Picking up a stone at the bank’s edge, I hurled it into the waterfall’s spray.
I turned to face her. “Even a thousand miles away, he’sstillcoming between us.”
“Why do you sound so angry?” she asked.
In two strides I was right in front of her again. Already, I felt better. Being close to Raewyn felt like a necessity at this point, like I’d be missing a vital nutrient if I was deprived of her presence.
I could not allow her to be taken away. By anyone. Ever.
“I’m angry because you refuse to see what’s right in front of your face,” I said. “You have since the beginning. Even now—you’re as blind as your father was.”
It sounded mean, though I hadn’t meant it that way. I was being a pangolin again, using anger to cover my fear.
That wasn’t going to work. I needed to tell her the truth, tell her what the matchmaker’s glamour had told me.
“The beginning? What do you mean, the beginning?” Raewyn asked.
“Long before this journey began, you were all I could think about. It was more than just thoughts of kissing you at the ball. You’reallI think about day and night—even my dreams are filled with you. Even after I found out you were with Stellon, it was hard to sleep, to think, to carry on with daily life. You asked about other women… I haven’t eventhoughtof another woman since the night I met you at the First Night Ball.”
Raewyn’s mouth dropped open. Clearly I’d shocked her. She hadn’t heardanythingyet.
“Pharis,” she whispered.
“There’s more,” I said. “The night of the ball, before you got there, Stellon asked me to—”
We both jumped and whirled around as a horse thundered into the meadow. Its rider slid from the saddle and approached us at a full-speed run.
If it had been anyone else in the world, I would have turned and grabbed my sword from the grass. In fact, I was still tempted.
Instead, I wrapped my arms around Raewyn, and prayed not to lose her again to my brother.
Chapter25
Fast and Loose with the Facts
Raewyn
“Stellon,” I cried.
Incredibly, the shock I’d felt at Pharis’ declaration was surpassed by the stunning experience of seeing Stellon again.
What on earth was he doing here? How had he found us?
He rushed up to me, taking me by the hand and pulling me into his arms, lifting me off my feet to spin me around.
“My love. I’ve finally found you,” he said.
I turned my face so his kiss landed on my cheek instead of my mouth—and spotted Pharis’ expression. He also looked surprised to see Stellon here.
And he did not look happy.
Stellon, on the other hand, seemed overjoyed. Which made no sense.
Finally found you? My love?
Pharis had said Stellon never wanted to see me again or even to know where I was.
And he was a married man now. Why would he have been looking for me?
