“In West Faerie, the throne passes to daughters.”
“Only in West Faerie?” I ask. “The other Fae courts don’t follow the same rule?”
“As far as I know.”
As I process the new information, I study the bandit. The light plays with my eyes, making it impossible to see him well, but I memorize all the details I can—his dark hair peeking out from under the brim of his hat and his equally dark eyes under the mask. Clean-shaven skin, expensive leather, well-tailored jacket.
“You’re not a bandit,” I finally say.
“I told you I wasn’t.”
“You’re…”
“Yes?”
Is it my imagination, or does he look a touch nervous?
“Well, you’re rather heroic, aren’t you?”
He swallows, his throat visibly moving. “I think that might be an exaggeration.”
“Not to all the people you’ve saved.” I meet his shadowed eyes. “Not to me.”
We’re closer now, drawn together as if connected by an ever-shortening cord.
“You’ve never let me thank you for saving me that night,” I whisper.
His voice is rough as he says, “It’s not necessary.”
“Surely you can at least accept a small token?” My eyes move to his lips, which are perfectly visible in the candlelight. “A kiss for a hero? Isn’t that the way the stories go?”
“Alice,” he says, his voice strained.
I press a chaste kiss to his mouth, our lips meeting for only a few brief seconds before I pull back. Just for a moment, his eyes flicker into focus, but then he tilts his head slightly, and the shadows obscure them once more.
“Thank you for saving me,” I whisper, moving forward again.
It’s just another soft kiss—lingering, one-sided, and slightly disappointing. But the bandit doesn’t move away, nor does he nudge me back.
And then…his lips subtly move against mine, and my heart skips a beat. His hand finds my side, his fingertips grazing my waist, and I move in closer.
Suddenly, he jerks back. Half a second later, a knock sounds at the door.
“Alice,” Regina calls from the hallway. “Are you still awake?”
When I turn to tell the masked man to hide, I find he’s already gone. The balcony door shuts behind him, and his shadow disappears over the rail.