“Fine. We should be all set anyway. I’ll toss a note over the wall if anything else comes up.”
He wanted to get back inside the walls anyway. He wanted to see if Kyla was walking today. If not, maybe he could at least see her across the room at Court this evening.
He waved to Lenna and felt a churning in his stomach.
She might be right. He might be stupid.
It might be best if he avoid Kyla as much as possible. But even as he had the thought, he knew he couldn’t follow through with it.
Three
Kyla spent the next four days keeping to herself. She didn’t go down to Court in the evenings, and she didn’t participate in the royal picnic or the flutterball matches that were scheduled at the palace that week.
Perhaps it was irrational to be so flustered by a man she barely knew, but she didn’t want to encounter him again and end up feeling even worse.
She was used to reading and lounging and staring out at the world beyond the palace gates—often for weeks at a time, with no interruptions—but she was getting bored and restless this week. She’d learned how to make shoes as a child from her father, and a few years, she’d started making boots again in her spare time, starting with leather and sewing and cobbling them with her dad’s old tools. Although it was the pastime she enjoyed most, she couldn’t even focus on the work.
She kept thinking about Hall, and that meant she couldn’t relax.
She wondered who he really was. She wondered what he was really doing here. He didn’t seem like the normal kind of man who declared himself a Potential. They were usually shallow and lazy, looking for a rich woman to support them in style. Men had no political power in Evalon, so the more ambitious and intelligent men rarely wanted the role of consort.
Mid-week, she was sitting on her private terrace, with a book and a citrus drink, trying to enjoy the lovely afternoon. She couldn’t concentrate on her story, though, and eventually she put the book down and looked down at the courtyard—wondering what Hall was doing, wondering when her sister would choose him for her weekly partner.
The thought made her feel vaguely sick, but she really needed to get used to it.
She sighed deeply and sipped her drink, trying to relax. But she put her glass down quickly when she saw a familiar figure appear in the courtyard, apparently having come out of the back door of the palace that she always used. She was too far away to see his face clearly, but she recognized his lean body, his dark hair, the way he carried himself.
It was Hall. He was leaving through the back door, like he had something to hide.
Kyla jumped to her feet, dropping her book and running into her dressing room to change quickly from her thin day dress to the trousers and boots she wore for walking.
She knew where he was probably going. She didn’t have to keep up with him. She’d follow him without risk of being caught and maybe get a better sense of what he was up to.
She was even prepared to climb the wall and go into the village if she had to, although she hadn’t dared to breach the perimeter since she was fourteen.
Three minutes later, she was hurrying down the back stairs and slipping out the door, telling the guard posted there she was just taking a walk.
The guard’s name was Iram. He knew her and knew her habits. He just grinned as he gave her a little bow. “Glad to see you feeling better, miss.”
Kyla had been using illness as an excuse to hibernate this week, as she often did. There was no other way she could get out of the many tedious social events expected of her.
“Thank you,” she called with a wave, walking quickly toward the trail in the woods that led to the corner of the wall that offered the only escape route.
She walked quickly, so she was slightly out of breath when she reached sight of the vine-covered section of wall. She paused in the cover of the trees. Hall must already be up and over, since he wasn’t in sight.
She waited as a security drone buzzed by. She was going to climb the wall. She would be in serious trouble if she got caught, but if she could find out what Hall was doing, it would be worth it.
She waited a minute or two, until two more drones flew by, and she ran for the wall, climbing up quickly by clinging to the vines. It wasn’t easy work, but with a little effort she pulled herself up toward the top.
She stopped abruptly when she heard voices, coming from the other side of the wall.
“It’s about time you showed up.” The voice was Hall’s. She would recognize it anywhere.
“Sorry. I had to make sure no one was around. If communicators were allowed on this backwoods planet, it would be a lot easier for us to get the job done.” The second voice was female. Kyla had no way of knowing for sure, but she would bet it was the blond woman he’d met in the café last week.
“Well, they’re not, and there was no way for me to smuggle one past the palace scanners. So let’s be quick. It’s dangerous for us to meet like this, especially so close to the palace grounds.”
Kyla held her body perfectly still, clinging to the vines on the wall. She had about two and a half minutes before another security drone came by, but she had to hear more of this conversation.
“I know. I know,” the woman said. “I ran into a few problems, though. We’re going to have to use another guy.”
“Damn it. I thought you had it worked out.”
“I thought so too. Anyway, I’ll need a little more time.”
“Shit.” Hall’s mutter was soft but intense.
“Hey, you have the easy job, remember?”
“Easy? I’m basically part of a harem.”
The woman chuckled. “That was your idea.”
“There was no other way to get into the palace unsuspected.”
Kyla’s heart dropped at this proof that he was here under false pretenses. She’d suspected it, but that was different from knowing it for sure.
“I find it quite amusing that her Lady Highness still hasn’t chosen you. Maybe you’re not as irresistible as you think.”
