“And the boots that make no sound?”
“Pardon?”
“You wore them the other day when you were invisible. I’m surprised you took them with you to court. They’re rather shabby things, aren’t they? Not fit for a lady.”
“Invisibility wouldn’t do me much good if I clatter about.”
His questions proved he was suspicious of my actions, but those suspicions couldn’t run deep. He wouldn’t suppose me capable of more than minor mischief. I fiddled with my sleeve and peered out across the garden to the plants that were only lumpy silhouettes in the night.
Ronan’s fingers tapped against the back of the bench. “Have you learned any other spells besides the ones I taught you?”
I chuckled as though the question was ridiculous. “How would I have managed such a feat? I’ve told no one of my mark, and even if I had, no wizard would be so foolish as to teach me.”
“Yes, only a very foolish wizard would teach you anything—or,” he added with a sigh, “one who was completely smitten with you.”
My gaze shot to him. “Were you smitten?” I didn’t believe it. Not when he’d turned away from me so easily.
He tilted his head. “Does that surprise you?”
“Yes.”
“Then you’ve forgotten most of our years together and only remember our last three months.”
He was right, but still. “Those were the most memorable of our months.”
He shook his head. “I remember them all. I remember when you used to be happy and light and witty.”
I laid my hands across my knees and pursed my lips in offended dignity. “I’m still witty.”
He laughed, so he couldn’t deny my claim. His hand slid over mine. “But not happy? Not light?”
Not since I came to court. And perhaps not earlier either. Admitting as much bothered me. A capable woman should’ve been able to overcome her affections and disappointment in a matter that was years old. The vine of one’s love, unwatered, should wither. Instead, seeing Ronan had sent new tendrils squeezing my heart.
I looked at the shapeless plants in the garden again. “Do you want me to be happy?”
He gently took my chin and turned it back to him. “Yes. I want nothing more.” His blue eyes were on mine, searching my face with such intensity that I believed him. Here was the Ronan of old, the Ronan I’d loved. I shut my eyes and leaned toward him, lips falling open. A shameless request, perhaps, but one he obliged.
He dropped soft, adoring kisses on my mouth, my cheeks, and my closed lids. His lips returned to mine with warmth and eagerness. I wrapped my arms around his neck and sighed, completely undone. This was dangerous and wrong, kissing the enemy, and yet I melted into him like drips of wax clinging to a candle. For several minutes, only one thought occupied my mind. Ronan wanted nothing more than my happiness. He cared for me. Even as poor and unconnected as I was, he was kissing me as a suitor would.
Or perhaps as a rogue would. He was, after all, a wizard.
Still, while I kissed him, the world and all of its consequences faded and blurred. I could abandon the renegades and be the woman Ronan thought I was. That was still a possibility. Or better yet, I could convince Ronan to join our cause.
While his lips found my neck, I murmured, “Would you ever consider leaving the king’s council and moving to a poor country estate?”
If he was willing to give up power for love, then perhaps I could convince him to give up his position so I didn’t have to takehis mark. The chances of his agreeing were as likely as a sudden frost, but I silently begged him to say yes.
Yes, yes, yes…
He lifted his head, a smile on his lips. “Or I could find you an estate close to court with a suitable chaperone.”
Like a proper suitor? Foolishly, I entertained the thought of Ronan as a husband for several distracting moments. It could never be, of course. If Ronan saw that my wizard’s mark was equal in size to his own, he would know me capable of more than the magic he’d given me. He would figure out the rest.
“I couldn’t leave Lady Edith,” I said.
His eyebrow quirked up. “If you came to court to find a husband, wasn’t leaving Lady Edith part of the plan?”
Ah. Yes. I laid my head against Ronan’s chest so he couldn’t see my face. He was too adept at reading my expression. “I worry for your safety here. Three of the king’s wizards are dead. Another was stricken of his mark.”