We track Zadyn down in his new rooms, which oddly enough happen to be closer in proximity to the princess’s ladies. Wonder if that’s mere coincidence.
“Knock, knock.” I barge in, expecting him to have company. Instead, we find him alone, looking distraught. He is seated atthe rich wooden desk by the window, hands buried in his caramel hair.
“Hi.” He stands abruptly. “Are you feeling better?”
“I’m peachy,” I say with a bite. Jace enters the room behind me, and Zadyn’s eyes darken as they shift over my shoulder to him.
“I was just about to check on you. There are some things I need to say.” He walks around the desk, stopping before me. “In private.”
“If she asks me to go, I’ll go,” Jace says with an edge to his voice. He stands proudly, chin lifted, chest back.
“What do you want to say, Zadyn?” I press, ignoring his request.
“Well, first of all, I’m sorry about Cece. I wasn’t thinking clearly. I should have known bringing her back to my room would risk exposing you. Although I never sawthatcoming.” He shoots Jace a sharp look. “I didn’t mean for you to find out about her like that.”
I bark a laugh.
“So you’re apologizing not because you slept with her, but because you chose to do it in the room adjacent to mine?”
“I’m apologizing because I’msorry. For all of it.” He lays an earnest hand on his chest.
“Why apologize to me? I’m not your mate.” My tone reeks of condescension. He looks stunned for a moment, as if I’d struck him.
“Yet you were upset when you saw her earlier.”
“I wasn’t upset. I had just set a room on fire by total accident. There was a lot going on.” I cross my arms over my chest.
“Serena.” He levels a look on me. “I know you. Your face says it all. You all but threw us out of the room.” He glances at Jace, who stands by the door, watching intently, before giving me a pleading look. I know Zadyn won’t say much elsein front of him, and I should give him the benefit of the doubt.
I sigh and turn back.“Can you give us a minute?”
A hard expression clouds Jace’s face, but he promptly exits, leaving me to face Zadyn. The door clicks shut, and a stretch of silence ensues, where we stare at each other, unmoving. Zadyn breaks the silence first.
“You don’t have to pretend it didn’t bother you.”
“It didn’t, though. And I’m not sure why you would even think it would.”
“Can you drop the act?”
“Canyou?”
“Serena.” He shakes his head. I toss my arms up in exasperation.
“You’re allowed to do what you want, Zadyn. You can see who you want, fuck who you want?—”
“Is there a reason Ishouldn’t?” he interrupts, taking a step closer. His chocolate eyes are wide and vulnerable in a way I’ve never seen. “I’m asking you now.Tell me if there isbecause I wouldn’t—I won’t…is there a reason?”
I’ve never seen him struggle for words. Usually, he is calm, cool, and collected. Smooth and polished. The perfect courtier. But for the first time, I wonder if Jace might have been right all those times he’s implied that Zadyn wants me.
But that would be ridiculous. He’s my familiar. He wants to protect me. He doesn’twant me, want me. He probably sees me as a sister. A really annoying sister.
Still, I hesitate for a moment before saying, “No. You’re free to do as you wish. You don’t have to run it by me.” I turn away from him, studying the new room.
“If it’s the fact that it was Cece that bothers you?—”
It was.
“It wasn’t. I told you it didn’t bother me.”
