"I hate that," I murmur, working to press myself closer to him, even though that's not really possible. "I hate the idea of you scared, and alone, and talking to girls when I was just like...half a city away." "But you were engaged," he says, his voice strange - I think a little amused? I don't know. I can't quite parse it.

"You knew about that?" I ask, looking up at him wide-eyed.

"How could I not?" he asks, grinning at me. "You were all over the media - and it's all anyone would talk about, especially as it got close."

"Well," I say, smiling myself a little too and reaching up to stroke my fingers through his hair. "What did you think about it?"

didn't really think about it. It was all very far from what I had been instructed to think was important, what I could understand - a royal wedding..." he shakes his head. "I didn't have a

I say, shoving his shoulder a little, my

long moment before he breaks, looking away from me like he can't hold my eyes while he admits it. "Fine," he says, heaving a little sigh.

looking at me, a faint blush on his cheeks. "I saw a few pictures on the covers of

boy, Ariel - and you smelled like a boy, and I had no reason to equate the lowest-ranked Candidate at the

not dressed up in all that bride-y gauze." "Yes, all that bride stuff really was crap," I say with a sigh, staring up at him, starry-eyed

down, sitting up straighter and resolving to be good. "How'd you spend your time

talk for hours, spinning out

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