Hearing the gate open, a wave of silence washed through the camp. The faeries tensed at Ezra’s presence. To Ezra’s benefit, he only followed Kieran, ignoring their cold, hardened stares. I watched him walk past us, his body rigid but standing tall. Aster and I glanced at each other, cringing. Staying in this camp would not be easy for Ezra—not when he had been working for the palace as Ambrose’s war general for so long.
Placing her hand behind my back, Aster gently nudged me to follow the group toward a rundown estate that was smaller than the Marble Palace but still large enough to be fit for a king. Made from stacked gray stones, the manor was covered in purple wisteria vines that crawled along the arches and across the walls. My mouth gaped open, taking in its antiquated beauty.
We walked through large doors with flowers carved along their edges and entered a grand foyer. The vines had crept inside along the ceiling, aged with time. Dust clung to the broken furniture and the framed art along the walls, though the rest of the manor seemed partially clean—clean enough that it made me wonder how many lived within its walls now.
Samian’s soft chuckle caught my attention, and I turned my head toward him. He reached out his hand and, though I hesitated, I took it, letting his smooth fingers wrap around mine. Something in my soul surged at his soft touch, and my eyes burned when he interlaced our fingers, pulling me in close and tucking me to his side. “This used to be the royal manor before the forest moved, blocking access to it.”
The forest… “What do you mean, the forest moved?” I asked hesitantly.
Samian let out a breathy laugh that sent heat curling through me. “There’s a reason I told you to be careful of the forest. It’s alive and moves wherever it desires. It can easily ensnare anyoneclose enough to hear its call, though we aren’t sure why. Just that most of those trapped by its song are never seen again.”
I shuddered and leaned into Samian’s warmth, letting his presence keep me steady. After Ambrose tricked me into the bargain, I didn't realize that when I went to the forest. I couldn’t help but wonder what would have happened if the beithir hadn’t snapped me out of my trance that day. My stomach churned at the thought.
Aster walked past us, her eyes going straight to where Samian and my hands were linked. I sucked in a breath and quickly stepped away from Samian, finding a painting along the wall to focus on. I silently cursed myself for allowing him that close, for feeling the way I did, especially when they were involved. Though ‘involved’ didn’t seem like the right word. They were close, but Samian never hinted at how close.
Aster’s soft footsteps moved on, following Kieran to wherever he was leading us. Samian stood still, releasing a slow breath before he moved behind me, close enough for me to feel his warmth again.
“I’m sorry,” I murmured, keeping my focus on the blue and gold swirls of the painting.
“For what?” Samian said softly.
“I know you two—I didn’t mean to give her the wrong impression.” Guilt licked up my spine, and I closed my eyes, pushing away the image of Samian wrapping his arms around my waist. Of him pulling me in, my back flush against him.
He lied. He kept secrets from me, from everyone, I reminded myself again. And Aster—think of Aster.
“Ah, right,” Samian exhaled, his voice strained. “Come, we don’t want to fall behind.”
The disappointment coloring his words kept me from moving. Was he upset that I’d pulled away from him? Or that Aster had seen us? I listened to his footsteps retreating as hefollowed the others. Tilting my head back, my shoulders sagged as I eyed the vines snaking along the ceiling. Once Samian was far enough away, I finally turned and followed, walking into a long stone hallway with several closed doors.
The others filed into a room a few doors down, while Kieran stood by the entrance, waiting. Keeping his face blank, his eyes raked down my body and back up again, taking his time until our gazes clashed. Fighting the way my blood pulsed under his perusal, I sneered at him, earning a smirk and a low laugh.
“Come now, Princess,” he said, his tone playful. “You don’t want to be late for your first meeting, do you?”
“Don’t call me that,” I grumbled, rolling my eyes as I entered the room.
A dark, sensual laugh was his only response.
The room was small, with a large circular table in the middle, covered with papers and maps. Several seats were arranged around it, with more chairs lined along the walls. Cabinets and an armoire sat in the far-left corner, while linen curtains blocked the two windows on the opposite side.
“Well, Princess?” Kieran murmured, his breath tickling my ear.
I inhaled sharply, stepping away from him with a hiss. Chuckling, he gestured to the table—a request for me to take my seat.
Looking at the table, Samian pulled out a chair beside him, but I turned away, pretending not to notice, and sat in the empty chair next to the pale female. She arched an eyebrow as I slid into the seat, but I kept my eyes glued to the surface, picking at a scratch in the wood. Heat crept up my neck, and I could have sworn the table rippled like water under my touch.
Kieran took his place on the opposite side. Two empty chairs sat on either side of him, a clear sign he was indeed the leader of this rebellion.
“I believe introductions are in order, Samian,” Kieran said pointedly, jerking his chin toward the rest of the group.
“Right,” Samian said, straightening in his chair.
He began by introducing Ezra first, giving Kieran and the others a brief account of what happened, though I didn’t hear a word. Instead, I used this time to study Kieran, letting my gaze trail down his tanned arms to his hands, which were covered in small white scars. I dragged my eyes to his face. His squared jaw was sharp, like it had been chiseled from marble. His midnight-black hair was shorter, the tips barely covering the delicate points of his ears. But his eyes, those dark red eyes, shone bright in the light of the room, stealing the breath from my lungs.
“Do you like what you see?” Kieran’s raspy voice echoed in my head. I jerked my gaze away, my face blanching. I could hear his laughter, feel the rumble of it along my skin, though no one noticed. No one could hear.
My heart raced inside my chest, and I dared another glance.
“If you keep doing that, Samian is going to jump out of his seat.”
