AYLETH

Ayleth swallowed. "I wish to trust you, Falek." His eyes sharpened and she hurried on. "What I mean is—I do trust you. But for me to answer that question… for me to answer it could put more than just myself at risk."

Falek tipped his head and his hand unconsciously went to his hilt. "What kind of risk?"

Ayleth took a breath and turned away from him to walk to the doors out to the balcony and closed them, then turned to face him. He hadn't moved and his eyes followed her every mood—his jaw a hard line.

"What was the question again?" she asked faintly.

He drew himself up. "I asked if the man you met—and stayed with all night—is he a true suitor? Someone who wishes to marry? Is he deserving of being your husband? Or is he someone your parents would deem wholly unsuitable?"

"Both. All," she whispered.

His gaze took on the glint of a knife. "Ayleth—"

"I need your help, Falek."

"When have I ever not helped you?" When she didn't reply immediately he growled through his teeth. "Ayleth, who were you meeting?"

"The Summitran Heir," she blurted, then met his shocked gaze.

Falek blinked twice, then turned for the chair in the corner—a dainty thing, far too small for his huge frame. But he fell into it and ignored the alarm creak that it gave as he dropped his head into his hands.

"Ayleth," he breathed.

"He is a true suitor," she said, on the verge of tears. "He… he loves me, proposed to me—and no, I am not being naïve!" she hissed when his head snapped up to contradict her. "Something… something has happened and both of us were overwhelmed, but it is real. And I will not… I will not hear you question his motives, Falek. Meet him for yourself, measure him as a man, but do not tell me you know him based on what you believe about his people. Many of the histories are… they are not savages!"

"Perhaps," he said in a too-quiet voice, "But they are the people who attempted to take you."

She nodded sharply. "But he did not. And he has been… he has had every opportunity to harm or take me. He has been… nothing but a gentleman and… he loves me, Falek. I know it sounds insane—it feels insane. But something has happened. We cannot stay away from each other."

Falek snorted. "That's not love—"

She stormed up to his chair and slapped him. Falek stared at her, wide-eyed and she blinked, but made herself stay strong, chin up. "You will not cheapen our love by… by speaking like that," she said in a shaking voice. "He has… he has asked for me as his wife, and I said yes. And I… I offered myself, Falek. And he turned me down—not for lack of desire. But out of fear my father would never accept him if he touched me!" Her cheeks heated remembering the night they'd just spent.

Falek rolled his jaw but didn't rub it. "What are you saying, Ayleth?"

"I'm saying I need your loyalty."

"You have it. You know that."

"I do, but… I need it…" she sucked in a huge breath and let it rush out with the words. "I need it above your fealty to my father."

Falek went very still, and the predatory nature left his gaze to be replaced with pure shock. "Ayleth—"

"I know what I ask, Falek, I do."

His eyes were wide.

She pleaded with him. "What I want—what we plan—it is the very best for the Kingdom and crown. I just know… I struggle to believe my father would… see past his own prejudices…"

"You speak of treas—" he breathed, but she jumped in before he could finish the thought.

"No, don't say it. Don't even think of it. I cannot... I cannot think of it that way. I must not. I continue to want the best for the Kingdom—the best for the King! This is… it is best, Falek."

He hadn't taken his eyes off her. "You cannot possibly know."

"But I do! Understand, it isn't the-the romance of it. His vision for the future, for our lands, our people..."

"He has a vision for Zenithrans?" Falek muttered darkly.

"Yes!"

"What is it?"

"Peace."

He snorted. "Now I know you've been touched in the head."

"No, Falek. I haven't. He and I.... we want the same thing. And we both believe we can bring our people to it together. Peacefully."

He started to shake his head and get up from the chair, but she caught his shoulders and pushed him back down. "Please, Falek. Please… meet him. Speak with him. Interrogate him, I don't care, but you have to see… you have to see what I see because it's real. And we need help!"

"Your father is the one who should be interviewing—"

"He would kill him, Falek, you cannot tell him! You cannot! Etan would not live the night and you know it, please! Please!" her voice got higher and more frantic until he shushed her and gripped her arms to hold her.

They stared at each other, Ayleth's heart pounding and her vision blurred with unshed tears. Falek's face was stony, but he didn't say anything and Ayleth knew he was thinking, planning, strategizing.

"Please, Falek?" she whispered.

He dropped his grip on her and slumped, putting his hands to his face. "Ayleth, the entire Kingdom—"

"Is utterly safe—from him. He will prove himself to you. I guarantee it. Just… just give him a chance."

Falek's jaw rolled again, and he raked both hands through his hair. "What did he say about you fighting him?"

"He kept apologizing for hitting me, that he hadn't recognized me."

Falek grunted. "And the fact that you can fight?"

"He already knew that, he just didn't know… to the extent… Falek, why? What does it matter? Will you reveal him to my parents, or will you speak with him first and… and… give us a chance?"

Falek pushed out of the chair and stalked over to the balcony doors too look out, his jaw tightening when he looked in the direction of the stable. "I'm sorry, Ayleth, but any man that would take your virtue—even if he's proposed—when it is done in secret—"

"He has not!" she hissed. "We fell asleep!" Her cheeks went a deep red and Falek stared at her from the corner of his eye. Then he looked outside again and didn't speak for a full minute.

"Falek, please!" she pleaded.

"I don't know, Ayleth. You will have to give me some time to consider. What I do know is that you'll give me those stable clothes and I will change the guard below your rooms and… and we will speak of this again. Soon."

She bit her lip, terrified. "My father?"

"I don't know, Ayleth. For now, that is the best I can do, I'm sorry."

She nodded sadly.

"Get changed. I'll send a maid in get the clothes. And if you have any others here you'll leave them out as well. I will be searching your rooms regularly. If I find so much as a common slipper, I… I will go to your parents without question," he said stiffly.

She nodded again and put a hand to his arm. "I won't. I'll leave you everything. I promise. Thank you, Falek."

"Don't thank me yet."

Ayleth's heart sank.