“I’ve been hiding my natural charm on purpose.” Hall sounded amused now too.
“If you say so. Anyway, I’ll find someone else as soon as I can. Definitely before our last two weeks are up. I don’t like this planet.”
“It’s not that bad.”
“Don’t think I don’t know why you want to stay longer.”
“What are you talking about?”
“You know exactly what I’m talking about, and you said it was just for fun.”
Kyla blinked in surprise, wishing they’d speak with a few more details. Nothing wrong with a little more exposition in a conversation she was eavesdropping on.
“I meant what I said.” Hall’s tone was unnaturally stiff.
“Maybe you think you do. But I’m telling you to get it under control. We’ve got a job to do.”
“I know. I’m doing the job. Nothing is going to distract me.”
“See that it doesn’t. You can have all the fun you want, with whomever you want, between jobs. But if it starts to get in the way of work, I’ll have to find another partner.”
Kyla suddenly realized that the drone would be coming by any second. She climbed down the vines as quietly as she could, barely making it back to the grass by the time the drone came by. She crouched down, pretending to be adjusting her boot so the guards watching wouldn’t think she was doing anything wrong.
She couldn’t hear the conversation on the other side of the wall as well from this position, but she thought she heard Hall say, “No you won’t. You’ll never find another partner as callous and mercenary as me.”
Kyla felt heavy and shaky as she straightened up and moved away from the wall. She still had no idea what Hall was trying to do here, but at least she had confirmation that he was here with ulterior motives.
It may not be bad. He could be doing something against the law but not actually a threat to Evalon or its people. There were a lot of trivial laws here that meant almost
nothing. Kyla didn’t want to think that he was here, actively working against her or her world.
She hated the thought. It made her sick.
She hadn’t yet decided what to do when she heard a rustling on the other side of the wall. Then Hall appeared on top, glancing both ways before he dropped down to the grass, not far from where she was standing.
He was obviously surprised to see her. His eyes widened as he straightened up. For just a moment, he looked unnerved, before relaxed good-humor filled his face. “I didn’t expect to see you,” he drawled, walking toward her as his smile got warmer.
She frowned and narrowed her eyes. “I can see that.”
“Why do you look so disapproving? You already know I’ve been over the wall before. I don’t like to be penned in.”
“Maybe. But I want to know why you’ve been over the wall. If you don’t tell me, then I’m going to report you to the guards.”
His smile faded. “You wouldn’t do that.”
“Yes, I would.” She stepped back when he moved even closer. His presence still did terrifying things to her body, even knowing what she knew about him. “Tell me now, or I’ll report you.”
His expression changed again, becoming almost wistful, as if he saw something in her that he appreciated, even though it gave him trouble. “You really should be careful, Kyla. Not all men are as kind-hearted as me. If someone was really up to no good and you threatened them like that, you might end up hurt.”
She was breathless, but not really from fear. It was a different kind of excitement. “Are you going to hurt me?”
“Of course not. I’m not that kind of man.”
“I think you could hurt someone if you wanted to.”
“Sure,” he said with a half-smile. “To defend myself. But I’m not a violent man. I’m too meek and gentle for that.”
She shook her head, trying not to laugh at his insouciance. The man was shameless, even when confronted with his wrongdoing.
And the most ridiculous thing was she found him more attractive now than she had before, as if part of her liked his shamelessness.
“There’s nothing meek and gentle about you,” she said, managing to keep her expression from softening. “Now tell me what you’re up to, or I’ll go report you right now.”
He let out a breath. “I’m a freelancer. A mercenary. I do a variety of jobs for money.”
This rang true to her. He seemed exactly like a mercenary should, if maybe a little too intelligent and cerebral. “What kind of jobs?”
“Various. In this case, Evalon has a number of very stringent import/export laws, and my client needs to get certain…goods off-world without attracting attention.”
She blinked. “Smuggling?”
He nodded, his eyes holding hers.
She believed him. She couldn’t help but believe him. It felt true, in addition to making sense logically. She was overwhelmed with relief, that he wasn’t actually here to hurt anyone.
She didn’t care about import/export laws. She didn’t care about smuggling, as long as it wasn’t dangerous materials. Her first impression of Hall hadn’t been wrong, if all he was doing here was smuggling.
“You work alone?” she asked, testing him to see if he would tell her the truth.
“No. I have a partner who usually works with me. She’s been in town handling our exit strategy, while I’m working the palace.”
She blew out a breath, feeling better about the whole world.
“So are you going to report me?” he asked, giving her a faint smile. “If you are, I’d appreciate you giving me a small headstart to get out of here.”
She shook her head. “You’re not smuggling weapons or explosives, are you?”
“No. Wool from your special sheep.”
Her lips parted as she understood. The wool was known and desired in all the surrounding galaxies, and there was a 90% tax on it, as the Coalition gouged the buyers of the best products in their control.
