ETAN

The advantage to being any kind of Lord, but definitely a Prince, was that no one ever thought twice about a noble staying out all night. Especially when he'd recently caught the attention of a number of women.

Etan simply strode into the castle and through the halls, ignoring the servants—something he would never do in his own castle—and was ignored in return. He didn't have to hide his absence, or pretend he'd done something other than be out with a woman all night. He was once again struck by the extreme difference between the expectations of himself as a male heir, when contrasted with the women.

But he was too tired to try to fix the world's ills in his mind. As he made it back to his chambers and walked into the darkened room where a thoughtful servant had closed the curtains, anticipating that he'd be back and sleep late, he just shook his head and started unbuttoning his shirt—trying not to think about the last hands that had been on those little ivory buttons.

Not bothering with a nightshirt, he stripped and threw his clothes over one of the chests, then crawled between the blankets with a sigh.

"Take your hand off your carrot until you're alone," Borsche's voice said from the darkest corner of the room and Etan nearly hit the ceiling with shock.

"What the hell—? I told you to stop doing that, Borsche!" he snarled, after he'd leaped for the dagger he hid under his pillow, then realized he knew who was there.

"Did you really believe the Princess could return after dawn and everyone would just brush it off like an inconvenient bird dropping on their jackets?"

Etan froze. "She was caught?"

"I do not know all of it. Only that one of her ladies was seen rushing through the halls half an hour ago, and Ayleth's Knight Defender sprinted through, not long after."

Etan dropped his head in his hands and swore. "How bad is it?"

"I told you, I do not know. But I will find out. Just as soon as you tell me what the hell you were thinking keeping her out this late!?"

"We fell asleep," he growled.

"You're courting death!"

"I don't care."

"Your entire Kingdom rides on this, Etan, you had better care a whole hell of a lot!"

"The entire future could be saved by it," he said stubbornly.

"Not if you're dead—or if she proves… unfaithful."

With a snarl, Etan leaped out of the bed and got his arms locked around Borsche's neck, keeping him pinned in the chair. "That woman is too good for both of us—and her virtue is intact, you take that back or I swear on the Creator, Borsche—"

"Okay, okay," Borsche wheezed. "I'm sorry."

"You never speak of her that way again. Ever."

"I won't—"

"EVER!" Etan bellowed. Borsche struggled, but Etan kept him pinned and Borsche, barely able to breathe, tapped his thigh, their signal for forfeit.

Etan let him go, but stood over him as Borsche leaned forward, sucking in air and choking.

"I'm sorry," he rasped. "Truly, I meant no disrespect. Only that… she is young and there are many, many pressures on her—"

"And her heart is pure Borsche. You may needle and bait me, you may criticize and beat me. But you do not sully her reputation, or her heart to me—or to anyone. She is your future Queen!"

"I know, I know. I'm sorry, Etan. Truly. It was just a thoughtless word."

"You told me there was no such thing."

Borsche's eyes glinted in the dark and he coughed. Etan continued to glare.

"You bested me," Borsche said, with a hesitant smile. "I tried to release. I couldn't. She lights a fire in you, brother," he said quietly.

"Yes, she does. And you'd do well to remember it," Etan growled, but he was hiding a smile because Borsche was right. He'd finally caught him off-guard and controlled the fight.

Etan paced the room while Borsche found his breath again, then finally spoke up, his voice still rough. "Congratulations on creating the greatest political scandal the Continent of Adita has ever seen."

"You can stay and aid me, Bor, or you can leave. I won't have you here, casting judgments and holding me back out of… whatever drives you to say things like that.

"I will help you, of course. You know that, Etan," Borsche said gruffly. "Forgive me. Is the plan still to wait for the Peace Accord?"

Etan nodded warily. "We'll tell my father first, then hers when mine is… hopefully convinced."

Borsche sat back in the chair. "It will be a torturous couple of weeks, watching others court her."

"Don't remind me."

Borsche took a deep breath. "What if I could arrange for the two of you to have some time alone during the day, without suspicion. Would that make you less likely to take these stupid risks?"

Etan shot a glare at him, but nodded. "Yes. But how? Neither of our families are going to encourage us together."

"Leave it with me."

They stared at each other for a moment in the dark, then Etan sighed. "Thank you, friend."

"Don't thank me. You haven't told your father yet."

Etan groaned.