A couple of blocks away from the soldiers’ entrance, Jarvik finally caught up to her. He wrapped her in a hug, holding tightly. “I thought we lost you,” he stammered.
“I’m fine.” His body was hard and solid against hers.
“What happened?” he demanded as he held her at arm’s length, looking her over for any signs of injury. His eyes lingered on her swollen lip.
Her eyes darted to the rooftops of the nearby buildings. “Let’s go inside first.” She feared the assassin could be hidden anywhere watching them. “I have a lot to tell you.” When they neared the soldiers’ entrance, the Fren soldiers joined them and they were granted entrance.
Once inside the castle, Jarvik dismissed his men, trying to minimize attention. He continued on with Allyssa. Heading along the dark, empty corridor, the squire abruptly stopped next to one of the windows, the moonlight shining on his worried face.
“What happened?” he demanded.
She quickly told him as many of the details as she could remember. When she got to the part about her trying to take on the skilled assassin by herself, his eyes darkened and he put his hands on his hips, shaking his head.
When she finished, she said, “You may yell at me now.”
He stood there staring at her a moment before asking, “You can’t retrace your steps?”
“No.” Wasn’t he going to tell her how stupid it had been to go with the assassin? To fight him when there was little hope of winning? To put her life in danger like that?
Jarvik ran his hands through his hair, letting out a sigh. “The ball will be tricky. With so many people attending, the assassin could easily slip in to try and kill the royal family.”
Reaching up, she touched her lip. It was split, and there was some dried blood on it. Once Mayra applied some coloring to Allyssa’s lips, no one would be able to tell she’d been hit.
“I can’t believe the assassin struck you,” Jarvik said, “and that I wasn’t there to help you.”
“I’m fine.” She shrugged. It really was no big deal. She’d been in plenty of brawls to know this was minor.
He took a step closer to her, his chest almost touching hers. She started to lean away from him but he put his hand on her back, holding her in place.
“What are you doing?” she asked.
He lowered his face closer to hers. “I’m looking at your cut. I want to make sure the assassin didn’t have his gloved hand laced with poison.”
She hadn’t even considered the possibility.
“It’s not red or oozing,” he declared. “You’re fine.”
His gaze moved from her lips to her eyes. For the first time in her life, she wanted to be kissed. He hastily took a step away from her.
Realizing what had almost happened, she said, “I should go to my bedchamber.” Jarvik nodded as she stepped around him and practically ran down the hall to the laundry room.
“Shoulders back,” Rema said. Allyssa couldn’t believe her mother had given her this dress to wear. It was the gown Rema had worn to her coronation ball in Emperion almost twenty years ago. “This is a special occasion,” Rema continued “You must look the part.”
“The gown is stunning on you,” Mayra said.
“Definitely something fit for the future empress,” Madelin added.
The ivory-colored dress had a neckline that went straight across her chest and shoulders, leaving her neck and upper arms exposed. A diamond necklace rested above her bosom. Madelin had braided Allyssa’s hair and twisted it up and around her jewel-encrusted crown.
“Where’s Prince Odar?” Allyssa asked. She hadn’t seen him all day and thought he’d be here by now, preparing for the announcement.
“I saw Jarvik on his way to get him,” Mayra said.
Rema adjusted Allyssa’s necklace. “Sweetheart,” she whispered, gaining her daughter’s attention. “Please focus. You’re about to make an important announcement to the city.”
Allyssa nodded. Her mother was right. She should be going over her speech, not worrying about where the prince was.
Darmik entered the small antechamber, his eyes settling on his daughter. “You look beautiful,” he said, kissing her on the cheek. “Are you ready to announce your upcoming marriage to Emperion?”
“Speaking of which,” Allyssa said, “since I’m traveling to Fren, when will the wedding take place?”
Rema rubbed her daughter’s arm. “We are working out all the details with the prince. Once it’s settled, we’ll let you know.”
Prince Odar and Jarvik entered, wearing handsome tunics embroidered with Fren’s royal crest. Jarvik glanced briefly at Allyssa before going to Neco, who stood in the corner. The two of them began speaking in hushed whispers.