But Danica couldn’t hear me. When I reached for her, there was… nothing.
My breaths sawed in and out of lungs that felt like they were filled with cement.
I threw my head back and roared.
* * *
DANICA
I took a bite of my dessert. I wasn’t sure what it was, but it was rich and sweet.
“More wine, my love?”
I glanced up. Pischiel was watching me with his dark, inscrutable eyes. I smiled at him. “No, thank you.”
He reached out and took my hand, playing with the bone bracelet on my wrist.
“This doesn’t suit you.”
I narrowed my eyes at him. “I like it.”
He sent me a slow smile. “I bet I can convince you to remove it.”
My cheeks heated and butterflies danced in my stomach at the promise in that smile.
Wrong. This is wrong.
I frowned.
Pischiel squeezed my hand. “Are you okay?”
“Yes. Just… Déjà vu, I guess.”
Pischiel glanced at my grandfather, who was deep in discussion with Daimonion. I barely refrained from sneering. I couldn’t remember a time when Ihadn’thated Daimonion. Ever since I was a little girl…
Pain stabbed into my temple and my hand tightened around my spoon. I slowly laid it on the table next to my plate and reached for my water goblet.
My grandfather’s concubine sat on his right, her own bracelet gleaming in the candlelight. My chest ached with a strange kind ofwantat the sight of it. Hera smirked at me, and I forced myself to pull my gaze away from the gems, which sparkled with internal fire.
I’d never been particularly avaricious before. I felt like I was losing my mind.
Then I got to my feet. “I think I’ll take a walk in the gardens,” I said.
“I will walk with you,” Pischiel said.
What I wanted was some time alone. My grandfather looked up and met my eyes, sending me an encouraging smile. My lips trembled as I shook my head at him. He’d long hoped that I’d fall in love with Pischiel—was already planning our bondmate ceremony.
The long, midnight blue gown I wore trailed across the ground as I rounded the table. I leaned down and brushed grandfather’s cheek with my lips on my way out the door.
“I know what you’re doing, you romantic fool,” I whispered.
His eyes sparkled as he grinned at me. “Enjoy your walk.”
I ignored Daimonion’s sneer and nodded at grandfather’s other advisors before taking the arm Pischiel held out to me.
We strolled out of the dining room and toward the royal gardens.
I’d placed my hand in the crook of Pischiel’s arm and he covered it with his.
