His shoulders softened slightly; my words gave him a modicum of relief, but he was still powerfully tense. “And us?”
I looked away. My heart was pounding, urging me to assure him that part had been a mistake, too, and throw myself into his arms.But this time, I’m keeping my resolve.I whispered, “It’s over, Severn.”
He pulled in a ragged breath as he stepped into the apartment like he was going to try to make his case, but Zara threw up a warning hand. “Back, fae. The lady has spoken. Your two minutes are up.”
He turned to her with a growl. “Listen, witch—”
“She’s right, Severn,” I interrupted. “Go. I’ll call you once we’re on the plane. We can talk more tomorrow. But tonight, I need some time.”
His jaw was clenched so tightly I almost expected the bone to shatter. I could feel the possessiveness rolling off him, filling the room.He wants me.He looked like all he wanted was to throw me over his shoulder, carry me into the bedroom, and screw me until I swore to never leave him again, begged him to take me back, promise I’d never leave him again.
But he slowly, painfully, took a step back into the hall. “I’ll send someone to fix your door.” He gave me one last long look; below the anger clouding his eyes, there was a round, glistening marble of sorrow. “Promise me you’ll be safe on the flight tomorrow. That you won’t let Kell leave your side.”
I nodded and motioned in Zara’s direction. “Zara’s coming to the airport, too. Her flight leaves shortly after mine does.”
He grumbled deep in his throat but then admitted, “Maybe I should hireherto protect you, seeing as she’s practically already your second bodyguard.”
“And on that note, fae,” Zara said, waving him back toward the hall, “bye.” She closed the door in his face, and I immediately burst into tears.
ChapterTwenty-Eight
It was a gray, cloudy morning, echoing the mood in my heart. I’d tossed and turned all night in bed, slipping into dreams that Severn was with me between the sheets, our limbs intertwined. When the alarm went off, it all came back to me in a terrible rush.
We’re over.
Azalea brought the kids back to the apartment at eight o’clock in the morning with their sleeping bags and overnight things. They were buzzing about how much fun they’d had spending the night on the rooftop terrace, the closest a kid could come to camping in the city. Fae assistants had already shipped most of our suitcases the day before, so all that was left to pack before heading to the airport were small bags with the things we’d need for the flight. As Henry and May ran around the apartment excitedly gathering their last-minute toys and books, I tried to be all smiles. I didn’t want them to know that their plan to push me and Severn together had failed. The past few weeks, we’d come so close to being a real family, and it would break their hearts to learn it was all over.
They don’t have to know yet. Let them enjoy the trip.
But no number of smiles could hide the devastation from myself. As we rode to the airport in a private car with Kell and another bodyguard, I kept my sunglasses on to hide my red-rimmed eyes. I’d been too afraid to check the online news and read about our explosive public breakup at the gala. For the first time, I was glad to be escaping New York. Not just for my safety but my sanity. It had been hard enough to be in the public’s eye as the girlfriend of Severn Wilde—it would be torture to have to hear more about our failed relationship.
We pulled into the private airport just outside the city. I’d flown out of La Guardia and JFK before, with their busy terminals full of aging equipment and tired passengers clutching takeout bags. Here, even without stepping out of the car, I could tell that Brunswick Executive was an entirely different category of airport. We were able to drive directly to the front door, where valets helped us out of the car and took our bags. Inside, it looked more like a luxury hotel lobby than an airport. There were no flashy ads or cheap food stalls but rather a glittering fountain and chandelier. Kell stayed with us while the other bodyguard took our passports to go check us in at the counter.
“Ah! There you are.” Zara swept over with a fancy coffee in hand. She’d left my apartment the night before around midnight to go back to her own place and finish packing for her return trip to LA. She looked impeccable in a camel-colored oversized sweater over faux suede leggings, with round, trendy sunglasses. “I was afraid you’d change your mind about your trip.”
“No, I’m ready to get out of the city for a while. Thanks again for coming to see me off.”
“Like I said, no problem. My flight leaves just a few hours after yours, and it’s hardly torturing to sit in a cafe for a while and read the news.” Her smile fell. She lowered her sunglasses to look at me directly. “Haveyou read the news?”
I winced. “No, is it as bad as I’m afraid it is?”
“In a word, yes.” She slid back down her sunglasses. “But don’t worry, news cycles come and go fast. They’re raking Severn over the coals for being pushy with that photographer, but he’ll come out of it fine. Rich white guys always do,especiallyif they can control the media with a little magic.”
“What are they saying about me?”
She shrugged a little tightly. “Setting you up as a victim. That Severn took advantage of an employee.”
There was perhaps some truth to that, but I didn’t like the way it was framed. I didn’t feel like a victim, and the relationship had been entirely consensual. Still, I tried not to worry about Severn too much. Like Zara said, wealthy men—especially fae princes—usually came out of scandals just fine.
But a part of me wishes I knew what he was thinking.
Kell cleared his throat. “The jet is ready whenever you are, Willow.”
“Oh! Okay,” I said, then waved over the kids. “Henry, May, come on, we don’t want to miss our flight.”
Zara chuckled. “This isn’t like those cattle cars they call coach. The plane waits foryou.” She grinned and slung an arm around my shoulder. “Come on, I’ll walk out with you.”
The double doors swept open to the small tarmac. It was such an exclusive airport that there weren’t even true terminals with walkways; you simply strolled out and the plane was waiting for you. It was a cloudy day, the wind blowing my hair all around my face. I pushed it out of my eyes and took in the plane. It was small and sleek, not the same Wilde Enterprises jet we’d taken to the private island trip. A set of rolling stairs led to the plane door.
