I keep my eyes on my sister. After everything that happened this afternoon, I’m not sure how to handle their appearancehereof all places.
“Ky,” calls Norla from the doorway. “I’m back. Oh! You have guests.”
She sounds surprised—which I can appreciate.
“They have to leave now, Norla,” says Victoria. “Because you’re back.”
“I’ll return in the morning,” I say. I reach out and tuck a lock of hair behind her ear. “Maybe we can go for a walk and you can show me where you saw the butterflies.” I pause. “Or we could read a story together. One of your favorites.”
Victoria says nothing to that. She places the first tile in her line, a blue and orange one. She’s focused on her game now, and she has no further time for conversation.
It tugs at something inside of me, but I know better than to acknowledge it.
I look at Asher and Jory. “Out.”
The princess looks back at me, and I watch pity flash through her eyes.
Thatis the last thing I need. So I square my shoulders and turn for the door.
I DON’T SAYanything until we’re well away. It’s unlikely that Victoria would hear us—or try to follow—but I won’t risk it. I storm down the staircase toward the main atrium, but thereareguards near the main doors. I don’t want our words to be overheard, so I turn down the first hallway I find, and there, I finally round on them.
“Itold youto stay put,” I say, and it takes effort to keep my voice down. “Do I need to put you in a cell? Chain you to the wall?”
Jory’s eyes light with fire, and she inhales like she’d set me ablaze if she could. “So I’m to be yourprisoner? I thought I was yourguest.”
“Guestsdo not intrude on—”
“No,” says Asher. “We’re not starting this way.”
Rage sparks in my chest. He’s so defiant. So cavalier. They both are.
I round on him. “Youhave no right—”
“I know, I know. You’re so powerful.” He puts a hand against my shoulder. Then, quicker than thought, he shoves me right into the wall.
Jory gasps, but I’m bigger than he is, and I know I can throw him off.
But Asher ducks right inside my movement and jams his forearm into my throat. As always, he’s remarkably fast, and the movement pins my neck to the wall, his arm pressing up against my jaw, his weight blocking me. I readjust to strike, fighting for leverage, because I have the strength to break his hold. But instead of attacking, his arm slips away and his hand slides up my neck. His thumb presses beside my windpipe, the same way I held him on the first night. I’m suddenly so aware of each rise and fall of my chest pressing into his, each beat of my heart.
His grip is looser now, and I could throw him off if I wanted to. But it’s so startling and unexpected that I go still. My thoughts can’trealign, can’t parse out this way of fighting. I don’t even know if wearefighting.
I don’t think he does, either. Because he may have caught me against the wall, but this has shifted from aggression into something more like vulnerability. The wolf, unsure if it should bite your fingers off or lick your hand.
I keep my eyes on his, waiting to see what he chooses. That familiar flicker of challenge flares between us, but it’s different now. More charged. Asher shifts his weight, and the press of his body moves against mine. Such a tiny, simple motion shouldn’t affect me, but itdoes.I can’t tell if he’s letting me go or pressing closer. Either way, I’m instantly hard, and my breath goes a bit ragged.
Do you want to fight?I think.Or do you want to fuck?
Considering everything I know about him, I think it’s both.
His blue eyes haven’t left mine, and when he speaks, his voice is very quiet. “Ready to try again?”
“Fine.”
“Good boy.” He smacks me on the cheek, too rough to be friendly, then draws back, letting me go.
I’m still angry, but the edge is gone. I can’t focus, and my breathing feels too fast. I run a hand down my face, willing my body to cool. “Fuck you, Asher.”
The princess is looking between the two of us, both hands pressed to her mouth. Her eyebrows are up, her eyes wide. Her cheeks are bright pink.
