Kyla spent the next four days keeping to herself. She didn’t go down to Court in the evenings, and she didn’t participate in the royal picnic or the flutterball matches that were scheduled at the palace that week.

Perhaps it was irrational to be so flustered by a man she barely knew, but she didn’t want to encounter him again and end up feeling even worse.

She was used to reading and lounging and staring out at the world beyond the palace gates—often for weeks at a time, with no interruptions—but she was getting bored and restless this week. She’d learned how to make shoes as a child from her father, and a few years, she’d started making boots again in her spare time, starting with leather and sewing and cobbling them with her dad’s old tools. Although it was the pastime she enjoyed most, she couldn’t even focus on the work.

She kept thinking about Hall, and that meant she couldn’t relax.

She wondered who he really was. She wondered what he was really doing here. He didn’t seem like the normal kind of man who declared himself a Potential. They were usually shallow and lazy, looking for a rich woman to support them in style. Men had no political power in Evalon, so the more ambitious and intelligent men rarely wanted the role of consort.

Mid-week, she was sitting on her private terrace, with a book and a citrus drink, trying to enjoy the lovely afternoon. She couldn’t concentrate on her story, though, and eventually she put the book down and looked down at the courtyard—wondering what Hall was doing, wondering when her sister would choose him for her weekly partner.

The thought made her feel vaguely sick, but she really needed to get used to it.

She sighed deeply and sipped her drink, trying to relax. But she put her glass down quickly when she saw a familiar figure appear in the courtyard, apparently having come out of the back door of the palace that she always used. She was too far away to see his face clearly, but she recognized his lean body, his dark hair, the way he carried himself.

It was Hall. He was leaving through the back door, like he had something to hide.

Kyla jumped to her feet, dropping her book and running into her dressing room to change quickly from her thin day dress to the trousers and boots she wore for walking.

She knew where he was probably going. She didn’t have to keep up with him. She’d follow him without risk of being caught and maybe get a better sense of what he was up to.

She was even prepared to climb the wall and go into the village if she had to, although she hadn’t dared to breach the perimeter since she was fourteen.

Three minutes later, she was hurrying down the back stairs and slipping out the door, telling the guard posted there she was just taking a walk.

The guard’s name was Iram. He knew her and knew her habits. He just grinned as he gave her a little bow. “Glad to see you feeling better, miss.”

Kyla had been using illness as an excuse to hibernate this week, as she often did. There was no other way she could get out of the many tedious social events expected of her.

“Thank you,” she called with a wave, walking quickly toward the trail in the woods that led to the corner of the wall that offered the only escape route.

She walked quickly, so she was slightly out of breath when she reached sight of the vine-covered section of wall. She paused in the cover of the trees. Hall must already be up and over, since he wasn’t in sight.

She waited as a security drone buzzed by. She was going to climb the wall. She would be in serious trouble if she got caught, but if she could find out what Hall was doing, it would be worth it.

She waited a minute or two, until two more drones flew by, and she ran for the wall, climbing up quickly by clinging to the vines. It wasn’t easy work, but with a little effort she pulled herself up toward the top.

She stopped abruptly when she heard voices, coming from the other side of the wall.

“It’s about time you showed up.” The voice was Hall’s. She would recognize it anywhere.

“Sorry. I had to make sure no one was around. If communicators were allowed on this backwoods planet, it would be a lot easier for us to get the job done.” The second voice was female. Kyla had no way of knowing for sure, but she would bet it was the blond woman he’d met in the café last week.

“Well, they’re not, and there was no way for me to smuggle one past the palace scanners. So let’s be quick. It’s dangerous for us to meet like this, especially so close to the palace grounds.”

Kyla held her body perfectly still, clinging to the vines on the wall. She had about two and a half minutes before another security drone came by, but she had to hear more of this conversation.

“I know. I know,” the woman said. “I ran into a few problems, though. We’re going to have to use another guy.”

“Damn it. I thought you had it worked out.”

“I thought so too. Anyway, I’ll need a little more time.”

“Shit.” Hall’s mutter was soft but intense.

“Hey, you have the easy job, remember?”

