Chapter Five

Violet tried not to fidget as Yannick consulted his notes yet again.

"My father also wished me to inquire about the issue of access to the Entolian ambassador for those members of our Merchants' Guild operating in Mistra at present."

"Yannick." Violet cut him off, leaning forward on her elbows. She'd been very patient through the last two hours of these types of requests, but she'd reached her limit. "I have no new information on any of that, and no authority to unilaterally make changes, as you must surely know. To speak plainly, I thought the purpose of our meeting today was to discuss my proposal. Do we have a deal or not?"

Yannick sat back, steepling his fingers as he considered her. "I appreciate your desire for an immediate answer. But we still have matters to consider."

"We?" Violet repeated, raising an eyebrow.

Yannick gave a thin smile. "All right, I. My father is very much in favor of the idea. But I acknowledge I've been less certain. I mean no offense, but after all, it's no small matter to sign away one's life."

"True." Violet inclined her head in acknowledgment. "I'm not offended. But I do want an answer."

Yannick nodded slowly. "Forgive the bluntness of the question, but how old are you, Princess Violet?"

Violet was taken aback, but on reflection she supposed it was a reasonable question. "I'm nineteen."

"Hmm." Yannick rubbed his palms together slowly. "I'm twenty-five. You are, perhaps, a little young for me."

Violet frowned. She didn't see the difference in their ages as substantial.

"You have one older unmarried sister, I believe," Yannick prompted delicately. "Would Princess Lilac be a more appropriate choice, perhaps?"

"It doesn't matter whether she's more appropriate, she's not the deal that's being offered," said Violet shortly.

She couldn't help but feel irked. Perhaps he preferred Lilac in appearance—while neither sister was considered unattractive, they did have different styles—but it felt a bit impudent for him to suggest a cold trade.

In any event, it was out of the question. No thought of sacrificing one of her sisters had ever crossed Violet's mind in her scheming. As annoying as Lilac could be at times, Violet wasn't about to push her into a political marriage merely for the crime of being two years older than Violet was.

"If you don't wish to form this alliance, Yannick, I will understand perfectly," Violet added steadily. "And I will take no offense. But that will be the end of the matter. I wasn't offering an open account for you to choose whichever princess you want as a bride."

"I understand," said Yannick, raising his hands in defense. "I meant no offense, as I said." He studied her face again. "I do wish for an amicable resolution to our current conflict, as you clearly do as well. I can see the merit in your suggestion, and I'm inclined to think we could make it work. But..." He hesitated. "But I do have some questions."

"Ask away," Violet said promptly.

"Would our union take place soon?"

"If you wish," said Violet.

Yannick nodded. "Would you be required to renounce your title, or in some other way lose your privileges due to marrying someone outside the nobility?"

Violet frowned at him. She would be grateful for his thoughtfulness if she knew him well enough to be sure the question was asked out of consideration for her situation. It could just as easily be concern over his own status.

"Of course not," she said. "You wouldn't become a prince or anything. But I would keep my title as a princess, and my position in the royal family. If you wanted it, my brother would probably grant you an honorary title of some sort. It would be just like when my eldest sister Zinnia married Obsidian. He isn't part of the nobility, you know." Not that Obsidian had accepted a title, being uninterested in his own consequence. But she didn't say that.

Yannick smiled in amusement. "Not a true comparison, Your Highness. The fact that he isn't a nobleman is insignificant in light of his status as a powerful enchanter. Would we need to live in our own dwelling, separate from the castle, then, as they do?"

Violet shrugged. "Not necessarily. That was merely their preference. We could live in the castle if you wish."

"I would wish that," Yannick said. "In fact," he squared his shoulders, "I would be grateful for the opportunity to sojourn in the castle now, to better understand the life to which I would be committing myself. Although of course I realize I would be merely a guest at this stage," he added quickly.

