Teryn’s eyes settled on Cora, giving her the attention his body couldn’t. Was this what she’d been struggling with the night he’d found her crying in the tower? This…this curse? Grief and rage tore through him. His breaths grew sharp and shallow, threatening him with a wave of panic, but he refused to lose his connection to his vitale.
Morkai tilted his head slightly to the side. “That’s what you found so pressing to say? Were you worried I’d reject you?”
“It involves you. It affects the future of my kingdom.”
He stepped closer again, slower this time. Still, he made no move to touch her.
Shehadto know this wasn’t him. That Teryn would never act so coldly. Would never withhold affection when she so clearly wanted it.Neededit.
“There’s nothing to worry about, Aveline. I’m here for you. We’ll work through this later. Naming an heir isn’t something we need to concern ourselves with tonight. Let us get some sleep. Tomorrow is an important day for us.” Morkai extended his hand toward the door.
Cora remained rooted in place. Her eyes locked on his face. “Why did you call me Aveline?”
Morkai’s expression went blank, but he quickly donned an easy smile. “You’re going to be queen. It’s time I get used to calling you by your true name.”
Fingers curled into fists, Cora strode up to him. Morkai’s breath hitched as he took a step back, but Cora closed that space too. Despite their height difference, Cora kept her eyes on his. “What’s really going on? This isn’t you.”
Teryn’s heart raced.No, Cora. It isn’t me. Please see that. Please see the truth.
A tic formed at the corners of Morkai’s jaw, but he said nothing.
“You’re acting strange,” Cora said. “What are you hiding? What is happening to you?”
“Nothing,” Morkai said, finally stepping in to fill the space between them. Then, after an agonizing beat of hesitation, he lifted his hands and settled them on Cora’s shoulders. It would appear like a gesture of comfort if it wasn’t for how stiff Morkai was, as if he were waiting, dreading, poised for the inevitable…
Teryn waited too, waited for Cora to know, to realize, tofeelwhat was missing…
She shook her head, lips curving into a frown. “I can’t read you.”
Morkai’s fingers curled ever so slightly on her shoulders. “Why are you trying to read me?”
“Because something isn’t right. I can feel that much, but I…I can’t feelyou. Not even when we’re close. Not even when you touch me. It’s like…it’s like you’re not really here.”
Teryn wanted to believe this was a good thing. Cora could tell something was wrong. But her confession meant Morkai knew that touching her gave her no additional insight. Revealed none of the secrets he was hiding.
Dread wound deep inside Teryn.
Morkai’s smile widened with a note of triumph. His posture relaxed as he smoothed out his hands and began running them down her shoulders. “I’m sorry things aren’t going the way you hoped. I know we were supposed to have a full year together?—”
“That’s not it.”
“Then what is it? What’s wrong?”
“This still doesn’t…feel right. Something between us has changed, and I don’t understand what it is.”
“What can I do to prove everything is going to be all right?”
She stared at him, eyes drifting over his face as if desperate to read the truth written over it. Then her gaze stilled, deepened, locked on Morkai’s eyes. Her expression hardened. Lifting her chin, she said, “Kiss me.”
Teryn’s heart rioted in his chest.No.
She stepped in closer, and this time Morkai didn’t try to step away. “Kiss me like you did under the tree. Kiss me like you want to be my husband.”
Teryn’s eyes darted between Cora and Morkai, blood boiling as he saw the smirk twisting Morkai’s face, the tilt of his head as he began to lower it toward her uptilted chin. Teryn felt a strange pull, as strong as Cora’s voice had been both times he’d heard it on the other side of the bedroom door. This time it was her body, the warmth of her presence calling to his soul, drawing him forward on an invisible tether that seemed to grow straight from the center of his chest. Without another thought, he gave in to the pull and settled into the space of his body.
“Teryn, no!” Emylia’s warning barely made it past his awareness, for in the next moment, he felt his flesh against the sleeves of Cora’s velvet robe, breathed in the familiar scent of her hair, her skin, felt her with his body, his mind, and his ethera. There was no part of him that wasn’t aware of her. So when her lips crushed into his, it washewho kissed back.Hewho folded into the embrace of the woman he loved.
39
