A knock sounded on the door and Will’s head popped in, his gray eyes alert as they found Aya immediately.
The brief pause as their gazes met seemed to stretch for an eternity, the memory of the night before like a physical barrier between them.
‘Can I steal her, Josie?’ Will finally rasped.
Aya paused from where she’d already stood, her eyes darting to the princess. She would stay if Josie asked her to. It’s what Josie would do if their roles were reversed. What afriendwould do.
‘It’s fine,’ Josie said, as if sensing her hesitation. ‘I’m fine. There’s no point in both of us twiddling our thumbs.’
Aya nodded. ‘I’ll be back if I hear anything about Helene.’
Will’s pace was quick as he led the way to his room. He didn’t speak, not even as the door snapped shut behind him. He just let out a long breath and nodded to the terrace. Aya followed him, her arms crossed firmly around her middle as she wrestled with the shame that began to gnaw at her insides.
It was far easier to stifle it when he wasn’t standing before her.
But that burning feeling faded as Will dragged a hand through his hair. A hand that was covered in blood.
‘What the hells happened?’ she breathed, snatching his hand and turning it over to inspect his palm. No cut, no bruises. Just blood.
Will’s brow furrowed, his fingers curling around hersgently, as if on impulse, as confusion settled on his face. It lingered a moment before his eyes narrowed.
‘Say it,’ he rasped. Her hand fell to her side as he released it. ‘If you’re going to accuse me of it, then have the nerve to fuckingsay it.’
Aya blinked at him. ‘I’m not accusing you of kidnapping Helene.’
‘Bullshit—’
‘But coming back here like this is foolish when you’ve made your disdain for Lavigne clear,’ she pressed, her voice soft and measured.
He stalked away from her, taking up a space on the far side of the terrace. The muscles in his back rippled as he grasped the smooth stone balustrade, his hair brushing his brow as he bowed his head. His laugh was cold and harsh. ‘You honestly think I’m a monster, don’t you?’
The words tugged on another memory.You truly hate me, don’t you.
Aya swallowed. ‘Why is there blood on your hands?’
‘Because I was helping your precious prince investigate,’ Will hissed. ‘Ask him yourself. I got there shortly after you left.’
He pushed himself off the balustrade, anger glinting in his eyes as he stared at her. ‘And you want to trade secrets, Aya love? Let’s talk about this darkness you supposedly have.’
Aya’s jaw clenched, her hands curling into fists at her side.
‘I went back to the Maraciana,’ he continued. ‘You failed to mention Natali refuses to train you.’
Her heart pounded in her chest, her fingers tingling as he stepped closer.
‘I can’t help you if you won’ttrustme.’
‘Trust you?’ Aya asked, her voice rising with his frustration. ‘A few weeks ago, I was certain you were working forKakos. You expected me totellyou that the raw power is feeding on me? That it’ll destroy me just like it destroyed the Decachiré practitioners?’
He shook his head. ‘You are nothing like those people, Aya. Perhaps if you practice, if we do some research …’
‘I am not somethingfor you to test your theories on,’ she spat as she faced him fully. ‘This is my life.’
He was before her now, his hands finding her shoulders as he peered down at her. ‘Exactly! It is yourlife, and I’m watching you waste away. You think I don’t notice what’s happened to you since the market? How you’re slipping deeper and deeper into some place I can’t haul you out of?’
‘I thought you couldn’t sense me,’ she seethed.
‘I don’t need to sense you,’ he said roughly. ‘I can see it.’