Violet narrowed her eyes. Again, she found the request impudent, however politely it was worded. He wished to try it out before committing himself, did he? Probably wanted his influence pandered to while the dispute was still ongoing, and Basil still needed to step carefully around the Merchants' Guild. She told herself to swallow her annoyance—it was no news to her that this whole conflict was really about ego. But she couldn't quite bring herself to just bow to his requests.

"You want guarantees, Yannick," she said bluntly. "So I'm sure you understand me wanting the same. Is the purpose of our proposed union fully understood?"

"Of course," he assured her. "You have my word of honor that if our marriage goes ahead, my father will stop all protests regarding the Mistran merchants. And the rest of the guild will follow him."

Violet nodded slowly. She still wasn't entirely sure what she thought about his request, and she reminded herself that she was a princess in her own castle, and needn't let herself be pressured into a hasty answer.

"Then I see no barrier to our union proceeding," she said, rising to her feet. "But I suggest we leave the matter for now, and I will consider your request regarding accommodation in the castle. We can meet again in a few days' time."

She thought Yannick looked a little disappointed that she hadn't acquiesced at once, but he hastened to stand as well, dipping into a bow.

"As you wish, Your Highness. I will await your contact."

With a final nod, Violet swept from the room. The conversation had gone so long, she would need to hurry to get to dinner on time. And she couldn't be late. Not when it was Ari's last night.

The thought made her heart sink, the reaction much stronger than it should have been. All week she'd been trying to deny her growing dread over his departure. She'd thrown herself into their activities—into his company—with enthusiasm, trying not to give her mind time to think about what would happen when he left. The Mistran prince's departure had become inextricably linked in her mind with the progression of her plans with Yannick.

Next week she might embark on a loveless political union, possibly never seeing Ari again. This week, she would enjoy every minute—both of being free and of being in the company of someone who made her feel so alive. What did she have to lose, after all?

But the closer they came to Ari leaving, the more it was brought home to her that she did have something to lose, something which his company had peeled away alarmingly quickly: her peace of mind. Before Ari had arrived, she'd regarded her planned political alliance not with pleasure, but with a sort of unemotional resignation. Now, for some reason, it was almost unbearable to contemplate it.

So she didn't contemplate it. She just kept going with her plans, giving them as little thought as possible while she focused all her mind and energy on her time with Ari.

When she entered the dining hall, however, and saw Ari chatting animatedly to Wren, the pang that went through her told her that she hadn't succeeded in separating her emotions as much as she'd thought. He seemed in fairly good spirits, his ready laugh ringing across the space between them. The contrast of the two siblings was striking—Wren's quiet grace accentuating the suppressed energy that always radiated from Ari. Some might find it overwhelming, or even immature. But Violet didn't feel that way. He was someone who enjoyed life, and that called to her irresistibly.

She remembered thinking, the morning after he arrived, that it would be inconvenient timing for her to find someone attractive, especially someone she could so conceivably form a union with. She couldn't imagine either royal family protesting at another marriage to strengthen the alliance.

But her thoughts were running away with her to be contemplating marriage. Could that memory really be only a week earlier? It felt much longer. And in the week they'd spent together, she'd come to know Ari a hundred times better than she knew Yannick, with whom she was likely about to embark on a lifelong commitment.

Quite suddenly, Ari looked up, his eyes finding her by the door and a bright smile of welcome crossing his face. Violet returned the smile as naturally as she could, her heart twisting as she crossed the room to sit beside him.

Could she really go through with her bloodless plans with Yannick? Would she be wrong to do so, if she could feel this way merely from Ari smiling at her? Maybe an unemotional union wasn't for her—maybe attraction wasn't so bad after all. She'd thought the timing inconvenient, but what if it was actually perfectly timed in order to save her from herself? What if she and Ari were meant to be together, and he'd showed up just in time to prevent her from making an irrevocable mistake?

