6
SAGE WAS TO meet him after Chapel Day services so they could go for a ride in the hills above the city. Alex had brought his spare mount with him to Tennegol, intending to leave her behind for Sage. Knowing she’d be reluctant to accept such a gift, Alex planned to frame it as doing him a favor, which wasn’t entirely inaccurate. Shadow had been his first horse, and Alex wasn’t ready to give her up, but the weight of a fully armed soldier was a little much for the mare these days. She was perfect for Sage, however.
Sage was wearing riding breeches and her father’s old leather fowling jacket as she waited outside the barracks, chatting with a short, black-haired soldier. Her own hair glinted with sunlight as she shook her head and laughed. In his dream she’d been angry, and Alex took a moment to soak her happiness in, replacing the false memory with what was real. Sage looked away from her conversation and caught him staring. The soldier she was talking to stood straight.
“It’s been a long time, sir,” Sergeant Ash Carter said, rendering a salute. Alex tried not to roll his eyes as he returned it. Ash could’ve been an officer himself, but he’d refused a commission in favor of supporting his half brother, the crown prince. “How’ve you been?”
“Not too bad,” Alex answered. “What brings you here? I thought you were in Mondelea babysitting Rob.” When the conflict in Tasmet had become too risky, the prince was moved to serve in a safer region. Robert hadn’t taken it well, and Ash had gone along to calm him down.
“You know how it is when something important needs to be done by someone expendable,” Ash said with a self-deprecating grin. Born a year after the death of the first queen, Ash was illegitimate but had all the authority and privileges of a royal. Alex was technically only the crown prince’s cousin, but he considered Ash just as much family as Robert. They’d all stuck together through page and squire training. It was only in recent years their lives had begun to diverge.
Alex and Robert had high-profile positions in the army, but Ash preferred to work in the background. Due to his invisible nature, he made an excellent spy. Had Alex not reassigned Ash to scout ahead and then taken his place as lead informant, things at Tegann would’ve been very different. Sage would’ve met and befriended the real Ash Carter, for one.
At the thought, Alex glanced at Sage, feeling queasy. She met his eyes with concern written on her face, and he smiled back though the nauseous feeling remained.
“So were you called in, too?” Alex asked his friend, keeping his voice low and trying to convey meaning with his tone.
Ash was about Sage’s height, and he had to tilt his head up to meet Alex’s eyes. “Yes.”
“Do you know why?”
His friend smiled slyly. “Maybe.”
“Care to share what you know?”
“And miss the look on your face tomorrow? Not a chance.”
Alex rolled his eyes. “I think I already know.”
“I really think you don’t.” Ash’s joking manner fell away. “Something big is going on.”
Alex glanced again at Sage, whose pale face was blank. She was listening, but pretending not to. “I’ve spent the last months fighting in Tasmet; you think I don’t know how big this conflict is?”
Ash shook his head. “No, Alex, it’s bigger.”
“Bigger how?”
“No offense to Sage here, but big enough that I can’t tell you until we’re securely in the council chambers.” Ash winked at her. “I’ll leave you two to spend some time together. After tomorrow you’re going to be very busy.”
Sage watched Ash go, her lips pursed. Alex slipped an arm around her waist and drew her close. Sweet Spirit, she smelled good. Like lavender and sage and sunshine.
She turned into him. “I see you shaved,” she said.
He bent his face down to kiss her. “Feel for yourself.”
“I dreamed about you last night,” she whispered several seconds later.
Alex suppressed a shudder as he remembered his own dream. “I hope I behaved myself.”
“Hardly.”
There were six hundred and forty-four days until Alex reached the age at which Demoran army officers could marry. Six hundred and forty-four days he still had to resist her. He sighed. “Let’s get going. It’s going to rain in a few hours.”
Thirty minutes later they were riding up the hillside trail. Alex’s thoughts vacillated between Ash’s cryptic words and a question that had plagued him for months. He hardly spoke until they reached the spot he wanted and dismounted. Alex tied up the horses in the shade while Sage set out a blanket and a lunch she’d scrounged from the kitchens. She was studiously peeling an orange when he dropped down beside her and stretched out with a sigh. The restless night and morning run were catching up to him.
“Nice view, don’t you think?” he asked, gesturing to the spires and roofs of Tennegol spreading out below them. Beyond lay the Tenne Valley, partially covered by rain clouds slowly drifting toward them. It would be only a couple hours before they’d have to head back to avoid getting wet.
Sage didn’t look up. “Are you going to tell me what’s bothering you?”
“Just wondering about tomorrow. Ash obviously knows something about my assignment, but he won’t tell me.”
“Hmm.” She didn’t sound convinced. “It’s a bit strange talking to him, given … you know.”
That she’d fallen in love with Alex while believing he was Ash Carter. When playing the close infiltration part normally reserved for Ash, Alex had gone as far as to tell her much of Ash’s life story. He’d been as honest as he could in everything else, though. The sick feeling returned.
Sage lowered the orange and looked at him with raised eyebrows. “I knew it had to do with him. What is it, Alex?”
He wondered if her job with the matchmaker last year had sharpened her insight, or if she’d just always been this perceptive. She wouldn’t let go until she worked it out of him, either. Truth be told, he needed to hear her answer. “Can I ask you something?” he said, brushing a speck of dust off her breeches to avoid meeting her eyes.
She placed her hand over his. “Of course.”
He took a deep breath. “When you found out who I was … were you disappointed?”
“I was furious. Or don’t you remember me hitting you?”
Alex couldn’t manage a smile. “No, not because I lied. I meant because I wasn’t Ash.” He threaded his fingers in hers but still couldn’t make himself look up. “If I were really him, I could have given you the life of a princess. We could even be married by now.”
“Yes, well, I suppose I’ve resigned myself to marrying the youngest and most decorated captain in the army,” she teased. “I only get a national hero who writes letters promising to pull down the moon if it would make me smile. Poor me.” When he didn’t respond, she tilted his chin up with her other hand, which still held the half-peeled orange. The light in her gray eyes went from playful to earnest. “I’ll admit it’s a very … romantic idea to be loved by a prince,” she said, her voice softening. “It probably kept me from seeing what should’ve been obvious. But no, I was never disappointed.”
“Not even a bit?”
She cocked an eyebrow. “Were you disappointed to learn I wasn’t a highborn lady?”
Alex finally smiled a little. “I was just relieved you wouldn’t be getting married at the Concordium. Then I realized how much trouble I was in.”
“Lots and lots of trouble.” She leaned down to kiss him, then sat back. “Hungry?”
Alex took the orange from her hand and tossed it away before pulling her down beside him. “Not remotely.”
7
ALEX WALKED SLIGHTLY behind Sage as they returned to the palace, brushing his fingers against her hip more often than the natural swing of his arm should have caused him to. It was a good thing the weather made them return when it did. Otherwise they’d still be on the hillside, trying desperately to resist doing something irreversible.