This can’t be a… date.
I look at Oryx as heat explodes in my cheeks, creeping down my neck, sinking through my body. Every day we spent together in the library, I assumed I was the only one feeling the way I do. The only one secretly pining for someone I couldn’t have, something forbidden for a servant like me.
But this? A private picnic far away from anyone who could judge us or tell us otherwise…
It’s suddenly hard to breathe.
“Lizette?” Oryx says, but I barely hear the word. I’m too busy battling the pulse pounding in my ears and my breaths that are becoming more and more erratic.
What the hell is wrong with me? And why can’t I think straight?
The next thing I know, Oryx is there, crouched beside me. He places two heavy hands on my shoulders to ground me, and I snap to my senses at his touch. My eyes jump to his dark brown ones, hovering a foot from my face, and I’m instantly aware of how close we are.
My mouth opens, but no words come out.
“If this is too much, we can leave,” he says, his deep timbre rolling over my skin and leaving goosebumps in its wake.
The corners of my eyes begin to prickle as wave after wave of crushing emotion slams into me, twisting my thoughts, tugging at my insides.
It’s not that I want to leave.
No, quite the opposite.
I’d stay here forever with Oryx if I could, but a tiny voice in my head reminds me that it isn’t possible. No matter what we do, no matter where we go, there is still a barrier between us.
He’s a prince and I’m a servant.
“I…” My voice trails off and I squeeze my eyes shut.
What am I doing? What have I done?
I’ve clearly gotten us into a mess, and I know we can’t keep going like this. He or I or both will be punished in one way or another if it’s discovered what we’re doing.
“Lizette.” His voice is more demanding this time, slicing straight through the commotion in my head. My eyes fly open and lock with his again. “Tell me what you’re thinking. Please, I didn’t mean to upset you.”
“You didn’t,” I assure him. “This is amazing, thank you. It just kind of hit me… how silly I’ve been.”
His eyes narrow, his head canting to the side. “Silly? About what?”
Fuck, he’s going to make me say it. But how else can I get myself out of this mess?
“I thought for a moment that this might be… something more than a picnic, but that’s absurd. And I’ve been slowly tricking myself into believing that you have some kind of feelings for me.” I shake my head, knowing I sound ridiculous. I wish the ground would open up and swallow me whole. “But you’re obviously just being nice. You could never actually have feelings for a servant, a nobody, when you could have anyone you want in your kingdom.”
I take a deep breath that shakes on the way out.
“I’m so sorry if I’ve ruined all this,” I manage, keeping my voice mostly level.
He doesn’t say anything at first, just staring at me like he’s trying to process my words. I’m so embarrassed all I want to do is hide my face. Of course, I was stupid for having a crush on a prince.
What was I thinking?
But the words that come out of his mouth shock me to my core. “Who said it wasn’t?”
I try to respond, but my response dies on my tongue. I open my mouth, close it again, and slowly shake my head.
“Well… no one,” I finally answer. “But it doesn’t make sense. Why would you want to go on a date with me?”
He chuckles and removes his hands, sitting back on his heels without moving from the spot next to me. “Clearly, I haven’t been obvious enough with my flirting if you’re surprised by this at all.”