I’m so fucking confused, I don’t think I’ll ever find all the answers I’m missing in my life. But little by little, I’ll find a way to be okay with it all.
“I was never mad. You have every right to be, though. I’m sorry for how much I’ve...”ruined her life... “For everything. I’m so sorry, Nyra.”
The false happiness in her eyes, it dims out entirely. She pauses, and no words pass between us. The tension tightens so hard, I feel like it’s going to snap and shatter me in the process.
Until she leans in and wraps her slender arms around me. Her head rests against my shoulder, and there’s a short passing of a second where the feeling of childhood is all around us. The embrace of trust and family is there in warm and calming waves, wrapping around our hearts until it’s all I feel, and all I want.
Until she pulls back.
Her hand lingers on the back of mine, and there’s a serene look on her pretty face.
The pounding of emotions fills my chest, and we gaze at one another with too many years pressing between us to ever get back that comfort of innocent childhood long gone. But we have each other still.
We always will.
"Why did she lie?" I whisper, and I can’t control the waver in my tone.
The sweet kindness in her features falls instantly, and she looks back at Vanitee so fast that I feel her own uneasiness.
“Not now, Cers,” she hisses before shoving a large, crimson helping of devil’s eggs into her mouth. I blink at her while Vanitee watches us closely.
My stomach falls as realization slams into me.
My mother’s lie... it’s bigger than I thought.
It means more than I could ever imagine.
And I’m stuck imagining until I can catch a moment alone with the one person who I trust more than anyone in all the realms.
TWENTY-FIVE
THE SECRET
As night falls,the moon presses down on us from high in the sky. The goddess’s magic spark to life among the castle gardens where everyone gathers with their wine and party tricks. Wings of demons and fae alike spread wide, swirling cool night air all around us as steady drums beat into our hearts.
The night itself is alive.
And I can’t stop watching Nyra mingle with her friends like the true creep I’m starting to become.
“Goddess,” I whisper into my cup as I take another bitter gulp.
“Are you trying to drink the kingdom dry?” A sarcastic voice whispers along my neck.
His breath shivers across my flesh and then deep into my soul itself.
Roman.
“I’m just having a good time. I’m allowed to have a good time.”
“Wow, can you say that again with some actual enthusiasm, beautiful.” He cocks a dark brow at me, and it’s then that I notice how unruly his hair is.
The mere sight of his hair growing out after the previous king took away the pride of his war braids sinks too many emotions into my chest. My hand lifts and my fingers are sliding through his short, soft hair before I can think better of it.
He tenses beneath my sudden touch, and I, too, am surprised.
“Your hair’s growing out,” I say as some sort of terrible excuse to keep touching him.
He’s clearly right. I have drunk too much.