 “Easy? I’m basically part of a harem.”

The woman chuckled. “That was your idea.”

“There was no other way to get into the palace unsuspected.”

Kyla’s heart dropped at this proof that he was here under false pretenses. She’d suspected it, but that was different from knowing it for sure.

“I find it quite amusing that her Lady Highness still hasn’t chosen you. Maybe you’re not as irresistible as you think.”

“I’ve been hiding my natural charm on purpose.” Hall sounded amused now too.

“If you say so. Anyway, I’ll find someone else as soon as I can. Definitely before our last two weeks are up. I don’t like this planet.”

“It’s not that bad.”

“Don’t think I don’t know why you want to stay longer.”

“What are you talking about?”

“You know exactly what I’m talking about, and you said it was just for fun.”

Kyla blinked in surprise, wishing they’d speak with a few more details. Nothing wrong with a little more exposition in a conversation she was eavesdropping on.

“I meant what I said.” Hall’s tone was unnaturally stiff.

“Maybe you think you do. But I’m telling you to get it under control. We’ve got a job to do.”

“I know. I’m doing the job. Nothing is going to distract me.”

“See that it doesn’t. You can have all the fun you want, with whomever you want, between jobs. But if it starts to get in the way of work, I’ll have to find another partner.”

Kyla suddenly realized that the drone would be coming by any second. She climbed down the vines as quietly as she could, barely making it back to the grass by the time the drone came by. She crouched down, pretending to be adjusting her boot so the guards watching wouldn’t think she was doing anything wrong.

She couldn’t hear the conversation on the other side of the wall as well from this position, but she thought she heard Hall say, “No you won’t. You’ll never find another partner as callous and mercenary as me.”

Kyla felt heavy and shaky as she straightened up and moved away from the wall. She still had no idea what Hall was trying to do here, but at least she had confirmation that he was here with ulterior motives.

It may not be bad. He could be doing something against the law but not actually a threat to Evalon or its people. There were a lot of trivial laws here that meant almost nothing. Kyla didn’t want to think that he was here, actively working against her or her world.

She hated the thought. It made her sick.

She hadn’t yet decided what to do when she heard a rustling on the other side of the wall. Then Hall appeared on top, glancing both ways before he dropped down to the grass, not far from where she was standing.

He was obviously surprised to see her. His eyes widened as he straightened up. For just a moment, he looked unnerved, before relaxed good-humor filled his face. “I didn’t expect to see you,” he drawled, walking toward her as his smile got warmer.

She frowned and narrowed her eyes. “I can see that.”

“Why do you look so disapproving? You already know I’ve been over the wall before. I don’t like to be penned in.”

“Maybe. But I want to know why you’ve been over the wall. If you don’t tell me, then I’m going to report you to the guards.”

His smile faded. “You wouldn’t do that.”

“Yes, I would.” She stepped back when he moved even closer. His presence still did terrifying things to her body, even knowing what she knew about him. “Tell me now, or I’ll report you.”

His expression changed again, becoming almost wistful, as if he saw something in her that he appreciated, even though it gave him trouble. “You really should be careful, Kyla. Not all men are as kind-hearted as me. If someone was really up to no good and you threatened them like that, you might end up hurt.”

She was breathless, but not really from fear. It was a different kind of excitement. “Are you going to hurt me?”

“Of course not. I’m not that kind of man.”

“I think you could hurt someone if you wanted to.”

“Sure,” he said with a half-smile. “To defend myself. But I’m not a violent man. I’m too meek and gentle for that.”

She shook her head, trying not to laugh at his insouciance. The man was shameless, even when confronted with his wrongdoing.

And the most ridiculous thing was she found him more attractive now than she had before, as if part of her liked his shamelessness.

“There’s nothing meek and gentle about you,” she said, managing to keep her expression from softening. “Now tell me what you’re up to, or I’ll go report you right now.”

He let out a breath. “I’m a freelancer. A mercenary. I do a variety of jobs for money.”

This rang true to her. He seemed exactly like a mercenary should, if maybe a little too intelligent and cerebral. “What kind of jobs?”

