““They were clustered by an open tent from which breakfast was being served. Kassandra exchanged greetings, accepted a cup of milk laced with honey, and tried hard not to look around for Royce. Just as she was wondering where he could have gone off to, he appeared in the company of the twin javelin throwers. Seeing her, he stopped, and for a moment simply looked. Whatever he saw must have pleased him, for his smile was slow, devastating and utterly male. But his address, when he spoke to her, was entirely proper. “Good morning, Your Highness. I trust you slept well.” Two could play this game, she decided. He looked just smug enough for her to want to take him down a notch or two. “Alas, I did not. There was something rather annoying and persistent in my tent…an insect of some sort, I think.” Royce had just taken a swallow of lemonade. He coughed and cleared his throat. “An insect? Really? Are you sure it wasn’t something larger?” He leaned a little closer so that only she could hear him. “Considerably larger, Princess, and very…attentive, shall we say?” Fighting a fierce blush, she pretended great interest in the sweet breads and fruits set out on wooden platters. “I really can’t recall,” she murmured, and endured Royce’s chuckle with as good grace as she could muster.””
