Page 45 of Tangled Sails

I shook my head. “Being around you doesn’t require patience.”

A smile broke over his face and the corners of his eyes crinkled. “Give it time.”

“Do you have plans to become tiresome?”

His gaze dropped again to my lips. “Maybe.”

My chest felt suddenly tight and my heart seemed to be pulling me forward, drawing me closer to his handsome face and kind words. “I’ve never thought of myself as friendly,” I admitted in an attempt to keep myself from doing something utterly foolish like kissing a prince.

“How could you not? You’re kind to everyone.”

I shrugged. “I like people, and I like talking to them.”

He gave a little quirk of his eyebrow. “Yes, and that’s called being friendly.” He leaned in, smiling, and brought his face so close that for one wild second I thought he was going to kiss me. My breath caught and my heart pounded, as I suddenly wanted nothing more than to feel what it would be like to share that kind of closeness with someone. Not just someone—Tavric. But then he sucked in a breath and drew back. “It’s something I have no skill at.” He circled around behind me again and pulled back on the swing before letting me go.

I was grateful he couldn’t see my face, as I was fairly certain it was bright red.

Chapter thirteen

TAVRIC

“Tell me why you’re mad at Kavian,” Dorian said as he invaded my corner of the library and took the other chair by the fire.

I scoffed and set my book aside. “Has he been tattling on me?”

His brow furrowed in confusion and concern. “Now I’m really worried. What’s gotten into you?”

I scrubbed my hands through my hair. I’d been avoiding Kavian, horrified and embarrassed by his treatment of Lyri. “He was unpardonably rude to my friend and guest,” I explained.

Dorian sat up and fixed his dark gaze on me. He was the closest to my age but looked the least like me. His hair was almost as golden as Lyri’s. “Don’t you think he might have a point?”

“No,” I said with careful control.

“Our father is dying and you’re playing pretend with a sea sprite.”

“Now you’re insulting Lyri?”

“You’ve no idea who this girl is or where she came from.”

“I don’t care where she came from, I care about her.”

He spread his arms wide, as if I’d just made his point for him. “How much of your time have you wasted with this girl?”

I tensed at the accusation in his tone. With the onslaught of further responsibilities brought on by the council’s concern over my father’s health, I’d wanted to spend all my free time with Lyri. The way she moved through the world, unburdened by expectation or ambition, allowed me to breathe when I was around her. My brothers used to provide that same escape from society, but I certainly didn’t feel that way lately. “It’s not a waste of time. What I do in the small amount of time that I’m not serving our kingdom is not your concern,” I said in a carefully controlled tone. I didn’t want to snap at my brother, but he was testing my patience.

“Of course it’s my concern, because I care about Father and this kingdom just as much as you do, and I know you have more important things to do right now. Have you forgotten who will be at our door in three days?”

“Oh, I remember. Do you remember whose fault that is?”

His jaw clenched. “I’m fairly certain you wouldn’t see it as a problem if that girl weren’t here.”

“Stop blaming her.”

“I’m not blaming her, I’m blaming you. Kavian says you’ve done nothing but waste time with her in the three days he’s been home. I didn’t have the heart to tell him that was nothing new. If you refuse to find a queen for yourself, that’s fine, but there is work to be done.” He pointed a finger at me as if he somehow knew more about what had been happening within these walls than I did. “There is a kingdom to be run, and Father can’t do it. Kavian and I can step in once in a while, but everyone is looking to you. We need you here.”

“I am here,” I bellowed, insulted and hurt that he would insinuate that I wasn’t doing enough. “I’ve been in all the meetings, I’ve resolved all the disputes as best I can. Even though every clamoring, chaotic meeting makes my head pound and my palms sweat, I’m there, doing it. I answer every summons and give the council all the attention they ask for. Will you really insist on taking away the few hours of calm that I’ve tried to claim for myself each day?”

His expression dripped with impatience. “Her presence is not good for the kingdom, Tav. You need to send her home.”