It sounded fanciful even in her head, but after all, such things did happen. Both her brother and her eldest sister had found a love every bit as romantic and sincere as her imaginings. She'd never experienced it herself, which was why she'd thought very little of serving her kingdom through an unemotional political union. But now, with Ari, she was starting to think it had found her at last. And judging by the warmth of his gaze as she sank into a chair beside him, it didn't seem impossible that he might be feeling the same.

"Ari," she greeted him. "You've gone up in the world, sitting beside the queen."

He grinned at her. "You joke, but it would be true if we were in my family's castle. We don't sit all over the place as we please like you do. It's a very rigid process, and everyone has their assigned place."

Violet laughed. "Yes, Wren's told us that we're shockingly informal. It's just too hard to keep order with so many of us."

Basil arrived as she spoke, and the meal began. Violet leaned around Ari and Wren to direct a question at her brother.

"Is this everyone? Aren't Zinnia and Obsidian coming for Ari's farewell dinner?"

Basil frowned in an effort of memory. "I don't think so. How did your meeting with Yannick go, by the way?"

"Well enough," said Violet lightly. She caught Ari watching her thoughtfully, and hastened to dig into her food.

"I think Zinnia is planning to come for breakfast to see you off, Ari," Wren said. "She was going to stay on so that Genny could play with her cousins for a while." She named Zinnia and Obsidian's two-year-old daughter.

"Shame," said Violet. "I was hoping Obsidian would be here so I could ask him to help with my necklace." Wren looked confused, so she added, "The one trapped down the side of the bureau. I thought he might be able to get it out with magic."

"Your necklace," said Basil apologetically. "I forgot again."

"Don't worry about it." Violet waved a hand. "It's not important, honestly. I'll catch Obsidian another time."

"Is it a valuable necklace?" Ari asked, claiming her attention from her other side as someone else called to Wren and Basil.

"Not really," Violet said with a shrug. "Just sentimental. Zinnia gave it to me when we were children, and it's always been my favorite."

The meal drew on, Ari full of cheerful chatter. Occasionally someone else directed a question to him, often about his onward journey, or asked Violet a question. But each time, his attention returned immediately to her. She was conscious the whole time of having his full focus. Having grown up in a large and chaotic family, one plagued by illness, war, and magical curses, Violet didn't have much experience with the sensation.

She enjoyed it immensely.

In fact, the more minutes ticked by, the less she could think about anything but Ari. He couldn't leave in the morning. She couldn't go back to the way things were before. Her life had seemed fine before Ari arrived, but now it looked bleak in memory. And that was without even considering the question of marriage with Yannick. That image was…unthinkable.

"So how will you travel?" someone asked Ari, pulling his gaze from her face. "By horse?"

"Actually," said Ari, his eyes straying back to Violet, "I've been rethinking that."

Violet's eyes flew to his. What was he saying? Was he truly rethinking leaving? On the other side of the table, one of the younger girls dropped a dish, and Ari's answer got lost in the kerfuffle. But Violet found herself unable to take her eyes off his face.

A sudden boldness rushed over her, and she put her fork down.

"Ari," she said, her voice steady. "Would you like to join me for some fresh air?"

Ari stood at once, offering her his arm. Disregarding what anyone else might be thinking of their actions, Violet took it. She glanced at the double doors onto the patio they'd escaped to on Ari's first night in Tola. The doors were closed, and she could see through the glass that the weather had turned since the afternoon. Rain was pattering down. But that didn't trouble her.

"Bring your jacket," she told Ari softly. "You might want it outside."

She pulled her own shawl tightly around her shoulders as she led the way to the double doors. She heard her mother start to say something, but Basil cut her off cheerfully, likely prompted by Wren. Violet had often noticed her sister-in-law's eyes on the pair when they were all together. But she couldn't even find it in herself to be embarrassed by whatever understanding they thought she and Ari might have. Who knew, maybe they'd be right by the end of the evening?

