CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
I love him too, you know.
They'd been her words, coming unbidden and unwelcome. Etta tried to tell herself they were to comfort Edmund. That they hid some deeper meaning about protecting the king.
She couldn't love a Durand. She couldn't even be friends with one.
Her footsteps followed closely behind Alex as he made his way to his room, his head ducked to avoid looking at anyone they passed. She felt for the comfort of her sword at her side, brushing the back of her hand across the hilt.
Alex's guards opened the double doors to his rooms, and he walked through before turning back to her. Gone was the anger of only moments before. His tired eyes held hers for just a moment before he sighed.
"Goodnight, Protector."
His formality struck a pain in her chest, but she man
