The giant beneath the mountain has awakened after three centuries' slumber and devours some of my fathers' best men every morning. He will continue taking lives, one for every giant our ancient ruler killed to steal his land. But I know this ice gia...
Damn him and his sparkling eyes and the way he enters a room and seems to laugh at it all. Damn the way he smiles. Damn his hair when it's wet from sword practice. Damn that glint of an earring that stands out against his neck and...
"Cassia, please."
"We aren't friends." I shoot back. Lila whuffs and her tail thumps my knees as she whines and paws at the door. "No, Lila. We aren't letting him in."
"See? Even Lila's fallen for my charms."
I roll my eyes and open the door a crack. I hold a quill out, tip-first. "Step closer and I stab you."
He raises an eyebrow at that. "With the quill?"
"Haven't you heard how the pen's more dangerous than the sword?"
Again, he points to the instrument in my hand. "Yes, but that isn't a pen. That's a quill."
Idiot.
I open the door and he enters with Drago tumbling in after him. My little brother punches at my knees and sticks his tongue out at me. "What are you doing here, little fool?" I ask him, watching his wooden toy sword warily.
"I'm your chaperone." Drago crows this with glee, pointing the wooden sword at me. Lord Kazmer smirks at that, crossing his arms over his lean chest. Drago leans in a bit closer. "My nurse is outside." He whispers. "Don't tell your lovey-dovey friend."
I try my best to keep my scowl intact as I dodge a swipe of Drago's wooden sword. I snatch it from his hands as he attempts to strike me again. "I'll see what I can do."
Lord Kazmer holds out a silver version of Lila with onyx set in her eyes. I take the replica and set it down on my windowsill as though it doesn't faze me. I have to admit, the statuette is dreadfully cute. "A token of a silver hound we all know and love. Consider it my way to make up for dinner and being, apparently, such a bad companion that you ran off early."
I tug at my collar, trying to remain calm, keep my breathing regular. "Sometimes, it all seems like too much. I feel like I'm trapped in this role. In my skin and can't leave..."
Lord Kazmer holds out his hand. "Then leave with me."
I don't take it, instead looking into his eyes. What are you planning?
He takes his hand away when I hesitate. "I won't expect anything of it." He whispers, softer. "I wouldn't make you feel any more trapped by this. It's your call."
"And we'll go anywhere we want?"
He nods. "As I said before, I'm just here to help."
I turn to Drago and, catching my gaze, the young lord leans down and says, "I have a Rahasian scimitar in my room. If you ask for my weapons trainer, Fernando, he'll let you look at the weapon collections for a bit."
My younger brother scampers off immediately, in search of a scimitar. I can hear the nurse chasing after him and running down the stairs. Traitor.
"Well, I'm up for an adventure as any. And if courting you will get my father to let me wander outside for a bit..." I lean forwards and snatch up Lord Kazmer's hand in mine. His palm is warm against mine. "Do graveyards make you nervous?"
His eyes study mine, and he waits in silence before eventually shaking his head.
I smile so wide that my jaw aches. "Then I have something to show you."
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I wonder where Cassia is planning to take Lord Kazmer. Thoughts on a graveyard first date?