Without a word, she slipped out through the doors and into the night, conscious of Ari behind her as she crossed the patio. A decorative wall stretched across the platform's edge before giving way to a shallow staircase into the gardens beyond, and Violet leaned against the wall, listening to the sound of the rain. She felt Ari approach, but he hovered behind her, not joining her at the railing.

"Is everything all right, Violet?" His voice was soft.

Gathering her courage, Violet turned. "Not really," she acknowledged. "I've been struggling for a while now."

Ari frowned, moving forward at last and draping his jacket over the edge of the wall before leaning on it with his elbows. "Is it about the conflict with the Merchants' Guild? Wren told me about it. I saw you with that merchant's son earlier, and you looked uncomfortable, like you do from time to time."

Violet stared at him. He'd seen her with Yannick? He'd seen her discomfort at other times? He must be the only one.

"You noticed that?" she asked faintly, struggling to marshal her thoughts.

"Of course," said Ari. His brow creased in concern. "It was the same as how you seemed earlier, when Basil asked you about the meeting. Did something happen?"

Violet shook her head, a lump rising in her throat.

"Never mind about all that. That's not what I was going to say." Her courage failing her, she gazed out at the rain-spattered garden instead of at Ari's face. "I'm struggling because of you. I've enjoyed your visit so much. Too much, I think."

Ari was silent for so long that she snuck a look at him. His eyes were on her, and his expression made her breath catch a little.

"I've enjoyed it, too," he said. "Much more than I expected to. You…you're like no one I've ever met before, Violet."

Violet felt her face warm with pleasure. "I'm not that extraordinary."

"Yes you are," said Ari simply. "Or you are to me, anyway. No one else has ever made me feel quite like I do when I'm in your company." He sent her a swift grin. "You certainly keep me guessing, anyway."

Violet laughed. "Life would be boring without a little unpredictability."

"Agreed," said Ari, laughing as well.

A gust of wind passed over them, and he paused to don his jacket. Slipping his hands into his pockets, he fidgeted for a moment. Violet had the impression he was stalling.

"If you've enjoyed my visit," he said at last, "why would that be a struggle? Is it…is it because I'm leaving tomorrow? Because if I'm honest, I've struggled with that as well."

An eager hope rushed over Violet, and she turned to face him at last. "What if you weren't leaving tomorrow, though? What if I asked you to stay?"

Ari's breath hitched audibly, and he shifted closer. "Honestly, Violet, I don't think there's anything you could ask me that I'd find easy to refuse." He reached one hand toward her, his fingers strong as they brushed her cheek. "I've never met anyone I've wanted so much to say yes to." He smiled, the expression softer than his usual exuberant grin. "No matter how outrageous your ideas can be."

Violet tried to smile at his banter, but her thoughts were in too much disarray. Butterflies rioted in her stomach at his touch, and every nerve felt alive from his proximity, from his words. Closing her eyes, she leaned toward him, fully consumed by the moment. She couldn't go through with her proposal to Yannick, not when she felt this way about Ari. It was simply impossible. If Ari was willing to stay in Tola for her, she was willing to fight for him. They would have to find another way through the conflict with the Merchants' Guild.

"Violet," Ari said, his voice soft in her ears. "I left home because I was restless. Not just a little bit restless, but unbearably so. I wanted adventure, which is why the idea of crossing the desert appealed so much to me. But maybe I was wrong about the kind of adventure I was looking for. I've been struggling these last few days, too. I've been wondering if maybe I should be embracing what's before me rather than chasing something unknown."

Violet opened her eyes, his words encouraging her to hope. Ari was so close, it was hard to breathe. One hand was still fidgeting in the pocket of his jacket, belying the poised front he was trying to convey. His other hand lifted again, brushing some hair back off her shoulder. She'd thought he was going to say more, but he remained silent, so she cleared her own throat.

"I don't know if I get a vote, but personally I think that sounds like a fantastic idea," she said hopefully. She swallowed, determined to be bold. "Ari, I want you to stay."

