The hollow, lonely ache that had filled my chest since I returned to Adeyl seemed to ease—if only slightly—as Keyne backed away and gestured to where he had been sitting before.

I spared a quick glance toward the door to the ballroom, wondering how my sister was faring. But the thought of standing in front of all those judging eyes made me sick, and I turned away to join Keyne at the fountain.

The stone was chilled and slightly damp as I sat, making me shiver until it warmed to my skin. Keyne hesitated for a moment, his gaze on the empty spot next to me like he couldn’t quite bring himself to sit.

I patted the stones, giving him an encouraging smile as I said, “Come now, you’ll make me uncomfortable if you spend the whole time looming over me like that. I won’t bite.”

A soft flush filled Keyne’s face, and I felt a flicker of smug amusement as he sat next to me quickly. It had been a long time since I had been able to act so familiar with somebody other than my sister—and this was a man I had only met minutes ago.

There was something disarming about him, a sense of comfort in having something in common, even if it was just a distaste for the nobles of Elais.

“So…” I mused, leaning forward with my elbow on my knee and my chin in my palm as I gave Keyne a considering glance. “What brings you out here? Don’t you have a precious prince to guard?”

Keyne blinked, a smirk teasing at his lips as he registered the disdain in my tone. “You know who I am? I suppose introductions would be unnecessary then, but what a shame.”

I chuckled, shaking my head. “If you prefer to be polite, I’m happy to oblige. Pray tell me, handsome stranger, what name should I call you?”

The tint to his cheeks deepened, and I was beginning to enjoy seeing him flustered. The grim captain of the royal guards relaxed despite his embarrassment.

He hissed in a breath between his teeth, bracing himself before his gaze found mine again. Keyne surprised me by slipping from his seat and standing again.

He said in a soft, formal tone, “I am Lord Keyne Saville, captain of the royal guards.”

“It is a privilege to meet you, Lord Saville,” I responded without standing, merely looking up at him as the water bubbled and splashed behind me. I offered my hand to him instead, paired with a grin as I said, “I am Markus Eliseo, and though I am no longer a lord of my family, I am no less grateful that you attended the banquet to celebrate my coming of age.”

He took my hand, and I felt my pulse stutter as his fingers slipped against my wrist; he knelt in front of me, his lips brushing against my knuckles.

“Regardless of your title, it’s my pleasure to make your acquaintance,” he said, glancing up at me through his lashes. “I didn’t mean to give you the wrong impression. I believe there’s no need to be formal. Please call me Keyne.”

It was such a simple thing to ask me to call him by his given name, and yet it felt incredibly intimate.

I had been taught how to act around the nobles, how to play the part of the Eliseo lord, and none of that had involved staring down at Keyne, kneeling in front of me, and telling me I didn’t have to put on that act for him.

It felt like the first time I had the opportunity to grow close to somebody outside of my family, and it was overwhelming for a moment, my hand trembling as I felt the warmth of his lips against my skin.

I huffed as I withdrew my hand, trying to ignore the ghost of sensation that tingled over my fingers.

“That is very sweet of you, but I haven’t forgotten that you avoided my question,” I said, my tone dry as I leaned back, distancing myself from the allure of his sheepish smile as he dropped his hand.

“Can’t blame me for trying,” he muttered, and I couldn’t help laughing again as he slunk back to sit next to me. Keyne sat close enough to share his body heat, my gaze shifting to him in uncertain flickers, noticing his gaze never left me. “Would it be hard to believe I was simply bored?”

“No,” I admitted, my hands on either side of me to brace myself as I leaned back further; the spray of the falling water dampened my hair, but it didn’t bother me as I tipped my head to look at Keyne, “But I don’t think that’s all.”

“Heard the rumors, have you?” His tone had a hint of bitterness, his expression hardening into steel.

I winced as I watched him become the man the rumors spoke of—cold and unapproachable— as he braced himself for my judgment. “I have… but I’m not inclined to believe the tittering of nobles. So tell me why you’re really out here, Keyne.”

