they were willing to give me a taste of freedom, there was no way I would abuse it.
Why? You planning to run? Flynn replied in a teasing tone without stopping or turning back to me.
Of course not. But, Ronan...
At that, the big man pivoted and walked back to me. Standing closer than was probably appropriate, given that anyone watching would see me only as a guard, he frowned down at me. “Ronan what?”
I swallowed, not intimidated so much as uncertain. “You can’t be okay with me roaming around by myself.”
“Why not?”
Was he kidding? I mean, I’d just accused him of making a joke, but the lightness of that moment had disappeared faster than the pot of gold at the end of a rainbow.
I widened my eyes. “You know why.”
He crossed his arms over his chest. “Tell me anyway.”
“Because you’ve made it more than clear that you don’t trust me.”
Lowering his voice, he said, “After last night, that’s what you still think?”
I replayed the events of the night before, searching for some small sliver of proof that he’d changed his mind about me. But a kiss “because he couldn’t resist” didn’t count.
“I don’t know what to think,” I answered honestly.
He uncrossed his arms and lifted a hand, as though to touch me. But he dropped it before glancing around to make certain no one was paying attention to us. “Imogen, this whole situation is so fucked up, none of us know what to think anymore.” His eyes darkened into depthless pools I could easily lose myself in. “But there is one thing I know—that you didn’t intentionally kill Father. I’ve always known it, which is probably why I was having such a hard time admitting it.”
He tugged a hand through his hair. “I’m so fucking sorry it took me so long. I’m an ass, and I wouldn’t blame you if you hated me forever.”
Egad! Why now, of all times, did I have to look like a man? I wanted to throw my arms around Ronan and kiss the hell out of his frustrating mouth. But, instead, I stood there. Not speaking. Not moving. Not even breathing.
“Imogen?”
Forcing a breath, I smiled. “So, you believe me?”
“Yes,” he answered immediately.
“And you trust me not to run?”
“Yes.”
“Thank you.”
He shook his head. “You shouldn’t be thanking me for anything. I’m the one who has been an idiot this whole time.”
“True.” At his answering expression of disbelief, I laughed under my breath. “But I don’t want to hang onto my anger anymore, either. So, I forgive you.”
“Just like that?”
Memories of him describing the moments before his father’s death flooded me, and I nodded. He’d been distraught when Flynn showed up with me at the castle, looking guilty.
I had a whole different perspective on the situation now. Ronan believed he was the caretaker of his family, and he’d just watched his father die. Worse, he’d been unable to stop him from taking his own life.
As I stared into his eyes, I realized something. Forgiveness was different than acceptance. Right now, I was making the decision to forgive him, and it was going to be work. My anger had kept me fighting this last year. It had me glaring at the people who wanted to stomp me under their boots. When I was hurt, it forced me to recover, because screw anyone who wanted to see me give up.
Acceptance, though. Acceptance was easier. It was what allowed me to open my heart to this flawed, impulsive man and make him mine.
He was staring at me, eyebrows raised like he was waiting for me. What had he asked me? Oh. “Yes, I forgive you. But not just like that. You’re going to have to do the work, show me every day why it was I forgave you.”
His eyes lightened, turning bright, like Flynn’s and Killian’s. “I can do that. I’ll work to do that.”
“Good.” We’d probably been staring into each other’s eyes longer than was appropriate for a guard and a prince. Turning to face the others, I caught another guard watching us. I gave what I hoped was a manly nod, and placed my hands on my hips.
I could feel the other man’s eyes on me and wanted to ask Ronan what I was doing wrong but didn’t dare. Forcing myself not to twitch, I went back to studying the other contestants.
Across the room, the door opened and a huge man walked inside, followed closely by a beautiful woman with jet black hair. Holy moly, spicy guacamole. She wore