“Yes, you are,” Vhalla insisted.

“I wear black in public.”

“Why?”

“I will tell you, perhaps, if you tell me what cloud situated itself over your head.” Clearly her day of sulking had not been lost on him.

“I’d rather not talk about it,” she mumbled.

“I would rather you did.” He leaned forward. “Was it the dream?”

“Why is everyone so obsessed with my dreams?” Vhalla shrunk away.

“Because we care about you,” Aldrik explained.

“We?” she repeated.

“Fritz, Larel, and I.”

“Why ...” Why did he insist on caring about her? “Well, you should stop.”

“That is not—”

“I thought I came here to work on something with you.” Vhalla was on her feet. “I’m not doing this again, Aldrik. I won’t be your project.”

“Yes, yes, of course, my lady.” He waved a hand.

“Don’t patronize me.” It struck a chord with her.

“Are you not a lady?” he asked.

“I am a woman,” Vhalla said with a roll of her eyes. “But I am not a lady.”

“Fine then, my princess.” He smirked.

“Stop,” Vhalla cautioned.

“Why, my queen?”

She’d had enough and was halfway to the door when Aldrik snatched up her wrist. Vhalla didn’t even turn and look at him.

“They’re just words.” The timbre of his voice had gone low and deep.

“They’re not.” She thought of all the lords and ladies she’d seen in the palace, how different she felt on the night of the gala. Titles were more than just words. They were walls and barriers and parapets to lift up some and keep others out.

“Look at me.” He commanded and she obliged. “I could give you any of them.”

“It doesn’t work that way.”

“It does.” She made the mistake of giving him her focus, and Aldrik’s serious gaze consumed it whole. “One day, I will be Emperor. I could make you anything you pleased.”

“Why?” Vhalla whispered.

“Because ...” He was at a momentary loss for words. Then the prince did something he had a reputation for avoiding. He met her gaze and showed her the truth from which he spoke. “I would do it because it would please you.”

Vhalla turned to face him, searching the prince with skepticism. She opened her mouth and closed it again, unsure how to reply. She didn’t know if she was brave enough to be so bold.

He relaxed his grip on her wrist, and his hand shifted to hers. “I realized something this morning, these past days,” Aldrik murmured. “I am a spoiled prince. No matter how unfair it may be, I do not do well being denied something I want, even if it’s self-inflicted. I have hurt you, I have put you in harm’s way, and I will continue to ask this and more of you the longer you stay near me. Yet knowing this, I seem to want you closer even when sense tells me the opposite.”

“Aldrik.” All words but his name failed her.

“You asked me before for honesty; there it is.” It was his turn to search her features for her reaction.

Vhalla felt dizzy, and all she could manage was a nod. He led her back to the small sitting area and sat with her. Vhalla felt the warmth of his skin under her fingertips, and she did nothing to break their contact. “So, if it involves my feelings, trust me above all others.”

“Above Elecia, you mean.” Vhalla didn’t leave things to chance.

“Above Elecia,” Aldrik agreed with a nod.

“So then, you’re not upset with me?” If they were clearing the air, Vhalla wanted to get everything out.

“Not in the slightest.” Aldrik’s thumb ghosted over the back of her hand. “If anything, you should be upset with me for ...” He sighed and ran a hand through his hair.

“Let’s call it even.” Vhalla didn’t want to dwell. She had done enough of that all day, and she felt at ease finally knowing more or less where she stood with Aldrik. “So what are we actually supposed to be working on?”

Aldrik shared a brief smile with her before his face quickly turned somber. “I have a plan to take the North.” His eyes bore into her. “But I will need you.”

“What could I do?” She hadn’t mastered any type of combat.

“It will depend on if you are able to become proficient at Projection. I believe I am able to see you when you are Projected because of our Bond, but no one else should be able to. If you can Project, you can infiltrate the Northern stronghold undetected. Learn its passages and its weaknesses. The information you could give might make them fall in one night.”

Vhalla instantly felt uneasy at the idea. “But last time I became stuck.”

“I will help you, I will be here.” Aldrik squeezed her hand lightly. “If you are willing, we will begin practice tonight.”

After some internal debate, Vhalla finally decided. “I will.” Perhaps this would be the one thing she could do that would give meaning to her conscription into the military. “What do I need to do?”

“Well, have you worked on Channeling?” Aldrik finally straightened, pulling his hand from hers. The distance he’d previously placed between them didn’t come rushing to fill the space. It didn’t feel like he was planning for it to be the last time they touched.