“Various. In this case, Evalon has a number of very stringent import/export laws, and my client needs to get certain…goods off-world without attracting attention.”

She blinked. “Smuggling?”

He nodded, his eyes holding hers.

She believed him. She couldn’t help but believe him. It felt true, in addition to making sense logically. She was overwhelmed with relief, that he wasn’t actually here to hurt anyone.

She didn’t care about import/export laws. She didn’t care about smuggling, as long as it wasn’t dangerous materials. Her first impression of Hall hadn’t been wrong, if all he was doing here was smuggling.

“You work alone?” she asked, testing him to see if he would tell her the truth.

“No. I have a partner who usually works with me. She’s been in town handling our exit strategy, while I’m working the palace.”

She blew out a breath, feeling better about the whole world.

“So are you going to report me?” he asked, giving her a faint smile. “If you are, I’d appreciate you giving me a small headstart to get out of here.”

She shook her head. “You’re not smuggling weapons or explosives, are you?”

“No. Wool from your special sheep.”

Her lips parted as she understood. The wool was known and desired in all the surrounding galaxies, and there was a 90% tax on it, as the Coalition gouged the buyers of the best products in their control.

“I see,” she said, unable to keep from smiling back at him. “I get it. As long as no one gets hurt, you can do your thing.”

“I knew I liked you.” His smile warmed so much it made her breathless.

“Well, the verdict is still out on whether or not I like you.”

“You do.”

She tried to frown but couldn’t quite manage it. Her heart was racing with excitement again. “I certainly don’t like that kind of arrogance.”

He reached up to brush her cheekbone with his fingers, the way he had the other evening. She waited to feel that inner tug but didn’t feel it this time. All she felt was pleasure and more excitement. “Yes, you do,” he murmured.

Her knees felt weak and she swayed toward him, and there was no telling what would have happened had he not glanced up at the position of the sun. “Damn. I better get back. There are all those ridiculous bathing rituals I have to go through before Court.”

“You’re the one who thought it a good idea to declare himself a Potential.”

“It was the only way I could get into the palace for any length of time.”

“One week, you might actually get chosen by my sister, you know.”

“I’ve lucked out so far. I only need two more weeks.”

That fit exactly with what she’d overheard him say over the wall—another confirmation that he was telling the truth. “You’re not really her type, so you have that going for you.”

“Good. Any advice on how to continue to avoid her notice?”

“She doesn’t like smart men.”

“Ah.” He grinned. “That works in my favor, then.”

Kyla couldn’t help but chuckle. “More arrogance. I guess there’s not an end to it from you.”

“No. Not really. But I’m fortunate that you like smart, arrogant men.”

She gasped. “I do not.”

He brushed her hair back from her face. “Yes, you do.” His smile faded into something deep and almost sober. “I don’t think you’ve ever let yourself think about what you like, what you want. Maybe it’s time that you do.”

She lost her breath again, for a different reason this time. The words filled her mind, followed by all kinds of questions. He was right. She’d never thought much about it, since she’d never had the freedom to pursue what she really wanted.

She didn’t have the freedom now, either. But she wanted it. She really wanted it. More than ever.

When she felt herself leaning toward him again, lost in his gaze, she remembered herself in time to straighten up and say, “You should be getting back. They’ll kick you off the planet if you’re not where you’re supposed to be in time.”

“Yeah.”

They started down the trail together, and even in the silence, it felt like she knew him for real, knew him in a way she’d not really known anyone.

He would be leaving in two weeks. And she would be left here, with nothing really different about her life.

“What just made you sad?” he asked.

“Nothing.”

“I was watching you. You thought of something that made you sad.”

“It’s not really your business.”

“I told you before. You feel like my business.”

“Then your feelings are leading you astray.”

The corner of his mouth tilted up. “I guess they do that from time to time.”

“Yes. They do.”

They walked in silence until they reached the edge of the woods. Then she glanced up at him. “You go in first, since you have to get back to your quarters.”

“Okay. Maybe I’ll see you tonight, then.”

“If you do, it will be across the room, since you can’t leave your section.”

“I know. It’s very inconvenient. But I’d like to see you anyway. It’s time for you to stop hiding.”

