Chapter 22

Connie

When I was back at the docking station, I found the entrance to Billy and Bob’s ship, and went in. They both came out the bridge and stopped when they saw me.

“Hey guys,” I said, my voice holding onto a hint of sadness I wasn’t expecting.

“Are you hurt?” Bob asked.

“No, I’m fine. Just a bit tired. I’m gonna go to bed. Good night,” I said and went to my room.

When the door closed, I stripped off the dress, carefully hanging it on one of the arms of the body form machine and climbed into my comfy pajamas.

What the king did still stung, but if he hadn’t done it, I wouldn’t have had that moment with Raylon. He was very different from my first impression.

When I first found out he was the king’s brother, and therefore the prince, I panicked, and felt hurt that they would both lie to me like that, just to have a laugh.

But after spending only a few short minutes with him, I found myself liking his company.

I turned on my side, in my bed, and closed my eyes. My mind filled with his smooth, deep voice, and his mismatching eyes under the metal mask.

Raylon

The ship lifted into the sky, and all I could think of was how much I wished it would bring her back.

I panicked when she asked about my mask and did as I always do. I turned away from discussing it and ran.

Now, as I watched the shuttle leave the atmosphere, my only thought was of her voice as we spoke, the smell of her next to me, and the way she touched me.

I smiled as I turned away from the landing bay, thinking about how she would react to knowing what the punishment was for laying a hand on me, which she had done, twice.

I walked to the Grand Hall slowly, a smile on my face, her words ringing in my ears.

She has only just left, and already I craved to see her again.

I wanted to speak to her more. To hear her delicate voice, and to see her smile.

When I saw the tear run down her cheek, after what my brother did, I felt an irrational urge to comfort her. To show her compassion, and to make her happy again.

I had no idea that touching her skin like I did would send a surge through me that made my heart race and my mind spin.

I entered the hall, the people parting for me as I walked, and found my brother in the back of the room with his daughters.

“Brother, a word, if you will?” I said, my tone shifting away from the smile it held before.

He turned to look at me, his smile gone, and he dropped his head with a nod. We left the girls with the young prince and went to the patio outside.

“Raylon, I know what you want to say. Forgive me—I acted like a child,” he said.

“I am not the one who deserves your apology. I have known you your whole life. But Connie, your guest, felt the hurt of what you did deeply.”

“Yes, I know, and I have already made arrangements to apologize to her. I will ask you, brother, help me with this. I acted like…”

He shook his head, lost for words.

“Like an asshole,” I said.

He looked up at me with a frown, then smiled. “Yes, I believe that is a good term for my behavior.”

“How do you plan on apologizing to her? I do not think she will accept another invitation to the palace from you.”

“That is why I ask for your help. The Fuls have requested five days at the market, and I have granted them this.

“I would ask you to go to her, and show her the wonders of our kingdom, all the while letting her know that I am not the…asshole that I was tonight.”

He turned to me, his eyes serious, and his smile gone.

“We both know that Mystasar would not have approved of my actions tonight,” he said. “And I would have received quite the scolding for it.

“She made me a better man, and a better king. To forget that is to forget her, and I cannot do that.”

I bowed my head and smiled a little. “Very well, brother. I will do as you ask. But next time you see her, I will ask you to be a bit more respectful of her feelings.”

“Yes, of course, Raylon. You know this is not who I am. In the morning I will send word to the Ful ship and request this Connie woman await my shuttle.

“Perhaps you can spend the day in the market. There are many curious things to buy there, and for someone unfamiliar to our world, I believe this will be an interesting day.”

My brother smiled at me again and returned to the hall.

I let out a long breath, turned to the sky, and smiled. It quickly vanished at the thought of her asking me about my mask again.

At her curiosity of what I hide beneath it.

And at the thought that once she sees it, she would no longer want my company, and that she will look at me with disgust, like everyone else.

I returned to my room, after hours of avoiding everyone, and stripped off my clothes and lay in my bed. I closed my eyes.

My mind filled with images of her blue eyes, the pale soft skin of her neck and shoulders, her light hair flowing down her back, and the dimples in her cheeks.

A smile so beautiful it took my breath away. Her hand on my arm and mine on her back.

I turned on my side, pushing the thoughts aside so I could sleep. I would see her tomorrow and needed my rest.