She gave him her most winning smile, willing him to raise his eyes to her face again. There was no way he could fail to understand her meaning. Nerves fluttered pleasurably over her. Would he speak as plainly? Would he kiss her? He'd seemed close to it before.

But he didn't seem close now. His hand fell from her hair, and he didn't quite meet her eyes. Violet watched, confused, as he shifted on his feet, as if ill at ease.

"Ari?" she prompted. His eyes slid over her shoulder, and she turned a little, wondering if he was self-conscious at the proximity of her family. Surely he would know that they wouldn't be able to see them out in the darkness.

Of course, the same wasn't true in reverse. With the dining hall so well lit, Ari and Violet could see the scene through the glass doors with ease. The family didn't seem to be looking their way, too focused on their meal. But there was a row of servants standing behind them, and several of them were looking toward the windows. Still, Violet didn't think they could actually see the pair.

"Ari?" she tried again. "What's wrong?"

He still didn't reply, his eyes riveted on the room within. Frowning, Violet followed his gaze, unable to help the irritation that rose in her at his distraction, in this of all moments. One of the things she liked most about him was the intensity of his usual focus.

A feeling of unease spread over her as she looked between Ari and the group inside. She wasn't usually prone to petty jealousy, but she couldn't help but notice that his eyes seemed to be fixed on the row of servants, more than one of whom were attractive young women, including some who waited on Violet from time to time. Was it possible—a horrible, embarrassing thought—that she'd misinterpreted what or whom he wished to "embrace" in this different type of adventure?

She cleared her throat. "It seems I'm capable of being boring after all," she told him, not even caring that she sounded snarky. "I guess I need to keep you guessing a bit more."

"What?" Ari brought his gaze back to her, his expression confused. "I'm sorry, Violet, what were you saying?"

She frowned as she searched his face. "Are you all right?" she asked. "You were acting strange."

"Was I?" he asked, grimacing. "I'm sorry, I guess I'm nervous."

Violet softened. "I can understand that," she said. "It's not a small decision, upending your plans. But…do you really think you might stay?"

Ari didn't respond. His eyes had been on her face as she spoke, but as soon as she'd posed her question, they slid past her, once again settling on someone or something inside the dining hall.

"Ari," she said, not trying to disguise her impatience this time.

"I'm sorry," he said again, his eyes flicking back to her. "Violet, I'm really sorry. I…there's more I want to say, but I…can't. I have to go. I'm very sorry, but I have to go."

Violet's mouth fell open, confusion warring with embarrassment. "Oh," she said. "I, uh, I understand. I didn't mean to push you into—"

"I have to go, Violet," said Ari, cutting her off. "I'm sorry."

And before she could blink, he'd hurried past her and was pushing his way through the double doors. Violet stared after him, barely taking in the bustle within the room as the meal broke up and servants began clearing plates from the table. Cold rushed in to take the place of Ari's warm presence, and she felt more humiliated than she ever had in her life. She stood there for several long minutes, trying to get her head around the abrupt change. What had come over Ari? She'd never seen him behave that way. Had she pushed too hard?

Unable to face any of her family, Violet re-entered the dining room with a quick stride, hurrying into the corridor and toward her own suite. Only once she was alone and away from prying eyes did she let her emotions show. What a fool she'd been! How embarrassing that she'd thought Ari would melt in her hand, throw away all his plans for her.

But the memory of his warm smile as he told her she was like no one he'd ever met before intruded on her miserable thoughts. She hadn't imagined the connection between them. She had no idea why he'd behaved so strangely, but she told herself not to make a hasty judgment. Perhaps she'd been a little too forward and spooked him. It wasn't so difficult to understand.

Violet gave a curt nod into the darkness of her room. She was too sensible to be so easily overset. There was nothing she could do about her current mortification, but she could avoid letting it push her to take drastic action. There wasn't much time left before his departure, but there was still some. She would give them both the night to clear their heads, and speak to him properly in the morning.