She gasped and stiffened her shoulders. “I haven’t been hiding.”

He leaned over and brushed a very light kiss against her cheekbone, exactly where he’d stroked her before. “Yes, you have,” he whispered. “And it’s time for you to come out of your room.”

He started to pull away, but then he glanced his lips against her skin again, as if he couldn’t keep himself from doing it again.

It felt delicious. She was trembling all over. And then she felt that little inner tug again, and the last of her reservations transformed into a flood of deep pleasure. She moaned shamelessly and reached out to cling to his shoulders, since his legs wouldn’t support her otherwise.

Hall made a throaty sound in his throat, as if it felt just as good to him. Then he jerked away and muttered, “I’ll see you tonight.”

He was gone before she could say a word in response.

She waited a few minutes before she went back into the palace. Iram greeted her in his normal friendly manner, obviously suspecting nothing of the fact that she was coming back just after Hall.

No one would expect for them to have met up. No one would expect them to talk. No one ever expected any man to pay attention to her—just as she never went after any man.

She’d always been that way, but maybe she wanted it to be different. Maybe Hall was right about her.

It wasn’t as easy as it sounded, however, since her days, her whole life, was dictated by her position in the royal family and the rigid rituals of her world.

She was connected to Evalon, even though life here didn’t really suit her. It wasn’t like she could just pick up and leave.

Could she?

Not for Hall, though. She hardly knew him. Even if he offered, she couldn’t trust her whole future to him.

She might be falling for him, despite her best efforts, but she wasn’t that foolish.

She returned to her room and decided to take a bath. As her server drew hot water and scented it with lavender oil, Kyla stared at herself in the mirror.

She looked different. Her cheeks were flushed, and there was a glint in her eyes that she liked. Even her hair seemed brighter than it used to.

She was almost, almost pretty.

Maybe Hall would think so when he saw her tonight.

***

The next afternoon, Hall decided to go out for a walk, right about the time Kyla had the day before.

He’d decided the only way to cure his fascination with Kyla was to actually get her into bed. And that would only happen if he could get her alone, since she was so turned off by Court and all of the blatant sexuality that characterized it.

He knew she was attracted to him. He’d felt it deeply, vividly, after he’d opened a connection with her when she’d run out of Court on the last Feast Day. If he could get her to trust him, then she’d open up enough to give into her attraction to him.

Once he had sex with her, she’d be like any other woman to him, and he’d be able to leave this planet without looking back once their job was done.

But the first step was to get some more time to talk to her in private, and the only place that was possible in such a well-guarded palace was in the woods.

So he went out after lunch and waited near the trail she used. To his relief, she came out even sooner than he’d expected.

She looked young and fresh and pretty in a simple green tunic with her long hair pulled back into one long braid. His heart did a silly little leap in his chest when he saw her.

He moved onto the trail, facing the opposite direction as her so it would look like he was on his way back from a walk.

She jerked to a stop when the trail curved enough for her to see him. “What are you doing here?”

“I was taking a walk. What does it look like?”

She frowned. “Were you out to meet your partner again?”

“No. We don’t meet every day. That would be foolish.”

“Yes. It would. So you’re really just taking a walk?”

“Why do you sound so surprised?”

“I don’t know. It seems like such an innocent pastime.”

“And I’m not innocent?”

She almost, almost smiled. “No. You’re definitely not.”

“Well, you’ll have to be innocent enough for both of us.”

“I’m not innocent,” she said, her eyes wide.

“I thought you said you hadn’t had sex.”

“I haven’t, but what does that have to do with anything? Since I was twelve years old, I’ve watched men fuck women, men fuck men, women fuck women, and groups of three and four fuck each other. There’s not much I haven’t seen and I don’t know. I’m definitely not innocent.”

He thought about that—what such a background would do to a child. No wonder she was so turned off of sex. It was a wonder her sister still loved it so much. “Okay. I’ll agree to that. But you’re something…you’re…untouched.” He had no idea why he was talking like this to her. It was revealing too much about his thoughts regarding her, and it wasn’t really getting them where he wanted them to be.

