Page 184 of North Queen
She gave a small shrug of her shoulders. “Then I’d have to come back every day.”
“I wouldn’t mind.” He took her hand, stopping her and shifting to a more serious note between them. “I want to see you every day. I want to be near you. Every day.”
She swallowed back the words on her tongue, the words that would have said she wanted the same. Because she did. “I’m finished,” she said softly.
Mikael waved her guard back and away as they stepped out into the hall. They walked toward her sanctuary—slowly, quietly—with him at her side, carrying her books. She couldn’t deny she preferred Mikael to her army entourage.
“Your lord justice left this morning,” he said, picking back up their conversation.
Norah bit the inside of her cheek. “You keep a close eye on him.”
“His every move.”
His tone chilled her. She silently praised the Mercian council for whatever task they had for Alexander—anything to get him away from Kharav for a while. She cursed her selfishness in keeping him near. When he returned, she’d have to send him back to Mercia.
Norah glanced outside, across the courtyard, and saw the man Mikael had been speaking to earlier still standing in the parallel hall. “Is he waiting for you?”
“Yes. But he can wait a little longer.”
“You should go,” she said. “I’m sure there are many important things for you to tend to.”
“Nothing is more important than being here with you, right now.”
She couldn’t help a small smile to herself.
They reached the hall to her sanctuary, and she took her books from him.
“Thank you,” she said softly.
“Of course.” He brought her hand to his lips and pressed a gentle kiss against her fingers. Then he left to return to his waiting Circle.
Chapter fifty-three
Mikaelwaswaitinginthe dining room when Norah arrived. Instead of at the end of the table opposite her, his plate and chalice sat to the left of her own. She raised a brow and bit back her smile. She liked that he threw out rules and proprieties to be near to her.
He pulled her chair out for her and waited.
Norah couldn’t hold the hint of a smile any longer. “Thank you,” she said as she took her seat.
Mikael took his own chair and set to work moving food to their plates from a large center platter.
“The king plays the servant this evening?” she asked.
“Every evening if you want, so long as you’re here.” The corner of his mouth turned up. “Does it win me favor?”
“Maybe a little,” she admitted with a wry smile. But then her smile fell, and her seriousness returned. “But it’s not what I want, you know.”
His face grew solemn. “I know.” He poured wine into their chalices and raised his to his lips but didn’t drink. He set it back down. “I’ll continue to disappoint you, Salara. We’re very different, you and I.”
She stared at him for a moment. “Or maybe we’re two imperfect people in an imperfect world, fighting for the good of our kingdoms.”
His eyes met hers. “Can we fight for each other?” he asked softly.
Fight for each other. Not just for an alliance, butfor each other. She felt the soft knocking at her heart.
They ate quietly, exchanging reassuring glances. When they were finished, he stood and offered his arm, as she expected. She took it and let him walk her back to the sanctuary. The returning ease between them brought back a comfort she’d missed.
When they reached the alcove, she stopped and turned to him. Mikael pulled her closer, threading his fingers in hers. He smelled of smoky earth and lemon thyme, and she breathed him in. His touch, his warmth… “Stay,” she found herself saying.
