and trapping me in the same move.
“Darren,” I stammered. “There could be people…”
He put one finger to my lips. “I sent them away before you arrived.”
“How did you know I was—”
“Who do you think had the scholars send orders to meet?”
“That was you?”
“Ryiah.” The non-heir was smiling. “Do you really want to talk right now?”
No. No, I didn’t. I shook my head vehemently.
“Good.” Darren tilted my chin. “Because I’ve been waiting to do this all day.”
“Only today?” I inhaled sharply as he placed his hands on my waist and pulled me in close.
“Every day.”
His lips found mine in the dark.
And just like kindling, my whole body went up in flames.
The two of us were lost. In a moment. He was barely holding me and already I was melting.
Then, he deepened the kiss.
And my knees threatened to give out.
“Darren,” was all I could whisper.
His lips fell to the hollow at my throat.
I dug my nails into his shoulder to keep from crying out as he pushed me back against the door, garnet eyes flaring.
“Do you remember our first year at the Academy, Ryiah?”
“Yes,” I whispered.
“You remember that time I kissed you in the hall?” The words were unsteady and ragged.
I nodded, not trusting myself to speak.
“That wasn’t the first time I thought of kissing you.” The corner of Darren’s lip twitched as he fought back a smile. “It was just the first time I thought you wouldn’t light me on fire for trying.”
“It wasn’t?” I exhaled softly. “But you hated me…”
“I never hated you, Ryiah.” The prince laughed low. “I couldn’t get you out of my head. You were the only girl who ever made it a point to tell me how little you thought of me. Gods—” His eyes danced. “You looked so proud that first night you came down the ladder spitting my words back in my face. I knew that moment I had made a mistake assuming you were like the others.” He lowered his voice to a whisper. “I just refused to admit it.”
“And to think that whole time I just wanted to strangle you.”
He shook his head with a knowing smile. “Liar.”
I blushed, remembering all the times Darren had left me flustered and weak.
“Maybe not the whole time,” I conceded. “But you would have certainly deserved it if I did.”
He leaned forward, pressing his palms against the wood at either side of my head. “Do I deserve it now?”
I rolled my eyes, and he smirked, removing one hand to tip my chin and kiss me. Softly. Slowly. Enough to send a wave of tremors from the pit of my stomach to the tips of my toes. Enough to let me know that he knew I had no real defense. Not against him.
But it wasn’t just me.
I pulled him into me. Closer. So that it really was as if the two of us had melded against the door. As if there was nothing to separate us but the thin garments against the burning of our skin.
Everything around me was swimming.
My hands slid up his arms to wrap around his neck and then I willed myself not to faint. The way he shifted his hands to grip along my waist.
I could feel the non-heir’s rapid intake of breath and the way his fingers dug into my sides. Hard.
And it felt so, so right.
In seconds his lips were back on mine. And I was gasping for air. And his tongue was in my mouth and his hands were fumbling with the top laces of my dress and I was ripping the shirt up and over his head.
And then…
And then the door I was pushed up against swung open, and I was sent stumbling into the corridor, tripping over my dress as I crashed into someone behind. Darren managed to catch himself against the knob, but I was not so lucky, falling against the stranger with a muffled yelp.
“And just when I thought the palace had grown short on entertainment.”