Falling Kingdoms (Falling Kingdoms 1)

“It’s obvious. I can’t marry Aron or anyone else. I refuse, no matter what my father says.” Her heart swelled to overflowing. “I—I was meant to be with you.”

Theon’s breath came quicker, but his expression only grew more grave. “But I’m only a guard.”

“I don’t care!”

“Your father will care. Quite a lot, I’m sure.”

“My father will simply have to deal with it. Or I’ll just run away again.” A smile touched her lips. “With you.”

Theon laughed, a deep rumble in his chest. “Wonderful. You’ll tell your father that the guard he assigned to keep his daughter safe has coerced her to break off her engagement and that will make everything all right. I’m sure he’ll just accept it and not throw me in the dungeon.”

“Maybe he won’t accept it. Not right away. But I’ll make sure he knows there are no other answers.”

He was quiet for a moment as he searched her expression. “So you do feel something for me.”

“You saved me. And even before that...well, I just knew, without knowing.” Her heart felt lighter with each word she spoke.

Theon shook his head. “I didn’t save you. Nic figured out where you were. I just knocked out the guards and broke down the door.”

Cleo’s smile widened. “Well, I’m not in love with Nic, so I guess we’ll just have to figure it out.”

He pulled her into his arms again, more tentatively this time. “I’m still furious that you ran away and nearly got yourself killed. This is not the right place for you right now.”

“There’s no other place I could find the answer I need.”

“The search will have to wait.”

“But it can’t wait.” Her throat grew tight again.

He studied the ground for a moment before raising his gaze to hers. “We can’t stay here. You must realize that, don’t you?”

Cleo’s heart beat hard enough to burst from her chest. She couldn’t forget the real reason she’d come here. Yet she also couldn’t deny that he was right. If there was a war against Auranos brewing, this was no place for its princess. Her throat thickened. “I wish there was another answer.”

“Give it a week,” Theon said. “And I’ll return here myself. I’ll find out if this legend you believe in so completely is true. Let me do that for you.”

She looked up at him with gratitude before she nodded. “Thank you.”

“I’ll also find Jonas Agallon when I return.” His expression darkened. “He needs to answer with blood for what he’s done.”

She shivered at the suggestion of violence. “He blames me for what Aron did to his brother. He still carries Aron’s dagger.”

Theon looked at her sharply. “Did he threaten you with that dagger?”

She nodded, then turned her face forward so she wouldn’t see the flash of rage in his eyes.

“If I find him,” Theon growled, “he won’t have to worry about taking his vengeance on anyone for his brother’s death. He’ll be joining his brother in the ever after.”

“He grieves Tomas. It doesn’t excuse him for his actions, but it gives meaning to them.”

“I disagree.”

Cleo couldn’t help but give him an amused look.

“What?” he asked cautiously.

“We do disagree on a lot of things, don’t we?”

Theon squeezed her hand. “Not everything.”