She gave a little shrug. “If you say so. I don’t really feel untouched, though. I feel…”

When she drifted off, he asked, “You feel what?”

“I don’t know. Tired, bored of it all. There’s got to be something more than just this. There’s got to be.”

This would have been the perfect opportunity for him to start building up the idea of him introducing the world of sex to her in a way she’d never experienced, but he couldn’t bring himself to do it. She was being perfectly genuine with him, and he wanted to match it somehow. “I don’t know,” he admitted. “I’ve traveled all over. I’ve seen hellholes and paradises and everything in between. And I haven’t found much more than this. Take what you’re given and enjoy the time you have. It’s the only philosophy that works.”

She shook her head. “I don’t know. It doesn’t feel right to me. It feels like something has been taken away.”

He smiled, feeling connected to her even more deeply than he had before. “Well, if you tell me what it is, I can help you go find it.”

She smiled back.

“Can I walk with you?”

“I thought you already walked.”

“Sure,” he said easily. “But I can walk some more. I don’t have anything to do until I have to endure more hours of preparation for Court.”

She chuckled. “You’re the one who signed up for it.”

“I know. I’m not really complaining. But I could use another walk—and some better company.”

“Okay. Fine.”

She trusted him. Maybe not completely, but definitely more than she had before.

He should use it to his advantage somehow, but he couldn’t really make his mind work that way.

The truth was he mostly felt…proud.

***

The next day, Kyla spent all morning looking forward to her walk. There was no reason to expect Hall to join her again today, but she thought it was possible.

She really hoped he would.

She made a point not to hurry, however, as she walked downstairs and out the back door of the palace as usual, giving Iram a friendly wave as she stepped outside.

It took a lot of effort to maintain the pose of nonchalance as she walked toward the head of the trail through the woods, and she gave a little jump—more of pleasure than surprise—when she turned the first curve in the trail and saw Hall.

He stood leaning against a tree, and he was obviously waiting for her, since he straightened up as she came into sight.

“You’re here again?” she said, pleased when her voice sounded cool and casual.

“Naturally. Talking to you is the most interesting part of my days.”

“Well, I’m so glad I can provide you a little entertainment.” She kept walking down the trail as he fell in step with her.

“I’d say enjoyment is a more appropriate word than entertainment.”

She glanced up to check his face, which was smiling and looked genuine. She was ridiculously pleased by the words, by the idea that he enjoyed spending time with her.

“Do you just walk up and back on this trail every day?” Hall asked, bending over to pick up a fallen branch.

“No. I usually start off in this direction, but sometimes I walk through the orchards and lavender fields. Sometimes I just climb a tree and look out at the village.”

“Seriously? Why do you do that?”

“It’s interesting to watch people. I almost never leave the palace grounds, you know.”

His expression changed. “I know. That’s got to get old really quick. What do you do with the rest of your time?”

“I read a lot. Or make boots.”

“Boots? Seriously?” He looked interested and surprised.

“Yeah. I made these.” She stuck out her foot to show him.

“Wow,” he breathed. “They’re great. You’re really good at that.”

“It’s just for fun,” she said, flushing with pleasure. “But it’s nice to actually make things with my hands.”

“I guess so.” He paused, and then asked in a different tone, “What tree do you climb when you watch people?”

“I’ll show you.”

She had no qualms about showing him her favorite tree. He would eventually be gone, and it wasn’t like he was going to try to take her favorite position to people-watch.

If he wanted to people watch, once he left Evalon, all he had to do was step outside.

“It’s this tree,” she said, a few minutes later, when she reached the big tree with a few thick, low branches.

“It’s huge.”

“Yeah, but it’s easy to climb.” To show him, she pulled herself up on the lowest branch, grabbing the one above it until she could stand on the branch.

Hall grinned at her, looking faintly surprised and delighted, like he’d been given an unexpected gift. He grabbed the low branch too, and pulled himself up until he was standing on the branch beside her. Together, they climbed up the rest of the way until they reached the flattened branch that made such a good seat.

“See,” she said, gesturing out over the wall in the distance. “You can see half the village from here.”

“What you need are binoculars.”

