Chapter 12

Despite it being a first date, and despite me being vaguely aware that I should try to make a good impression, I didn't spend nearly as much time getting ready as I usually would.

Partly because I didn't know anything about the dude I was meeting, which made it hard to work up any kind of excitement over it, but I was pretty sure I'd be feeling flat about the whole situation, regardless.

It's just a favor for Ophelia and Allerick,I reminded myself. Maybe I'd get lucky and it would turn out well, but in truth, I didn't think anyone was particularly expecting something to develop out of this.

I was putting on my best Networking Event face and keeping my expectations firmly at basement level.

Ophelia was waiting for me in the foyer as I came downstairs, and I knew her guard, Levana, would probably be at the outside border of Elverston house, ready to escort us wherever it was we were going.

"You look beautiful!" Ophelia said with a beaming smile, which I appreciated because my compliment jar had been running low since Evrin and I ended things.

"Thank you. Where are we going, by the way?"

"Just the garden. The palace staff set up a little date spot for you there—I thought you might be more comfortable sticking close to home?"

"Definitely. Thank you." I pulled her in for a quick hug before we made our way outside. "Who am I meeting?"

"Oh, right. Tavaris. He's, um, very rich. From a fancy family."

"But doesn't come to court?" I asked, not recognizing the name.

Ophelia winced. "I get the impression he finds it a little beneath him. But he hosted us when we were traveling around the realm, and he has a beautiful home, with the most luscious gardens I've ever seen."

I already didn't like him, but I didn't tell Ophelia that when she was trying so hard to make him sound like an even somewhat viable option. If there was one thing I really couldn't abide after my upbringing, it was elitism.

"I'm going to stay discreetly nearby the whole time," Ophelia said as we made our way through the winding gardens. "And you can leave whenever you want. Just give the signal, and I'll be right over. Tug your ear or something."

"I really feel like someone less important than the queen should be doing date monitoring duty," I replied with a laugh, smoothing down my plum-colored pencil dress as we walked, grateful I'd opted for the comfy heels rather than the stylish ones.

"Don't be ridiculous, there's nowhere I would rather be. Okay, here we are." She squealed a little in excitement as she gestured at the small round table and two chairs that had been set up in a corner of the garden, beneath a canopy of flowers. It was incredible to see the faint pops of color starting to thread their way through the foliage in the shadow realm since we'd arrived here. While none of the flowers were bright, bold hues, there were subtle, beautiful hints of pink, gold, and red in them, and the leaves were the darkest shade of green they could be without being black.

There was a small silvery orb glowing in the center of the table, framed by yet more flowers, and two goblets, a bottle of wine, and an assortment of elegant canapes on the table.

It looked like something out of a fantasy-inspired reality TV dating show. I half expected a slowed down, acoustic cover of a pop song to start softly playing in the background as I left Ophelia behind and took my seat at the table, the lid on my emotional pot barely staying in place once I was on my own.

This was stupid.

I felt stupid.

Why had I thought this was a good idea? I was basically three seconds away from a full-blown anxiety attack, and the dude hadn't even arrived yet.

Keep it together, I chided, forcing myself to take a few deep, calming breaths. You've been doing so well at tricking everyone into thinking you're not a walking, talking ball of panic. Don't screw up now.

My chair scraped loudly on the stones as I pushed back, ready to bolt, but I froze as my date casually sauntered into the clearing, giving me a charming smile.

No, not my date. Evrin was not my date.

But it annoyed me that I'd felt a bubble of hope and relief at the idea that he was.

"Hello Tallulah," he said easily, taking the seat opposite me. "Going somewhere?"

"No," I lied. "But you are. That seat is reserved for someone else."

"Sadly, Tavaris can't make it. He asked if I wouldn't mind stopping by to let you know."

Ophelia's head popped out from behind a bush, the frown on her face clear as she stared at the back of Evrin's head, mouthing furiously at Levana.

I could have given her the signal.

I didn't, though.

"I don't believe that. What actually happened?" I narrowed my eyes as Evrin smoothly popped the cork from the wine bottle, pulling my goblet toward him to fill first before pouring his own.

It was… smooth. We'd never done anything like this. Our trysts had been secret and the barest of barebones—we'd basically had the ground, some shadows, and whatever cleanup supplies Evrin had shoved in his bag that day.

And I'd loved it.

Evrin flicked his floppy hair out of his eyes, and the motion made my heart do something stupid. Intellectually, I was over him. I'd decided to be. I was a strong, independent woman, and I didn't want to be hung up on him any longer. Unfortunately, my heart rudely wasn't playing ball with the prescribed timeline I'd given it.

"I don't know what to tell you," Evrin said lightly. "He finds himself indisposed on account of him being a massive prick."

"Evrin! Did you do something to him?"

"That would be most unlike me."

"That doesn't answer my question."

"I merely had a conversation with him, in which I ascertained that he was a massive prick, and his intentions toward you were dishonorable, and I suggested he find somewhere else to be tonight."

I narrowed my eyes, taking a sip of my wine. Though, in all honesty, if that was what had happened, then I couldn't find it in myself to be mad.

"How did you even find out about it?"

Evrin took a sip of his own drink, apparently choosing not to answer that question. It had to be Damen—the two of them had been friendly at dinner.

"I guess, if Tavaris's intentions were dishonorable, that I'm glad you're here and not him," I mumbled into my goblet.

"It's not my intention to make you uncomfortable, Tallulah," Evrin said solemnly. "If you'd prefer that I leave now, I absolutely will."

Did I want that?

The battle between my head and my heart continued to rage on, but when Evrin was sitting right there in front of me—looking outrageously good—my head didn't stand a chance.

"Stay."