“Get out.”
He shot me a look before he left, slamming the door.
I threw myself into the chair by the vanity, fingers trembling as I tore at the buttons of the dress. The beautiful dress Kairos had chosen. I wanted to rip it to shreds.
My reflection stared back at me—wild-eyed, flushed, my lips still swollen from his kiss. I didn’t recognize myself anymore. I’d never been like that with anyone.
What was he doing to me?
I seized the comb and attacked my hair, yankingthrough the tangles hard enough to sting. Good. I wanted it to hurt. The teeth snagged on a knot and I pulled harder.
His lips haddevouredmine. His mouth had been everywhere—sucking at my skin, dragging groans out of me—he washorrible. Everything I despised. Violent, arrogant,crude.
The bastard kissed me. I should’ve bitten his tongue off. Should’ve kneed him in the balls, not arched into his touch like I was starving for it. My stomach twisted. I didn’t even like him, and I’d mounted him like some desperate fool.
Bizarre.
Months ago, I’d wanted Vaeris. Had ached for his approval because I’d loved him. But this—this was different. With Kairos, I’d stopped thinking. I’d acted…like a fae.
I dug my nails into my palms.
The next morning, I was determined.
Stolen maps and supplies would never get me anywhere. I needed leverage. Control. Something that would actually work, but what?
I reached for a lavender dress, pulling it over my head. Every movement sent stabs of pain through my abdomen. Finally dressed, I walked into the hallway.
A fae warrior sprawled over a bench, pink feathers stuck in his hair. Another curled up beneath a windowsill. I stepped around them, heading toward the scent of baked rolls.
Inside the dining hall, Uther lay on the floor. He was half-naked, his arm draping an overturned chair. His tunic was tied around his waist, and his boots were missing.
“Should I alert the healers?” I asked.
He grunted. “Only if they can bring me a new liver.”
“Morning,” Elwen greeted from the table, looking too put together for someone who attended the same party. “Tea?”
“Yes, thank you.”
I sat beside her, reaching for a pastry and wedges of cheese. Elwen pushed a cup toward me, shouting at Uther.
“Are you going to join us or rot there?”
Uther rolled over and hauled himself upright. Yawning, he righted the chair and sat. “Shouldn’t have had that ale from the Southern Isles.”
“Here you go,” she said, handing me a steaming cup. “Steeped in saifan leaves. It helps with hangovers.”
I grabbed the cup. The smell wafting from the steam wasn’t enticing in the least.
Uther sipped his cup, wincing. “That’s foul.”
I swallowed a small mouthful of the extremely bitter tea.
Uther turned, grinning at me. “So, care to explain last night?”
“What do you mean?”
“Well, we were speaking with the clan heads,” Elwen said, setting down her teacup. “By the time we returned, you’d already stormed off. Nobody could tell us what actually happened.”
