Kyff looks up to me because I give him the time of day. Genuinely enjoy his company. Love him.
When Boris’s eyes finally lift to mine, I see the weariness there. He is only in his mid-thirties and already the hair at his temples is showing signs of sliver. The small creases bracketing his mouth aren’t from smiling but from frowning. “When I asked him about it, he said he got it from your drawer.”
That can’t be right...
“This is the last straw, Senan. If you won’t stop for yourself, stop for him.”
“I have stopped.” Even as I say the words, my fingers tighten around the sparkling vial. “I swear, this isn’t mine.”
His silver eyes flash. “Are you saying he lied to me?”
“I don’t know.” But I plan to find out. “I’ll talk to him and get to the bottom of this.”
Boris catches my arm, positioning himself so that he is blocking the entrance to the dining room. “Oh no you don’t. I have allowed you to influence Kyffin for far too long. I should’ve put an end to your interactions the moment you chose dust over your duty to this family.”
He cannot be serious. “I would never hurt Kyff.” That boy has been the only good thing in my life for far too long. Without him, I don’t even want to think about where I’d be now.
Boris jabs a finger at the stardust. “What the hell do you think that is?”
“Boris, I?—”
“No. I’ve had enough of your lies. There is too much darkness in you, Senan, there always has been. I thought I could help you, but it’s clear you are too far gone to save. Now it is my responsibility to keep you from tainting anyone else.”
All I can do is stare at his rigid back as he turns and stalks into the dining room.
There is too much darkness in you…
I need to speak to Kyff, but maybe Boris is right. Maybe my baby brother is better off without my influence. I’ll either be dead or gone soon anyway.
…keep you from tainting anyone else.
Maybe disappearing is the best thing I can do for Kyff.
I should get rid of the dust. Dump it into one of the potted plants or throw it off the balcony.
Instead, I stuff the vial into my pocket and go after my girl.
Forty-Eight
ALLETTE
There is onlyone salvageable dress still hanging in the armoire, made of serviceable gray cotton with buttons that climb all the way to my neck. I change quickly and then go to Senan’s room to wait for him to leave his fiancée and return to me. The longer it takes, the more my heart breaks.
Don’t settle for shadows, Allette.
Everyone deserves to be loved in the light.
Braith was right. For too long, I have lived in shadows, settling for less than I should. I want all or nothing and must be willing to walk away if the prince cannot give me what I deserve.
The balcony doors open, and Senan steps through.
Our gazes collide, and from the broken look on his face, it’s clear he knows what I’m about to say before I utter a word.
I stand from his bed and force my wrenching hands to my sides. “Senan, I am sorry. But I cannot do this. I cannot be your mistress.” That terrible word painted above my bed rings through my mind.I cannot be your whore.
“My mistress?” His long strides eat up the gap between us. “Allette, you are my wife.”
“Not in the eyes of the world. Not according to the law.” In a handful of days, a princess will be waiting for him at the endof an aisle…unless I can convince him to choose me. “For too long, I have settled for pieces of you. That ends tonight. It’s all or nothing.”