Her delicately arched eyebrows come together. “Why not? Your king thinks it is a fantastic idea.”
“You spoke of consummating our relationship with the king before discussing it with me?”
“If you would have returned to the dining room as I requested, then I would have spoken to you.”
I take Leeri’s hand, bringing her out onto the balcony, where the full moon paints the gleaming marble a rich silver, coming to a stop well out of earshot of the guard. There are more hanging around, circling the tower on patrol, but I’m fairly confident none of them will hear what I have to say next. “I do not want to marry you.”
She doesn’t so much as flinch. If anything, her lips seem to tilt up at the corners. “We don’t always get what we want, do we?”
Hearing my own words thrown back at me is like a slap to the face.
“Would you not consider a marriage with my brother Rhainn instead?”
The lines on her brow deepen as her small smile morphs into a frown.
“I believe you and Rhainn would be very well suited. If you opened your heart to the idea, the two of you might even find happiness together.”
Her frown remains, and for a moment, it appears as if she seriously considers the idea. But then she shakes her head and opens her mouth, ruining all hope of this being simple. “How could I marry your brother when I love you?”
For far too long, I have danced around the truth. I really ought to maintain the lie until Rhainn can intercede, but desperation makes us do stupid things. “My heart has already been spoken for. If we wed, I would be doing so out of duty and nothing more.”
Despite her gasp and gawking look of horror, I continue on, needing her to understand the reality of our situation. “I do not love you, Leeri. I never have and never will. If I ever sleep with you”—kill me now—“I would be imagining someone else’s face, someone else’s eyes, someone else’s body. I would give you none of what you deserve. I am begging you, please, choose someone else as your husband. I cannot give you what you need.”
“No.” Her dark locks fall across her chest as she shakes her head. “That isn’t true. You’re just being stubborn. Boris warned me of this. He said that I may have to work for your affections.” She lunges, catching the back of my neck and dragging me closer.
I’m caught off guard but manage to twist my head so that her lips land on my cheek.
“Kiss me.” Her long nails bite into my neck as she struggles to press her mouth to mine. “You did before.”
Only because I believed Allette was gone forever. Now that I know she is alive, I will not betray her. I catch Leeri’s wrists, prying myself free of the princess’s possessive hold.
She jerks out of my grasp to stomp around in a huff, her dark violet hair falling forward, shielding half of her face in shadows. “Why must you be so bloody obstinate?” Leeri’s palms slam against my chest, sending me back a step. “It is your duty to marry me. Your king demands it.”
My duty is to Allette alone. My king can take his demands and choke on them. Leeri shoves me again, harder, and the backs of my legs collide with the balustrade.
When she tries to catch my collar, I manage to dodge her outstretched hands. Leeri’s knees knock against the balustrade; the force sends her falling forward. Her arms flail as she topples right over the edge. A scream wrenches from her throat, piercing the purple twilight sky. By some miracle, she manages to catch the marble ledge.
I drop my glamour, ready to fly to her rescue until I remember that the princess can save herself.
Except, from the terrified look on her face as her feet dangle helplessly below her, she certainly doesn’t look able to save anything.
I fly behind her, just out of reach, folding my arms over my chest as I watch her struggle.
She swings her body toward me, trying to hook my leg with hers. “Help me, dammit!”
“Help yourself.”
“I…I can’t. My magic is depleted. I can’t conjure my wings.”
She has spent more time in the sun this past week than me, and I still have plenty of magic. There must be something else going on here. When I run my fingers down her spine, she tries to grab me, but I pull back in time.
I find nothing.
No telltale bump.
No shiver.
Not a fucking thing.