‘I don’t know.’
Will whipped his gaze toward Josie, the crowd surrounding her parting just enough for him to see the joy on her face. The hope.
Sion’s hand was on his arm before he could take a single step toward her. ‘His Majesty would like to keep the princess uninformed – at least until we know more.’
Will nodded at the attendant. He would find Aya afterward. Explain everything. And then …
Damn it all to hells.
He’d get on his knees and beg her forgiveness for what he’d so foolishly suggested. For what he’d considered trying to talk Aidon into mere moments ago.
‘Let’s go.’
Aya danced until even the adrenaline and jubilation couldn’t hide the soreness in her muscles. She’d visited a healer upon her return to the palace, and while they’d tended to her wounds, she still didn’t feel quite like herself. So sheexcused herself from the dance floor, smiling as a young noble whirled Josie across the space, and went in search of Will.
She was tired of waiting; tired of hiding how she felt, and what it meant to her.
She had made her choice. They would face this together.
She touched the necklace that hung at her neck – that reminder of the strength of love – and smiled softly to herself. But that smile faded the longer she wove through guests without a sight of that tall, strong figure. She’d always been able to spot him in a crowd in an instant. Will demanded attention, even when he didn’t want it.
Aya ducked around some councilors, her eyes finding Sion near one of the more discreet exits.
‘Have you seen Will?’ she asked, standing on her toes as she scanned the crowd. ‘I can’t find him anywhere.’
‘He left, I’m afraid,’ Sion replied. ‘He said he tired of the celebration and that he’d rather attend the festivities at the local taverns.’ Disdain dripped from his words.
Aya slowly lowered her heels to the floor. ‘But the night just started.’
Sion sniffed delicately. ‘The Enforcer seemed to hold the same sentiment regarding the entertainment in town.’
She could feel her cheeks flush with color as she avoided Sion’s stare. Perhaps she had misunderstood all that lay in his gaze earlier. Perhaps he had meant what he said yesterday.
If Will wanted to avoid her … fine. She’d let him. But he couldn’t do so forever.
‘Tell him …’ Aya paused, choosing her words carefully. ‘Tell him I’d like to see him when he returns.’
Sion bowed. ‘As you wish, Madam.’
Aya caught sight of Josie, still dancing, her eyes bright – brighter than they’d been in some time. She wouldn’t cloudJosie’s happiness with her own somber mood. So she didn’t bother to say goodnight as she returned to her room.
Aya closed the door to her suite with a soft click, letting her head fall back against the wood as she let out a long breath.
Perhaps she had cut Will deeply with her parting words. The wall that had been built between them was as much from her as it was from him – even more so since their arrival in Rinnia. For years, she’d never given Will a reason to think she believed anything but the worst of him.
Aya covered her face with her hands. They had been stuck in the same place for so long, she wasn’t sure how to undo it. How to get him to see that she was here, that she wanted this. That perhaps a part of her always had.
She thought about the Dawning; how she’d thrown her power out without a second thought because she couldn’t stand to see him hurt.
She’d turned herself off to him completely so he wouldn’t feel her death.
She hadn’t realized it until yesterday, when Will had mentioned that impenetrable shield she’d formed against him.
Slowly Aya lowered her hands. She wasn’t sure how she knew where to find that place she’d locked so tightly – the part of her that was just for him.
But she did.
And when she found it … Aya dropped her shield.
