“I can see that. But what does it mean?”
It means I’m dying inside this castle and no one seems to notice.“Why does it have to mean anything? Why can’t it just be a cage?”
Leeri stares up at me for the longest time before sighing. “What has happened, Senan? You were beginning to open up to me, but now you’re more closed off than ever. Have I done something to anger you?”
“No.”
Her lips flatten as she pushes her hands through her hair. “I wish you would tell me what I did so that I may fix it. I don’t wish to enter into this marriage as enemies.”
This “marriage”—if one would even call it that—isn’t about growing close. It’s about a political alliance. Why can’t she see that?
Her finger trails along my collarbone, dipping into the hollow at my throat and continuing to my chest. Leeri taps the name tattooed across my heart. “Was Allette your mother?”
I want to reach into her mouth and rip the precious name from her tongue. “No.”
Her eyes sparkle when she peers up at me through the curtain of her lashes. “Was she your lover?”
“That is none of your business. I’m not… I’m not discussing this with you.” I’m finished with this conversation and finished with her. I drop my glamour; my wings spring from my back.
“Where are you going?”
As far from her as possible. I figure she’ll get the hint when I fly away.
Forty-Five
SENAN
Allette isn’tin my room.
She promised to stay, but when I step inside, I know instantly that she is gone. It’s like the warmth inside this place has been replaced by cold emptiness.
Where could she be? Surely not back in those caverns. I’ll get Bilson to go down straight away?—
Then I remember asking Braith to organize a room for her directly below mine. She is probably there. Hopefully. Bilson casts a baleful glare my way when I emerge back onto the balcony. He drapes the towel he was using to dab his sweat across his shoulders and follows me to the balcony’s edge. But when I leap down to Allette’s balcony, he does not follow.
As much as I want Allette to share my bed, my brothers have this terrible habit of coming into my chambers without knocking, and I’m not the most diligent about locking my door.
I cannot wait for Jeston to give me the antidote so I can get the fuck out of here.
Because hewillgive me the antidote. We’ve come too far, lost too much, to not be together now. I refuse to die. Simple as that. Death cannot have me yet. Even as the thought crosses my mind,air catches in my throat, and I cough into my fist. I quickly swipe the bloody splatters on my trousers so Allette doesn’t see.
Her room is bright and airy, all whites and delicate pinks. She stands next to her armoire, blue silk hugging her form and a rainbow of fabric peeking from within. Hopefully the gowns the clothier sent are to her liking. If not, I can commission more.
She glances over her shoulder, and our eyes meet. All my worries and fears fade into the background.
If I were a selfless man, I would put an end to this now, before we fall further into this chasm. But when it comes to this woman, I’m as selfish as they come. I don’t know if it’s the power of our mating bond or some other cosmic connection, but I know in my heart that there is no fighting this. I will give in every time, and so will she. The only way to resist is to put a world between us once more.
If that were to happen again, I wouldn’t survive.
“There’s my girl.”
She whirls toward me, and a smile brightens her face. I will never tire of this view, more beautiful than any sunrise or sunset I’ve ever seen. She runs to me, throwing herself into my arms. My hands come around her lower back, holding onto her for dear life. You’d swear from the way our lips crash and our mouths devour that we’ve been apart for decades instead of only a few hours.
“I’ve missed you so much,” I murmur against her trembling lips.
“I’ve missed you too.” She pulls away, her nose wrinkling. “But you’re covered in sweat and blood. You need a bath.”
I do need a bath. And would you look at that? There is a bathing room right there. I drag her into the smaller room, but there is no tub, only a standing shower. Guess that’ll have to do. When she realizes my intentions, she tries to fight me off, but it’s too late. I already have the tap twisted. Water spills from theshowerhead, spraying over us both, as cold as the waves in the Folly Sea.