“I have some,” she said, grinning at him and showing him the binoculars she kept hidden in the hole in the tree. She didn’t mention that she’d seen him in the café with the blond that day. It would give away her advantage.

“How long have you been climbing this tree?” he asked.

“For years. Since I was a little girl.”

“And you were never tempted to just hop on over the wall?” He was leaning back against the thick trunk beside her, and they were sitting very close together, in order for them both to fit on the branch.

“Of course, I was. It was against the rules and that made it even more tempting. I actually did a few times, but the punishments got worse and worse, and eventually it didn’t seem worth it. There was no real adventure to be had in the village anyway. So I’d just sit in this tree and look over the wall and dream about how it would feel to be free.”

She gave a little start as she finished the sentence, surprised and unnerved that she’d spoken so openly to a man she didn’t know and didn’t trust.

He didn’t appear to think it was strange, though. With a thoughtful expression, he murmured, “You didn’t feel free, even with all the luxuries you could ask for?”

“You can have all kinds of luxuries, but if you’re trapped in a palace, you’re still trapped in a palace.”

“They wouldn’t let you out, even if you asked?”

“Yes, they’d let me out, but I’d only be able to go certain places and do certain things. It doesn’t feel free when your life is scripted that way. I can’t go where I want. I can’t be who I want to be.”

“Who would you want to be?” It sounded like he really wanted to know.

She gave a slightly bitter shrug. “I don’t even know.” Then she shook her head hard. “Sorry. I don’t mean to sound like all I do is complain. I know I have a good life, compared to the majority of people. But I guess everyone wants what they don’t have.”

“Yeah. I think that’s right. And I sure wouldn’t want to be stuck here all my life. A fancy prison is still a prison.”

She gave him a little smile, ridiculously pleased that he’d understood. “I guess you’ve never felt like that.”

“Like what? Like I was in a prison.” He gave a strange little laugh. “I’ve definitely felt that way.”

“But you can go anywhere you like, do anything you want, can’t you? You’ve traveled all over, haven’t you?”

“What makes you think that?”

“You said so yesterday. And you’re a freelancer, aren’t you? You look like you’ve lived…hard.”

His laughter this time was more genuine. “Thanks. But, sure, I’ve traveled and experienced all kinds of things, but there are other ways of feeling bound by your own life.”

“How do you feel bound?” She didn’t really expect him to answer.

“When anyone meets me, they always assume I’m only one thing.” He quirked his eyebrows at her.

“Let me guess. They think you’re a handsome, charming playboy, don’t they?”

He gave a self-deprecating flip of his hand that was clearly an admission.

“So does that change when they get to know you?”

“Sometimes.” For the first time, his expression sobered. “But when someone really gets to know me, then they’re always afraid of me.”

This wasn’t at all what she’d expected. “What? What do you mean? Why are they afraid of you?”

He met her eyes and gave a half-shrug. “Certain skills can be…dangerous.”

She didn’t doubt for a minute that this man could be dangerous, and he was probably an expert at weapons and fighting. But she felt like she was getting to know him better, and she wasn’t afraid of him. She didn’t really understand what he was talking about.

“Yeah,” she said slowly, “but they’re only dangerous if they’re used against people, right? Why do they always assume you’re going to use your skills against them? I wouldn’t assume that.”

“Wouldn’t you?” he asked softly.

“No. I’m not afraid of you.”

With a little smile, he reached up and stroked her cheekbone with his knuckles. “Thank you for that, but I don’t think you really know me yet.”

She had no argument to that one, so she was silent for a minute, thinking about what he’d just said.

Finally, she sighed and said, “Honestly, sometimes I wish someone was actually afraid of me. At least it would prove I have some depth.”

“Of course, you have depth,” he said, sounding surprised.

“Sometimes I feel like this woods—artificially created for a very limited purpose and only allowed to grow within preconceived limits. And mostly just for show. And even that I’m not any good at.”

“Now, you know that’s not true.”

“Yes, it really is.”

“Because you don’t look like your sister? There are different kinds of beauty, you know. And yours is like a violet next to a peony. One might get most of the attention, but that’s not because the other is less beautiful. It’s just worth a harder pursuit.”

