It had left her overly energized—not a good place to be when there was too much to think about, without a distraction in sight. The euphoria of her deal with Lyriat had begun to wane as a result, her mind refusing joy in favor of agonizing over every little detail.
Had she made the right choice? Asked for the right thing? Had Lyriat capitulated so easily because she could have asked for far more, or had worded her stipulations in such a way that he could easily outmaneuver them?
That’s what scared her the most. That she held such hope, but it was misplaced, because she hadn’t really gained anything.
You’re going to find out eventually, one way or another. Hope now or don’t—it doesn’t really matter because the outcome is the same.
Yes, but for once in her life she wanted something solid. Something reliable she could count on without having to consider everything that might ruin it.
Lunara slapped a hand to each cheek and smushed her face between them, loosing a low groan.
This was useless.
If she was doomed to disappointment, she could at least enjoy the time she had before it struck.
A few days in Straelon, a few days in Thodelebor—a week then. Ish.
And another realm, foolish as it is. Seventy-two years without leaving the Evesong, and you’re finally seeing the world. Even if Lyriat finds a way to cheat you—which he probably will—at least you’ll have that.
Occasionally, she and herself did agree on something.
Right. Good.
Now what?
Excellent question. Lunara assumed it would be nearing suppertime soon, but did the Demons always dine together in the great hall, or did they do something different in the evenings? Sure, she’d been here for four days, but she had yet to spend a single one of them doing anything that even resembled normalcy.
Well, you’re not going to magically come across it in here. Alone. Doing nothing.
So. She just had to walk out the door. Easy.
For the second time that day, she found her hand hovering over the doorknob.
Honestly, it’s getting ridiculous.
“Get it together, Lunara,” she mumbled under her breath. “The whole world’s out there, just waiting.”
And there’s bleeding fuck-all in here.
She almost laughed at herself as she pulled the door open.
The corridors were different in this part of the castle, only one side holding chambers. The other was a wall of windows that spanned the entire length of the hall and overlooked a central garden. Someone had opened every pane, allowing a light breeze to tease the air inside. The welcoming heat of afternoon sunlight had sunk deep into the stone floor, seeping straight through her slippers as if trying to pull her feet outside.
She might have been tempted by the lush greenery had she not looked up to see Brand walking away from her. The sight of a familiar person was a welcome relief. Of all people, he would be able to acquaint her with a standard evening in the Montrealm.
Picking up her skirts, Lunara hurried after him. She was just opening her mouth to announce herself, reaching out to tap him on the shoulder, when he abruptly spun.
And slammed straight into her.
It was like running head-first into a solid wall. Stars exploded in her vision and, if she wasn’t a healer and knew better, she would have sworn he’d just broken her nose. Fortunately, a pair of large hands wrapped around her arms and stopped her from falling flat back onto her arse.
Again.
“I— You—” He sounded strangled until he cleared his throat. “Forgive me, Lunara. I was… entirely distracted.”
Brand’s rumbling bass washed over her, sending a shiver through her bones as she blinked up into his overly-serious face.
It cannot possibly be fair for him to lookandsound like that.
