While we walk around the room, I explain the iron ring and the conduits available, desperately trying and failing to keep my eyes from watching Prince Hawthorne and his muscled chest closely. I show them how to refill the water buckets from the spigot and inspect the practice weapons. I palm the only dagger on the rack and hide it in my dress sleeve. When we’ve explored every corner of the room, I turn and look at the Prince.

“Is there anything else you require, Prince Hawthorne?” I ask.

“No, Your Majesty.” He bows, and a piece of hair falls into his eyes from the perfectly messy style. I want to run my fingers over the silky locks. Stop it, Laurel. “Fionn, Silene, and I train in a similar space under the Velmaran palace, so we’re pleased to feel so at home. Thank you for your hospitality. I’m sure Fionn in particular will be relieved to have the chance to wave a sword around my face once again.” He smiles, bright and alluring, and that cursed dimple makes another appearance. I clench my fists to keep from reacting to it, only to realize my body has leaned into him. Coughing, I back away.

“Carex, I’ve just realized there are no daggers available on the weapons rack. Would you mind running to another room and grabbing one? I believe Miss Kalmeera mentioned daggers being her weapon of choice.” Silene thankfully doesn’t react to the blatant lie I’ve just told. Smart girl. I knew she’d catch on.

Carex looks the weapons rack over, confusion lining his features. “I could have sworn there was one there,” he says. “Of course, Your Majesty. I’ll be back shortly.” He emphasizes the word, giving Hawthorne and Fionn a hard stare as if to warn them off trying anything, then walks briskly from the room.

Prince Hawthorne’s eyes twinkle, while Silene’s stare at me with an assessing expression. “I too could have sworn I saw a dagger on that rack, Your Majesty,” the Prince says smoothly, teasingly, his eyes bright and locked on mine. Suddenly, the weapon hurls away from me. It flies through the room and ends up in Fionn’s outstretched hand. He stares at me, challenging me to react. I grin, hoping to put them all more at ease. Prince Hawthorne and Silene break out into laughter, and Fionn’s lips even twitch.

“You should have seen your face!” Silene tentatively says. She’s testing me, wondering how casual she can be. I widen my smile, and she returns it, bright and beaming. Warmth spreads through my body at being part of their endless teasing of one another, and I find myself laughing with them.