Free Devotion by Megan Derr Page A

where his wax and seals were stored. He was completely unsurprised to see yet another package, this one wrapped in blue tissue paper.
    It was large, square, and left Reyes puzzled. Closing the drawer, he set the package on his blotter and slowly pulled away the paper. The velvet jewel box within matched the one that had contained his pin, and he was ignoring for the moment that it was from the most expensive jeweler in the country—and not a one of them was remotely cheap. Sighing, excited and annoyed all at once, he finally opened the box.
    He stared at the contents, and then reluctantly smiled and extracted the beautiful pocket watch. It was silver, etched all over the back and front with tiger lilies. Opening it, he immediately saw the engraving on the inside of the front piece.
    ~To my prince
    Love, K~
    "Idiot," Reyes said softly, and tucked the watch away in the pocket of his waistcoat, attaching the chain to a buttonhole. Where was Kinnaird?
    Giving up all attempts at getting work done even though he knew he was going to regret it in the morning, Reyes put back all the things he had taken out, tidied up his desk and put out the lamps. Casting the overabundance of flowers a last scathing look, he left the office, locking it behind him.
    He lingered in the hallway right outside the office, worrying his lip as he tried to determine where Kinnaird might have been hiding—and what else he was plotting. There was also the matter of his own gift.
    Well, best to start where they had begun, because their rooms were the only place no one was foolish enough to bother them except in an emergency. Walking through the halls, mostly ignoring the people he passed, Reyes went quickly up the stairs and then down the hall towards the suite of rooms allotted to Kinnaird—their rooms, really, since Reyes could not remember the last time he had been anywhere near his own little room at the opposite end of the palace.
    The smells of a fine meal struck him first, followed almost immediately by Kinnaird's warm, spicy cologne. The room was dim, with only a few candles offering light, just enough to see the lavish dinner arranged on the table before the fire.
    Movement caught the corner of his eye, and he turned in time to go easily into Kinnaird's arms, returning his heated kiss full measure. "Where have you been all day?" he asked when they finally pulled apart.
    "Ensuring that we are not disturbed for the rest of the night and all of the morning," Kinnaird replied, reaching up to tug away the ribbon binding back Reyes' hair and casting a spell that banished the dye in it to reveal its true royal gold color. "I wanted to be able to enjoy my winsome prince at my leisure. Did you get enough work done to keep from fretting about it?"
    "It will keep," Reyes said, meaning it. As much as he hated to admit it, work was far too easy to push aside where Kinnaird was concerned. "Thank you for the gifts. You're an idiot and did not have to go to so much trouble—"
    Kinnaird cut him off with a kiss, fingers sliding down Reyes' back and curving around to lightly grasp his hips. "No trouble at all, I assure you."
    "I thought the lapel pin was going to be a ring, at first."
    The words made Kinnaird laugh against his mouth. He stole another quick kiss before stepping back and motioning toward the table. "I know very well how much trouble I would be in if I tried to give you an engagement ring during the Days of Devotion. Come, we should eat dinner before it grows cold. I had them make all your favorites." He took Reyes' hand and turned away to lead him to the table.
    Reyes swallowed, refusing to be nervous, and said, "So from the way you are laughing, I guess you do not want the ring that I bought you?"
    Kinnaird stopped so abruptly he nearly tripped over his own feet and whipped around to stare in surprise. "The what you bought me?"
    The nervousness Reyes hadn't been feeling vanished. He clasped his hands behind his back and shrugged. "Nothing of interest