The tree boughs above them shook in the warm breeze, and a chorus of insects chirped enthusiastically. A delicious shiver stole over Sophie’s skin, and she knew she’d forever remember the moment Reese proclaimed her queen of his garden … Queen of the Underworld.

“Thank you,” she said, sitting back and stretching her legs across the quilt. “Are you ready for my first royal edict?”

He shot her a lopsided grin. “Probably not.”

“Everyone in the kingdom must rest. Like this.” She carefully set her crown on the quilt, reclined on her side, and tucked an arm under her head. Then she arched an expectant brow, waiting for him to lie down too.

“It’s not easy being your royal subject,” he grumbled, but he reclined on his quilt, facing her. Though their bodies were an arm’s length apart, he seemed to radiate heat—like a stone that had been warmed by the sun all day.

If she really was a queen and free to do as she pleased, she might have wriggled close to him and soaked up that warmth. She might have even removed the pins from her hair and nuzzled her face to his chest. She might have done lots of things.

Instead, she rolled onto her back and stared at the leaves and the sky. “It feels like London is a world away,” she whispered. “It’s beautiful here.”

“It is,” he agreed. And though she didn’t look at him, she could feel his heavy-lidded gaze on her. Could hear the gruffness of his voice.

“The stars shine brighter away from town. They look so close you’d think you could reach out and touch one.” She turned to glance at him, flushed when she caught him staring at her, intent.

“Have you ever seen a shooting star?” he asked.

“No. Have you?”

“Yes.” A cloud passed over his face. “But maybe it was only artillery fire.”

“Did you make a wish?”

“I did,” he said—so somberly, she knew without asking that it hadn’t come true.

“Well, there’s no artillery fire here,” she said soothingly. “Just hundreds of twinkling stars. If we stare at them long enough, one is bound to streak across the sky. When it does, we’ll both make a wish.”

“I’ll tell you what,” he said softly. “You keep watch on the heavens. I’ll keep watch over you.”

Chapter 11

Reese felt grass sticking to one side of his face, the morning sun warming the other. His heart kicked into a gallop out of sheer habit, but then he recalled where he was. Lying on the lawn at Warshire Manor, with Sophie by his side.

He peeked at her through sleep-swollen lids, relieved to find her still resting next to him, covered with the quilt he’d placed over her last night. A few golden strands of her hair had slipped free from their pins, covering her eyes like a shimmering silk veil.