“Thank you, Your Grace.” Raesinia glared at Dorsay, her expression fixedly polite, while he bowed and backed out of the room.
“Raesinia—” Marcus said, when the duke was gone.
That was all he got out before she was on him, standing on tiptoes to reach his mouth with hers, her arms wrapped around his shoulders. For a moment he went stiff, and then he relaxed slightly, kissing her, his hands sliding up her flanks.
All right, she conceded. Maybe I am a lovesick schoolgirl.
He pulled away, pushing her to arm’s length, and stared as though she’d grown an extra head. Raesinia felt her cheeks flush further, but she stubbornly met his gaze.
“You didn’t tell me you were going to Viadre,” Marcus said.
“The opportunity came up after you left,” Raesinia said, with a twinge of guilt. It was only half-?true, since she could have sent him a messenger. She hadn’t wanted to distract him, or deal with his inevitable objections. “I thought it was where I could do the most good.”
“And you were right, clearly.” He waved at the ship around them. “A navy squadron and an army to follow. That’s impressive negotiation.”
Something clouded his expression for a moment, and he took a step back, looking away. Raesinia frowned. “Marcus?”
“I’m sorry.” He took a deep breath. “I wanted to tell you I understand.”
“Understand what?” Raesinia’s hand went to her mouth. “Oh God. Dorsay told you.”
Of course he did. He had no reason not to. When he’d left Viadre, Raesinia’s engagement to Prince Matthew had been settled fact, not publicly announced but certainly not much of a secret. And the duke didn’t know about her relationship with Marcus, of course. Why wouldn’t he tell him?
Raesinia hadn’t been exactly planning to keep the whole episode from Marcus. She’d just hoped that she’d be able to explain it a little later. Maybe that was foolish. Damn, damn, damn.
“I understand,” Marcus repeated, all wounded dignity. “You’re the Queen of Vordan. I told you back at Ohnlei that I knew it might come to this, that you’d have to put the interests of the state before your personal feelings—”
“It’s the opposite, damn it,” Raesinia burst out. “It wasn’t until after I heard about Alves that I... No one knew what had happened to you, or whether you were even still alive. And—” She shook her head frantically. “It’s not important. Marcus, it doesn’t matter—”
“You did what you had to—”
“It doesn’t matter,” Raesinia said, a bit louder than she’d intended. “Because it’s off. The engagement, the marriage—it’s all off.”
Marcus stopped, looking like she’d shone a lantern full in his face. “Off?”
“Canceled. Crossed out. Not happening.”
“But...” Marcus swallowed. “Dorsay said...”
“Dorsay doesn’t know. We left Borel almost as soon as I worked it out, and the courier ships are faster than anything else afloat. He hasn’t gotten the news yet, though I’d wager there’s something in the mailbag for him.”
“Isn’t that going to be... bad?” Marcus said. “If the marriage was the price of this alliance, then can we still trust the Borels?”
“We found another way to convince the king.” Raesinia couldn’t help grinning.
“How?”
“Financial fraud and complex derivatives, mostly. It’s a long story.” She took a deep breath. “The point is, Marcus, that I am not going to marry the Second Prince of Borel. Not now, and not ever.” She stepped forward. “I thought that I had to choose between loving you and saving your life. Between political expedience and personal feeling. You know what I decided?”
“What?” Marcus said, looking a little overwhelmed.
“The hell with that. I’m not giving up any of it. Not without a fight.”
“Um. Good?”
He’d been retreating in front of her, she realized, and now he was backed against the bulkhead, hands raised as though she had a sword at his throat. Raesinia grinned and pressed herself against him, kissing him furiously. His arms went around her waist, pulling her close, and this time he didn’t push back.
“I hate to be the one to say this,” he murmured, his lips brushing her ear. “But Duke Dorsay is waiting for us.”
“I know.” Something in Raesinia’s body ached in unfamiliar ways, deep and sweet. It was more effort than she was prepared to admit to pull herself away. She was breathing hard. “Sorry.”
“No, um, need to apologize,” Marcus said.
“There was... something.” Raesinia tried to force her mind back outside this room and away from the body standing so temptingly close. “You wanted to talk to me. About why we need to go to Vordan City.”
“Right.” Marcus took a deep breath. “I told Duke Dorsay it was because Vordan City and the palace are the symbols of the legitimate government and if Janus takes them he may win the support of the people. And that’s... true, probably. But there’s more than that.”
Raesinia cocked her head, waiting.
“It’s not just Janus we’re up against. There’s some kind of demon involved. The Beast. Winter Ihernglass is on his way back to Vordan City, and he has some kind of a plan for stopping it.” He shook his head. “It might be the only chance we get.”
“The Beast? Like the Beast of Judgment, from the Wisdoms?”
Marcus shrugged. “Your guess is as good as mine.”
“Who told you all this?”
“Talk about a long story,” he muttered.
“The short version,” Raesinia said.
“Janus did.”
“Janus,” Raesinia deadpanned. “Who has declared himself emperor and gone to war against us.”
“We think the Beast is controlling him somehow. It explains a lot.”
“And you trust him?”
“I... don’t know.”
“But you’re willing to bet your life on this anyway,” Raesinia said. “All our lives, maybe. The kingdom.”
Marcus was silent.
“Tell me one thing,” Raesinia said. “Janus is your friend. I know it’s hard for you to think he would turn on us. Tell me this isn’t just what you want to believe.”
“It’s not that,” Marcus said firmly. “It’s not only that, at least. I believe there’s more going on than we understand.” He paused. “And when it comes down to it, I suppose I do trust Janus. Even when he’s on the other side.”
“I’m going to need you to explain exactly where that conviction comes from at some point,” Raesinia said. “But if you’re certain, then I’ll back you. I can come up with plenty of other reasons we need to fight at Vordan City.”
“Thank you,” Marcus said. He hesitated for a moment. “And... thank you for what you did in Borel. For coming to rescue me. And for not giving up.”
Raesinia kissed him again. Duke Dorsay can wait.
*