Kyla peered at him and saw nothing but sincerity in his eyes. She couldn’t help but smile. She’d never received a better compliment in her life, and it didn’t seem just like empty praise.

Starting to feel self-conscious, she decided it was safest if she change the subject. “Where were you born?”

Hall didn’t seem to mind the shift. He relaxed against the trunk and said, “On a little planet no one has ever heard of. It was naturally habitable, though, so no artificial habitation generators. My parents owned a vineyard.”

“Really? Did they make wine?”

“Yes. Really fine wine. They had a small but very exclusive market. They were never rich, but they loved the grapes and they loved the wine.”

“So I guess you know all about wine then.”

“Oh, yes.” He smiled, as if the thought of it made him happy.

“How’s the wine in our Court?”

“Not bad, as far as replicated stuff goes. It’s just a shallow reflection of the real thing, though.”

“Yeah. I guess so. I’ve never had the real thing.”

“You need to remedy that before you die.”

She doubted that would ever happen, but she did like the idea. “So is the vineyard still around?”

“No. My uncle sold it off when my parents died.”

“Oh no! How old were you?”

“Eleven. I was sent to live with my grandmother after that.”

“Where did she live?”

“She lived on Earth. In the ugliest part of the concrete jungle that planet has turned into.”

“That doesn’t sound good, after the vineyard.”

“In some ways, it was alright. My grandmother…she had similar…gifts to me. But she didn’t have very much else to offer me. I had to learn to make it on my own.”

All of this history he was sharing was fitting together in her mind, turning him into a whole person, a person she understood. “I guess you became self-sufficient early, then.”

“Yes.” He was smiling faintly, but there was a familiar glint of bitterness in his eyes that she’d seen there before. “I told myself if I could ever get out of that life, I would start moving and never stop. That world felt like a prison to me, and I was desperate to be free.”

She nodded. “Kind of like me, only my prison was a little more comfortable.”

“Exactly,” Hall agreed.

“I guess maybe that feeling isn’t all that unusual,” she said, thinking as the words came out. “For the life we’re given to feel like…like shackles.”

He met her eyes and held her gaze for a really long time. Finally, he breathed, “Yeah.”

“At least you managed to get out.”

“Did I?”

“Well, you’re not stuck in that ugly part of Earth anymore, are you?”

“True. But I don’t really feel very different. I just can’t shake that feeling of being…bound. Last year, I was in a…a really bad situation. I came pretty close to killing myself. I got out of it, but everything seems tainted after that. Like nothing I used to enjoy is the same.” He sighed and closed his eyes. “It feels like I’m still in prison.”

She gazed at him, understanding his bitterness, fatigue, disillusionment better than she would have expected.

After a moment, he gave a wry chuckle, as if he’d just remembered who he was and what he was doing. “Anyway, none of that is really relevant at the moment.”

She didn’t like that he’d brushed aside their conversation that way. “I think it is. I think it’s relevant. It’s funny that we both kind of feel the same. Maybe we’re just doing life wrong.”

This idea seemed to strike a chord in Hall. His brows drew together, like he was mulling over what she’d just said.

No one in all her life had listened to her the way Hall had. No one had taken her words so seriously, like she might actually be saying something wise, something worthwhile.

She suddenly felt too close to him, too exposed, like she was stripped naked in front of him—far deeper than anything physical.

It was terrifying. She’d never experienced it before. She straightened up with a little gasp and started to climb back down the tree.

“I didn’t realize it was so late,” she said, trying to sound natural. “I better be getting back.”

Hall looked like he’d been waken up abruptly, like he couldn’t quite focus yet. “Yeah. Me too.”

When they’d both reached the ground, he reached out to put his hand on her back, an automatic gesture to guide her back to the trail. She jerked away from his touch without thinking, still scared of the intimacy she’d felt earlier.

“Sorry,” she said with a nervous laugh. “You just scared me.”

His eyes never left her face. “I know I did.”

She didn’t know what exactly he meant by that, but it had sounded significant.

She decided the best thing to do would be to get back to the safety of her room.