It was like watching ice melt, the deep blue of his eyes warming as he gave me a look of pleasant surprise. I saw him swallow, his fingers twitching against the stone of the fountain, and he looked away from me before he was able to speak.

“The nobles are prejudiced, judgmental… intolerable,” he scoffed, shaking his head. “They’ve never accepted a noble son of house Saville having elven blood. It taints the history of the protectors of the realm.”

Every word was filled with scathing anger and years of built-up resentment. “I’m sure you, of all people, know what it’s like to bow to the family’s duty. I thought it was the right thing to do, taking my father’s place as the captain of the royal guard, serving the royal family as my ancestors before me… but convincing the nobles it is my rightful place is a different battle, and I am not certain I am suited to win it.”

I listened silently as he explained the pressure he faced. The pressures of a noble family on their children were suffocating. Mine had been lost in an instant, but Keyne still suffered under that weight.

At least I had been looked upon favorably; a prodigious son claimed to be blessed from birth by the dragons. I couldn’t imagine how much harder it would have been if I were working to take a role where I would be mocked and disdained my entire life.

“And His Highness… I am sure you’re aware of his temperament, as I believe he’s spent some time here in his youth.”

Wincing at his words, I slowly nodded my head. “He has… a very strong personality. I do not envy the amount of time you spend at his side.”

Keyne gave a dry laugh, his fingers reaching to tug through his hair. “I never have a moment of peace. If I am not chasing after the prince, I am trying to soothe the resentment of the nobles. They would eat me alive if I showed even a moment of weakness. I had to escape, at least for the moment.”

“I can understand that,” I sighed, sitting straight as I looked at the metal door to the ballroom. “I’m glad I could steal that moment with you, at least, and I hope you’ve been able to catch your breath. We’ll have to face them again before anybody notices our absence.” And before Tristain can cause any trouble, I thought sourly, recalling the look of panic on my sister’s face as he dragged her away.

Keyne groaned as he reluctantly stood up, giving the door the same resigned look I had. “I suppose so. Will you be coming in with me?” he questioned as he offered his hand again.

“Better than going in alone,” I muttered, taking his hand and trying to ignore the quiet thrill of the roughness of his palm and fingers against mine; it was obvious he had been through years of training, and the sword at his hip was not a mere decoration like Tristain’s. I hesitated, somehow reluctant to pull away.

Keyne looked down at our joined hands, the corner of his mouth pulling up as he looked at my pale skin against his. “They are already whispering about us both, so I see no reason to cater to their whims and morals,” he said, his smile breaking through as I raised a questioning brow at him. “Will you dance with me?”

My laughter was an instinct, quickly fading away as Keyne’s gaze remained steady, his conviction unfaltering. “Are you sure? It may harm your prospects for marriage if you’re seen dancing with Lord Eliseo’s jilted son, and I doubt His Highness would like it much, either.”

“Haven’t you heard the rumors?” Keyne asked, releasing me as he stepped back. “I’m of elven heritage; my chances of marriage are already slim to none. What more harm could you do to an already tarnished reputation? And… what more do you have to lose?”

I couldn’t deny his logic—or the fluttering in my chest as I realized I had nothing to hold me back. “Well then, I suppose I can accept your request,” I answered, feeling an earnest excitement as I paced forward to join him.

His palm was against the door, Keyne’s smile breathtaking as he looked down at me for a moment. “Thank you, Markus.”

The words had a deeper impact than I could have ever expected, and my throat was suddenly tight as I heard the strains of music through the windows overhead. I didn’t know what to say, how to thank him in return for easing the knot of guilt and despair that had been suffocating me.

But I didn’t have to answer. Keyne pushed the door open, the warm light of the ballroom spilling over us. He took one step onto the marble floor before he turned to face me; offering his hand again, Keyne’s expression was full of earnest anticipation as he silently waited for me to gather my courage.

For the first time in my life, I decided entirely for my own sake—I took Keyne’s hand and allowed him to lead me back into the world where it felt like neither of us belonged.