“Were you even going to tell me?” Vhalla’s lower lip quivered, and she swore she would not lose it, she wouldn’t cry in front of him.

“What does Elecia have to do with this?” Confusion eased his shoulders.

“No.” Vhalla shook her head. “No more, I can’t. I’m done.” She turned, starting for the door.

“Vhalla!” he snapped. “You asked me for no secrets, for the truth, and you’re turning your back on me?” Aldrik chuckled darkly. “The irony of that.”

“The truth?” She stopped, only ten paces from the door. She should just leave. But something made her turn. She stared at him in hopelessness. It would all be better if he’d just admit it. “The truth is ... the truth is ...” Something in her snapped. “The truth is that every time I close my eyes all I see is you and her!” Vhalla’s voice broke halfway through and she threw her arms up in defeat. The tears burned at the corners of her eyes and she sniffed, keeping them at bay.

“Why?” Aldrik took a step toward her.

“Because—you know why!” Was he really going to make her say it?

“Why would you care about Elecia if you desire my brother?” His voice was losing its edge, his probing becoming more exploratory over jabbing.

“Aldrik,” Vhalla covered her eyes with her palm. “You are a fool.” She gave him a defeated laugh. “I don’t want your brother, my dear Prince Aldrik C. Solaris. Not every creature with breasts thinks Prince Baldair is a god among men.”

“Then why, why do you care?” He took another step closer. Vhalla opened her mouth and shut it, turning for the door. “Tell me, why does Elecia matter?” Aldrik grabbed her elbow, stopping her from fleeing from the room.

“What does she matter?” Vhalla wasn’t sure if she had ever met a man who could be so astonishingly smart about seemingly everything and yet so daft about the person whom he was supposed to be more connected with than anyone in the world. She twisted to face him, tearing her arm from his grasp. “She matters the same as titles do. The same as my birth and yours does. The same way it matters why your brother insists on tormenting me with awful stories about you.”

“Stop avoiding my question!” he demanded.

“I am not!” The last of her resolve shattered and her control slipped away. Tears were going to fall at any moment, and if the two of them were going to break they may as well shatter. “I love you, Aldrik!”

Her voice echoed on the shockwaves that shook them both. Vhalla’s palm clamped over her mouth. She hadn’t meant to say it, and Vhalla stared at him wide eyed. She watched his face closely. She witnessed the words settle in on him, the shock that started in his eyes, raised his eyebrows, and dropped his mouth open.