Thorn Queen Page 0,68

He sprang up at my approach, hurrying over to catch my hands in his. He leaned down and kissed them.

"Your majesty. Thank you for seeing me so unexpectedly. I'm sure I'm interrupting all sorts of important things."

"Not so much," I said, withdrawing my hands. "And you should really just call me Eugenie now. What's up? Is there a problem?" Around here, who knew what could go wrong? Famine, flood, locusts...

"A problem with-oh, no. Everything in Westoria is great. We made amazing progress today."

I relaxed. "Good. I was worried."

Leith shook his head, eager to reassure me. "No, no problems there. I just...well, I know this is strange, but I just had to come see you. That is, I had to ask you something. I feel like an idiot, though."

I frowned. "You can ask me anything. What's going on? Are you okay?"

"Oh, yes." His embarrassment grew. "But after today...I just had to hear something from you."

"Okay, ask."

"Are you involved with the Oak King?"

"Involved with...what, you mean romantically? With Dorian? No!"

Leith's face shone like the sun. "You mean it? When I saw you together today. The way he spoke...and the way you two interacted...well, I thought for sure the rumors were true."

"What rumors?" I asked warily.

"That you were still lovers."

"Where are you hearing these rumors?"

"Pretty much everywhere."

"Well, the answer is no. Absolutely not."

"Really?"

"Really."

Leith exhaled with palpable relief. He reached for my hand, and I stepped back, putting space between us. The rapture on his face made me uneasy. "Then there's still a chance."

"A chance for what?" I asked.

"You and me."

"You and-oh, Leith, no." It was just like everyone had said. "I like you-you're really great-but there isn't going to be anything happening with you and me."

"But..." He moved forward again, and again, I moved away. "But you keep wanting to see me and have asked me to be a part of your kingdom. I just assumed..."

"No, no...Leith, I'm involved with someone already...you know, Kiyo? The kitsune? We're together."

He frowned and was still too close to my personal space. "I didn't think it was a serious romance. I thought he was just a..."

"Fling?" I suggested.

"Yes. I mean, someone like you couldn't take him as a true consort."

I sighed. "Why does everyone say that? I love Kiyo. We're together. We're going to be together for a very long time."

Leith's earlier joy was rapidly giving way to distress. "But...I mean, with my background and the way we get along, we're a perfect match. Admit it: you are usually happy to see me."

"Of course I am. But that's because I want to be your friend, not encourage you romantically. I like you-like hanging out with you. But that's it. I'm sorry. I'm sorry if I led you on."

"It has to be more than friendship. I know it is for me." He sighed. "I've never been able to talk to someone so easily. It feels natural."

"That's because you guys always make everything so...exaggerated. There are probably a dozen girls you could sit down with and have great conversations with if you just got rid of the formality."

"No." The grief on his face was killing me. "It's something about you. I just can't help it. I'm falling more and more in love with you every day."

"You barely know me! You can't love me."

"I do," he said in a low voice, and some of that glowing passion returned. "From the moment I saw you. Mother had said you'd be a suitable match politically, but even if that weren't true, I'd still love you. I've never met anyone like you, Eugenie. So brave and beautiful...I'd want to be with you even if we weren't ruling a kingdom together."

"Leith," I said, trying hard to make my voice stern. God-dammit. Why couldn't he have been an annoying jerk like most of my other would-be suitors? Why did he have to be a nice guy? With great effort, I tried to let him down easy instead of in my usual harsh way. "I meant it: I like you. But that's it. I value your help and your friendship, but I'm not leaving Kiyo."

"But I love you." It was weak and plaintive.

I shook my head. "I'm sorry."

His face fell, and he turned away, wrapped in despair. He started to walk toward the door and then abruptly turned, eyes alight once more. "If things end between you and the kitsune...then I'd be next in line, right?"

"Next in line? Er, well..." Why couldn't I just lie and say yes? Or why not use a "I don't want