“You have seen them off, then,” he said, his voice low.
“Yes,” she replied. “It is quieter now.”
“It is. The funny thing about the quiet is that one wants to fill it with something.”
Adelaide looked at him. There was only sincerity on his face; the cold exterior she had grown accustomed to had melted away.
Cassian offered her a small velvet box, his eyes holding hers. “I bought this while I was away. I have been waiting for the right moment to give it to you, but there is no time like the present. Besides, I do not believe that the perfect moment will ever arrive.”
Adelaide took it gently, her fingers brushing his as she opened the lid. Inside lay a thin gold chain, with a single small pendant that gleamed faintly in the light.
“I thought you might like it,” he said.
Her fingers lingered on the chain.
“It is beautiful,” she whispered, her eyes flicking to his.
For the first time ever, Adelaide allowed herself a moment of quiet gratitude, unburdened by expectations or fear. She smiled, faint but genuine.
“I love it. Might I wear it now?”
“You may wear it always, if you wish.”
The silence stretched between them, and Adelaide realized that she had nothing more to say, not yet. She turned, and he clasped it around her neck, his fingertips brushing her skin.
When she faced him again, her heart was pounding. The day was drawing to a close, which meant that the following day, they would have much to discuss. She looked forward to it with both anticipation and immense anxiety.
“I should retire to bed,” she said at last.
“Of course,” Cassian said. “I will see you in the morning.”
She nodded, before retreating to her chambers. The door closed behind her with a soft click, and she removed her shoes and undid the fastenings of her gown without calling for her maid.
She crawled beneath the soft warmth of her sheets, the necklace remaining around her neck even though she knew it was bestto remove it. She closed her eyes, trying to hold onto the small peace she had glimpsed in her husband.
When she woke up, the sky was still dark, and she smelled smoke. It was not strong, but it was unmistakable.
She inhaled sharply, sitting upright in an instant. For a moment, the quiet warmth of her chamber seemed to waver. She climbed out of bed and went to the door, but when she touched her handle, her pulse quickened.
It was already hot.
CHAPTER 33
For the first time in years, Cassian was having a most pleasant dream.
He and Adelaide were walking together through a sunlit garden. For a fleeting moment, he allowed himself to believe in it—in the ease, in the small peace he had felt in her presence. In his dream, he told her everything that he had kept from her, and she opened her mouth to respond. But then it was all gone.
He woke up with a start, his heart pounding. Dread curled in his gut.
He slid out of bed, the sensation driving him forward. Something was wrong. He did not know what it was, but he could not ignore it. He left his room and quickly made his way to Adelaide’s chambers.
He was certain that nothing was amiss, and he felt quite foolish for searching for her, but he could not help himself. He had to be certain.
Then he saw it.
Flames licked at the walls, peeling the wallpaper away. He rubbed his eyes furiously, convinced that he was still sleeping and that his dream had turned into a nightmare. But he remained in the hallway, the heat prickling his skin.
He was back there, in the fire, as he had been the night his life had changed.
