With a last glance at Cleo to confirm that she was all right with being left alone with Theon, Nic turned and took off at a clip. Cleo watched him leave, afraid to return her gaze to her angry bodyguard.
“Despite everything, I’m not sorry that I came here,” she said when silence fell between them. “I did this to help my sister and I’m devastated that I failed. I know you despise me right now and I’m positive that my father was enraged when he learned I was gone.” She drew in a tired breath. “But I had to do it.”
When she finally turned to him, Theon’s expression had changed. Where before it was fury and hardness, there was now something more raw in his expression.
“However, the pain and trouble I’ve caused you personally,” she whispered. “I am deeply regretful for that.”
He reached down to take her hands in his. “I was so worried about you.”
Cleo was surprised that he’d drawn so close to her. “I know.”
“You could have been killed.”
“Theon, I wasn’t thinking straight.”
“Neither was I. And neither am I at this very moment.”
She looked up at him just as he captured her mouth with his and kissed her deeply.
This was not a chaste kiss of friendship. This was a kiss of true passion, such as she’d only dreamed of before. Her heart leapt in her chest and she wrapped her arms around him to pull him closer. When it finally ended, he stepped back from her, his eyes steady on the ground, a deep frown creasing his brow.
“My humble apologies for that, princess.”
She pressed her fingers against her lips. “Please, don’t apologize.”
“I shouldn’t presume. I shouldn’t think that you might feel...” He swallowed. “I’ll ask your father to assign someone else as your bodyguard when we return. Not only did I fail to keep you safe, but I don’t have the right objectivity anymore. You’ve come to mean more to me than the daughter of the king. Such a short time and...you’ve come to mean everything to me.”
Cleo’s breath caught. “Everything?”
Theon raised his gaze to lock with hers. “Everything.”
Tears stung her eyes. “Well, actually, that makes things much easier.”
He frowned. “I don’t understand.”
“It’s obvious. I can’t marry Aron or anyone else. I refuse, no matter what my father says.” Her heart swelled to overflowing. “I—I was meant to be with you.”
Theon’s breath came quicker, but his expression only grew more grave. “But I’m only a guard.”
“I don’t care!”
“Your father will care. Quite a lot, I’m sure.”
“My father will simply have to deal with it. Or I’ll just run away again.” A smile touched her lips. “With you.”
Theon laughed, a deep rumble in his chest. “Wonderful. You’ll tell your father that the guard he assigned to keep his daughter safe has coerced her to break off her engagement and that will make everything all right. I’m sure he’ll just accept it and not throw me in the dungeon.”
“Maybe he won’t accept it. Not right away. But I’ll make sure he knows there are no other answers.”
He was quiet for a moment as he searched her expression. “So you do feel something for me.”
“You saved me. And even before that...well, I just knew, without knowing.” Her heart felt lighter with each word she spoke.
Theon shook his head. “I didn’t save you. Nic figured out where you were. I just knocked out the guards and broke down the door.”
Cleo’s smile widened. “Well, I’m not in love with Nic, so I guess we’ll just have to figure it out.”
He pulled her into his arms again, more tentatively this time. “I’m still furious that you ran away and nearly got yourself killed. This is not the right place for you right now.”
“There’s no other place I could find the answer I need.”
“The search will have to wait.”
“But it can’t wait.” Her throat grew tight again.
He studied the ground for a moment before raising his gaze to hers. “We can’t stay here. You must realize that, don’t you?”
Cleo’s heart beat hard enough to burst from her chest. She couldn’t forget the real reason she’d come here. Yet she also couldn’t deny that he was right. If there was a war against Auranos brewing, this was no place for its princess. Her throat thickened. “I wish there was another answer.”
“Give it a week,” Theon said. “And I’ll return here myself. I’ll find out if this legend you believe in so completely is true. Let me do that for you.”
She looked up at him with gratitude before she nodded. “Thank you.”
“I’ll also find Jonas Agallon when I return.” His expression darkened. “He needs to answer with blood for what he’s done.”
She shivered at the suggestion of violence. “He blames me for what Aron did to his brother. He still carries Aron’s dagger.”
Theon looked at her sharply. “Did he threaten you with that dagger?”
She nodded, then turned her face forward so she wouldn’t see the flash of rage in his eyes.