“I see,” she said, unable to keep from smiling back at him. “I get it. As long as no one gets hurt, you can do your thing.”
“I knew I liked you.” His smile warmed so much it made her breathless.
“Well, the verdict is still out on whether or not I like you.”
“You do.”
She tried to frown but couldn’t quite manage it. Her heart was racing with excitement again. “I certainly don’t like that kind of arrogance.”
He reached up to brush her cheekbone with his fingers, the way he had the other evening. She waited to feel that inner tug but didn’t feel it this time. All she felt was pleasure and more excitement. “Yes, you do,” he murmured.
Her knees felt weak and she swayed toward him, and there was no telling what would have happened had he not glanced up at the position of the sun. “Damn. I better get back. There are all those ridiculous bathing rituals I have to go through before Court.”
“You’re the one who thought it a good idea to declare himself a Potential.”
“It was the only way I could get into the palace for any length of time.”
“One week, you might actually get chosen by my sister, you know.”
“I’ve lucked out so far. I only need two more weeks.”
That fit exactly with what she’d overheard him say over the wall—another confirmation that he was telling the truth. “You’re not really her type, so you have that going for you.”
“Good. Any advice on how to continue to avoid her notice?”
“She doesn’t like smart men.”
“Ah.” He grinned. “That works in my favor, then.”
Kyla couldn’t help but chuckle. “More arrogance. I guess there’s not an end to it from you.”
“No. Not really. But I’m fortunate that you like smart, arrogant men.”
She gasped. “I do not.”
He brushed her hair back from her face. “Yes, you do.” His smile faded into something deep and almost sober. “I don’t think you’ve ever let yourself think about what you like, what you want. Maybe it’s time that you do.”
She lost her breath again, for a different reason this time. The words filled her mind, followed by all kinds of questions. He was right. She’d never thought much about it, since she’d never had the freedom to pursue what she really wanted.
She didn’t have the freedom now, either. But she wanted it. She really wanted it. More than ever.
When she felt herself leaning toward him again, lost in his gaze, she remembered herself in time to straighten up and say, “You should be getting back. They’ll kick you off the planet if you’re not where you’re supposed to be in time.”
“Yeah.”
They started down the trail together, and even in the silence, it felt like she knew him for real, knew him in a way she’d not really known anyone.
He would be leaving in two weeks. And she would be left here, with nothing really different about her life.
“What just made you sad?” he asked.
“Nothing.”
“I was watching you. You thought of something that made you sad.”
“It’s not really your business.”
“I told you before. You feel like my business.”
“Then your feelings are leading you astray.”
The corner of his mouth tilted up. “I guess they do that from time to time.”
“Yes. They do.”
They walked in silence until they reached the edge of the woods. Then she glanced up at him. “You go in first, since you have to get back to your quarters.”
“Okay. Maybe I’ll see you tonight, then.”
“If you do, it will be across the room, since you can’t leave your section.”
“I know. It’s very inconvenient. But I’d like to see you anyway. It’s time for you to stop hiding.”
She gasped and stiffened her shoulders. “I haven’t been hiding.”
He leaned over and brushed a very light kiss against her cheekbone, exactly wher
e he’d stroked her before. “Yes, you have,” he whispered. “And it’s time for you to come out of your room.”
He started to pull away, but then he glanced his lips against her skin again, as if he couldn’t keep himself from doing it again.
It felt delicious. She was trembling all over. And then she felt that little inner tug again, and the last of her reservations transformed into a flood of deep pleasure. She moaned shamelessly and reached out to cling to his shoulders, since his legs wouldn’t support her otherwise.
Hall made a throaty sound in his throat, as if it felt just as good to him. Then he jerked away and muttered, “I’ll see you tonight.”
He was gone before she could say a word in response.
She waited a few minutes before she went back into the palace. Iram greeted her in his normal friendly manner, obviously suspecting nothing of the fact that she was coming back just after Hall.
No one would expect for them to have met up. No one would expect them to talk. No one ever expected any man to pay attention to her—just as she never went after any man.
She’d always been that way, but maybe she wanted it to be different. Maybe Hall was right about her.
It wasn’t as easy as it sounded, however, since her days, her whole life, was dictated by her position in the royal family and the rigid rituals of her world.
She was connected to Evalon, even though life here didn’t really suit her. It wasn’t like she could just pick up and leave.
Could she?
Not for Hall, though. She hardly knew him. Even if he offered, she couldn’t trust her whole future to him.
She might be falling for him, despite her best efforts, but she wasn’t that foolish.
She returned to her room and decided to take a bath. As her server drew hot water and scented it with lavender oil, Kyla stared at herself in the mirror.
She looked different. Her cheeks were flushed, and there was a glint in her eyes that she liked. Even her hair seemed brighter than it used to.
She was almost, almost pretty.