TWENTY-THREE
Lubos wanted to skip all the way up to her chamber, as she'd named the empty room above his own that Molina had claimed for her workroom. He settled for racing up the steps, something he hadn't done since he was a boy.
He threw open the door, and there she was. For a moment, she seemed transfixed with shock, before her thunderous expression cleared and her beaming smile blinded him.
"Lubos!" She dashed across the room and threw her arms around him, kissing him with such fervour he wished he'd thought to commission a bed for this chamber.
He did not want to break the embrace, but he knew he would have to. His father expected him in the throne room, and he would have to explain his delay.
Gently, he pushed her away from him so that she stood at arm's length. "I must rep
