At night, Alina sat propped against the pillows in Austin's chambers, her ankle resting on a cushion. The castle was buzzing around her with footsteps in the corridors, and muffled voices everywhere. Everyone was busy thinking about the king.
But she was thinking about the half-page Austin had written about her to the king. She didn't know what it said, when he had written it, or why he had written it. But he had and that made her happy.
The door opened and Austin entered.
"The king requires my attendance tonight," he said. "I may not return before morning."
"Fine," she replied.
He nodded and turned to leave.
"Your Grace?"
He stopped.
"Why are you telling me this?"
"Telling you what?"
"That you won't be back tonight," she replied. "You've never done that before. I mean… you've disappeared for hours without a word, and arrived at three in the morning without explanation. You've never informed me of your schedule."
His hand tightened on the door frame.
