Leo flashed her a smile. “It’s our first time meeting royalty in the woods. We really don’t have a precedent to call upon.” Turning to Lorelai, he whispered, “One day Irina won’t be on the throne. You will, with me as your charming and loveable assistant. And when that day comes, you’ll need a working relationship with the king of Eldr. It might be best if he didn’t remember you as the girl who saved his life and was then unspeakably impolite.”
He was right. Plus, she wanted to know why the new king of Eldr was in Ravenspire instead of in his own country where he belonged, and she wasn’t going to get that information without trying to use a little bit of Leo’s charm. Mustering a smile, she let go of her brother’s shirt and stepped toward Kol again. Behind her, Leo whispered “courtly conversation” as she reached one gloved hand toward the king as if offering him a dance.
Kol took her hand in a gentle grip. She looked up and found his amber eyes fixed on hers, while the wind teased his red-brown hair and the sun glowed against his golden skin. The corner of his mouth quirked in a half smile, and heaven help her, every lesson she’d ever learned on proper etiquette for Eldrian royalty flew right out of her brain.
Leo made a sound behind her, and Lorelai realized she’d been stared into Kol’s eyes, her hand resting in his palm, for who knew how long while the king’s escorts frowned at her, waiting for her to break the silence.
She should bow—no curtsy. She was a princess. Princesses curtsied. She should curtsy and say . . . something.
The king’s half smile grew, and he opened his mouth as if to speak. Hastily, Lorelai swept into an elegant curtsy—no small feat considering her current attire—and said the first thing that popped into her head.
“You look most fetching today, my lord.”
The large Eldrian boy snorted. Kol’s eyes widened, and his smile froze. And Leo—curse his miserable hide—made the kind of strangled choking noise that meant he was trying desperately not to laugh.
“Oh no.” Lorelai pulled her hand from Kol’s, her skin prickling with heat from absolute humiliation. Maybe if she prayed hard enough, the forest floor would open up and swallow her. If there was any justice in the world, it would swallow Leo too.
“I . . . thank you?” Kol glanced at his escorts, but they were both smirking at him.
“This is your fault.” Lorelai glared at Leo, who stopped trying to swallow his laughter and sagged against the closest tree trunk so he could truly enjoy her embarrassment. “You and your stupid courtly conversation jokes, and now look what happened.”
“I myself have always found Kol quite fetching.” The Eldrian boy stepped forward and held out a hand twice the size of Lorelai’s. She gingerly placed her hand in his. “I’m Trugg and that beautiful but surly Eldrian is Jyn. We’re both grateful for your help.” His brows rose. “You can call me fetching as well, and then allow me to demonstrate my gratitude by—”
“That’s enough, Trugg,” Kol said. Trugg grinned at Lorelai, his teeth a slash of white against his dark skin.
“Why is the king of Eldr traveling through this part of Ravenspire?” Lorelai asked because even though she’d mangled her attempt at making a good impression as a princess—not that Kol even knew she was a princess—she was determined to get the information that mattered.
“I’m on my way to see your queen. We stopped hoping to find a decent meal and a bed in one of the mountain villages—a mistake I won’t make twice.”
“You’re going to see Queen Irina?” Lorelai stepped back, icy calm washing over her as Leo stopped laughing and moved to her side, his eyes guarded.
“I am.”
Lorelai’s hands slowly closed into fists as magic raced down her veins to gather in her palms. “You said you owed me a debt.”
He inclined his head graciously, though a watchfulness had entered his gaze.
“Then do me a favor and forget any of this ever happened.” She leaned toward him. “Forget this village. Forget my bird. Forget the two of us. Don’t mention any of this to the queen. She punishes those who displease her, and this village has enough problems without adding the queen’s wrath to the list.”
Kol touched his brow again, and said quietly, “I owe you a much greater debt than simply omitting today from my conversation with Irina. You saved our lives.”
She met his gaze. “And by keeping silent, you will save ours.” She glanced at the village again. “Ours and hundreds of others.”
He held out his hand. “You have my word.”
She slowly laid her palm over his. He pulled her closer and slid his hand up her arm to cup her elbow in the traditional Eldrian greeting. Heat unspooled in her stomach, and her heart quickened—a foolish response she had no time for.
Casting about her lessons for a polite way to say good-bye to an Eldrian, she said, “May the skies grant you protection on your journey.”
Kol’s eyes widened as though surprised that she knew the phrasing, but he responded, “And may heaven watch over you on yours.”
She gave him a tiny smile as she pulled away from him and then turned to disappear into the forest with Leo.
“One more word about courtly conversation from you, and it will be the last thing you ever say,” Lorelai said as they hurried through the woods toward the village.