The Bride Tournament (Hexed Hearts Book 1)(20)

“I-it’s fine,” she whispered.

“I didn’t know you were in town tonight…,” he began. It was nothing short of miraculous that he’d run into her.

“Well, I am.” Ellie dusted off her tattered cloak, accepting his way of changing the subject. “Were you expecting to see me somewhere?”

He knew for certain she hadn’t been to the Homecoming reception. Edward and Pierce had posted themselves at every exit to watch for a honey-blonde, blue-eyed femme fatale.

No one had seen her.

“At the reception tonight, for the Homecoming.” For my Homecoming. He teetered on the line between lying and concealing the truth. “I had assumed you’d be there.”

Ellie crossed her arms. “As what? A lady? Gerard, you’ve seen me in my uniform. You know I work for the castle staff.”

He mentally slapped himself. Ellie wasn’t a simpering lady who only wore silk gowns and prattled on about flowers while sipping tepid tea. She was a feisty, hard-working woman. And he’d kissed her. Correction—attacked her with his mouth.

“Oh,” he started.

“Besides, I was there tonight, working.”

For the first time, he took in her appearance: the white bonnet escaping from her cloak pocket, the sedate black gown. His stomach dropped. Serving maids couldn’t enter the Bride Tournament, he reminded himself.

And I kissed her.

“I didn’t see you.”

“I left early.” Ellie looked down.

He followed her gaze to the crescent-moon jewel at her throat. She tucked it back into her high gown.

“Why? What happened?” Had she seen him? Did she know he was a prince?

Gaze still downcast, she shrugged. He hated the change in demeanor. Sass me back. He wanted to tell her who he was, if she hadn’t figured it out tonight, yet he didn’t want to lose their camaraderie.

“Nothing.” Her gaze shot upward with a quirk of her pink lips. “Why are you so interested? I didn’t see you there tonight. And you’re not a man one easily misses.” Her blue eyes strayed to the wide set of his shoulders then to his lips. Her mouth parted on a soft sigh.

He grinned in the shadows. So, she is interested in me, in the real me. He felt like a beast. “I was there.”

“Where?” Ellie frowned.

“I stood in the back, by the royal family.” Truth.

“How’d you find me?” she asked.

“I was on a late night walk when a massive explosion sounded. I rounded the corner to see a mob chasing this tiny bullet of a woman. Took me several seconds to recognize you.”

His heart had stopped and he hadn’t bothered to think. He had charged her into safety.

“Stalking me on my way home, Gerard?” Ellie raised a blonde brow. “It’s three in the morning. No one’s awake.”

“Then, why were you?” He pulled a move from her book and crossed his arms in a menacing stance.

“I… I…” Seemingly at a loss for words, Ellie stepped away and wobbled. “Ow!”

He caught her as both of her legs buckled. He hoisted her slight frame into his arms and set off along the slick flagstones. The crowd had passed long ago, the city around the palace quiet now, on the verge of morning.

“What did you do to yourself?” he scolded.

“A beefy wall of man-muscle jammed me into a door. Then thoroughly abused my honor.” Angry words lost their bite muffled in his wool cloak.

He chuckled.

“Before that? There are shards of glass in your cloak, which means you were somewhere near that explosion. And considering it was you the crowd chased, I think there’s more to the story.”

“Fine,” Ellie hissed.

He registered her pout. “Tell me.”

“I may or may not be responsible for some minor window damage. Not on purpose, mind you.”

“What window damage?” He jostled her as she kept mute.

“I exploded windows,” she said finally.

He nearly tripped. “What do you mean, exploded windows?”

“Are you dumb? How did you not get that? I said exploded. Ergo, EXPLODED.”

“How?” He cleared the unguarded gateway out of the Citadel and onto the forested path, ignoring her pique. Here, the moon offered no aid. He slowed his pace to see the gnarled roots of ancient trees.

“I don’t know.” Ellie’s whisper disappeared into moss-carpeted trunks.

“With your hands?” Or magic. He halted. The lily in the reception hall had exploded, with magic. She’d admitted to being present during the Homecoming. Had it been her? He set the quiet Ellie on her feet, hands on her slender waist to keep her steady.

The dark forest absorbed sound and echoed back an eerie silence.

“I wish.”

“How’d you explode the windows?” he asked again and brushed his fingers through her loose blonde hair. It was too dark to see her expression, but her uneven breath said it all. She’s scared.

“I don’t know how I did it. Only that I did.” Her soft voice wrapped around him. “I can’t think right now. My head hurts and I think you broke my kneecaps.”

“Let’s get you home.” He lifted her again, despite her protests, and made it through the dark forest. “It’s this way, right?”