She glared at him. “You’re looking at me like I’ve gone completely crazy.”
His smile stretched. “You are crazy. But in the best way possible. However, you going alone? Now, that’s really crazy.”
She shook her head. “I’m not going alone. Theon is coming with me.”
“No, I’m not,” Theon said quietly.
He’d been standing a bit behind her so he hadn’t been in her direct line of sight as she spoke to Nic and Mira.
She spun around to face him. “Of course you’re going with me.”
He looked at her sternly. “Your sister never should have told you any of this. It put ideas in your head.”
“And now that the ideas are there, I have to find out if they’re true. Don’t you see? This is the answer. This is what’s going to save Emilia. If I don’t go—if we don’t go—she’s going to die. I know it.”
His face was tense. “Your father didn’t give his permission for this trip.”
“I don’t care what my father said!” Her cheeks blazed with anger. “You heard him yourself. He doesn’t understand. He doesn’t believe. But I do. He’ll be angry, but when he sees that this works, then he’ll be grateful that we went against his wishes.”
“He only wants to keep you safe.”
“I will be safe. Besides, you’ll be there to protect me.”
“You might be ready to ignore your father’s wishes, but I can’t. He’s the king. His word is my command. For me, for everyone in this kingdom. Do you know the penalty for going against a direct order from the king? It’s death, your highness.”
Cleo’s heart pounded. “I wouldn’t let anything happen to you. I swear it. You don’t have to be afraid.”
He bristled. “I’m not afraid. You’re just being stubborn. Do you always get what you want?”
“Yes,” Nic said at the same time that Mira said, “Actually, she does.”
Cleo turned to Theon. “If I have to order you to come with me, I will. Don’t make me.”
“You can order me all you like, but the answer will still be no,” he growled, giving her a dangerous look that reminded her a little too much of her angry father. “I answer to the king, not to you. He said no, so I must also say no. We’re not going. Please, princess, try your best to accept this. Anything else will only make everything more difficult for you.”
Her eyes burned, but no tears spilled this time. She was all out of tears. Now she just had boiling-hot anger to fuel her.
She turned to Nic. “What do you think?”
“That’s a good question,” Nic replied. “While I’m not sure it’s the wisest idea I’ve ever heard, I know your heart’s in the right place. You love your sister more than anything.”
“Enough of this,” Theon said sharply. “The discussion is over. There will be no trip to Paelsia today.”
“I wasn’t even planning to leave for two more days.” She let out a slow, shaky breath. “Maybe by then you’ll have changed your mind.”
“Two days,” Theon repeated, his hard gaze finally softening. “A lot can happen in two days.”
“I know.”
“The same goes for you, princess. Think about this for two days. We can discuss it again. I hope that your commitment to this foolhardy plan will ease by then. Do you think that’s possible? Will the idea of Watchers and magic seeds seem a little less ideal when some time has passed?”
“Maybe,” she admitted with reluctance.
He nodded, seemingly satisfied by the answer. “I’ll escort you back to your chambers now.”
Cleo said good night to the Cassians and followed him, not speaking another word until she reached the door to her room.
“I am sorry,” Theon said. “I know how much you care about your sister. But I can’t go against your father’s wishes.”
“I know. And I do understand.”
He stiffened when Cleo took his hand in hers and brought it up to her lips to kiss it. The look on his face was priceless. She’d completely shocked him.
“Your highness...”
“I like you, Theon. So much. Despite any harsh words thrown between us, I know your heart is true.”
He swallowed hard. “I feel the same way toward you.”
“I know you think I’m a spoiled brat who only wants things her way.”
“I never said that. And I don’t think that. You are a...well, I think you’re kind of incredible. Stubborn isn’t always a bad thing. And your love for your sister is admirable.”
Cleo smiled before it faded. “I don’t want to marry Aron. Ever.”
He looked down at her fingers now laced with his. “I know.”
“What I want isn’t allowed.”
Theon’s gaze moved back up to burn into hers. “The feeling is mutual.”
Oh, how she wished things were simpler. And oh, how she wished she was talking about wanting Theon.
She did want him. But she wanted to save her sister’s life even more.
Cleo went up on her tiptoes and brushed a kiss against Theon’s cheek. “I know you’re just trying to protect me.”
He touched his face, desire darkening his gaze. “There’s nothing else I want more than to keep you safe.”
She smiled up at him. “Nothing at all?”