I surged forward with the dagger, trying my damndest to stab him, high or low, I couldn’t care less. I just wanted to let this rageout. It burned as it drove me forward, like flames licking through my blood and bone, consuming everything I am until all that remained was ash.
He didn’t even have the decency to truly defend himself, laughing as he blocked me at every turn. It didn’t stop me from trying to stab him, though. Somewhere.Anywhere. Until he finally got tired of dodging me and slammed me up against the brick wall of the alley.
“Are you quite done?” He asked, eyebrow raised, his lips lifting in a smirk I wished I didn’t find so damn alluring.
“Never!” I sneered at him, burying that attraction as much as I could. He chuckled, giving me a glimpse of a true smile, an unfortunately stunning one.
“Good. Keep that rage.” He advised, sounding completely genuine. I blinked rapidly, feeling off balance, and dropped the dagger. The sound of the fighting from the rest of his forces grew closer, and his head snapped toward the end of the alley. He looked back at me, and his gaze was piercing.
“See you soon.” He whispered in my ear, his hands brushing down my bare arms and leaving chills in his wake.
He disappeared in a cloud of shadows, leaving me to sag against the wall, alone, with a thousand questions running through my mind, and no answers forthcoming. I didn’t understand…so many things. My reaction to him. The familiarity I felt with him. Why he said he’d see me soon. Why he didn’t kill me. I’d gone after him with a dagger, a human trying to attack a Fae was an automatic death sentence. So, why didn’t he kill me? He was here with the Night Kingdom specifically to kill my kind, and I’d broken a law that would give him full rights to do so on top of that.
And he just—didn’t.
What in the name of the Old Gods was going on?
Chapter 21
Thesounds of the attack began to fade as I wandered back in the direction of the shop, still in a haze of shock and bewilderment. I followed the few landmarks I remembered, trying to forget the chiseled face of the Fae that wasdefinitelymy enemy andnotsomeone whose body I should be aching to feel pressed against me again.
I turned the corner, trying to shove all thoughts of him away, only succeeding because Cyrus was outside, yelling at Zerlina. Wanting to delay this, but knowing there was no point, I walked up to them, and Cyrus’s head whipped towards me.
“Thank Shalim.” He breathed, shooting a glare at Zerlina, who glared right back. “We’ll discuss this later.” He ground out, his jaw clenching.
“Yes, we will.” She hissed at him.
So…that marriage was definitely going to go well.
“Asteria you—” Cyrus stopped speaking abruptly, the smile that had been growing on his face falling. His nostrils flared, and my stomach sank, knowing that spelled trouble.
“Why do you smell like—whowas with you?” Cyrus demanded, grabbing both my upper arms in a tight grip.
“And what is this?” He seethed, letting go of one of my arms, only to yank the dagger from my hand.
“Well?” Cyrus glared down at me. I swallowed hard, unsure of what to say. I didn’t want to tell him the truth. I didn’t want to get that guard in trouble. Nor did I want to find myself in further trouble.
“I found it.” I blurted out. “I ran for cover when I was locked out here. The soldiers came and I—I was scared.” My jaw worked as I spat out the words. I hated admitting weakness, but it was the lesser of two evils, knowing that admitting the truth would lead to the Fae he gave me the dagger, a rare kind Fae, being sentenced to death.
Cyrus sighed heavily, pulling me into a hug. His head rested on top of mine with a familiarity he’d never earned. I wanted nothing more than to push him away. It felt so wrong for him to be touching me, especially after the rightness I’d felt in that alleyway.
“I’m so glad you’re unharmed, darling.” Cyrus whispered into my hair. “This will never happen again; I promise you that.” No apology was forthcoming, of course. It was unbelievable the things Cyrus focused on. It took all my willpower to not roll my eyes. I was thankful when Cyrus finally released me and returned to glaring at Zerlina, who just crossed her arms, raising a brow at him in challenge.
After what she’d already experienced, I was impressed she would dare. Then again, she seemed to be in denial still. Once that wore off, she may not be so brave. I found myself hoping shewas however—she would need that bravery if she intended on shackling herself to Cyrus forever.
“Why do you smell like another male, Asteria?” Cyrus demanded, as he turned back to me. I could practically taste the fury pouring off him, knowing that someone else had touched what he believed was his property. But I wasn’t, nor would I ever be, his.
My heart, my soul, my entire body rebelled at just the thought of being Cyrus’s. While every part of me cried out in burning desire when faced with the Fae soldier from Night, it did the exact opposite now in front of Cyrus—screaming to run as far and as fast as possible.
“I was cornered by one of the Fae soldiers. I managed to get away, but it was—” I gulped, feigning like I was overcome after such an ordeal. I managed to speak true, even if the sentiment was false.
Cyrus stared at me, eyes boring into me like he could burrow through and expose the lie. Finally, after what seemed like forever, he nodded in acceptance. He quickly pulled me back towards the carriages, leaving Princess Zerlina fuming behind us. He pulled me into the carriage he and Zerlina had taken, completely against protocol. The princess stopped short as she realized this, her eyes narrowing and cheeks turning red.
“Absolutely. Not.” Zerlina growled.
“Get in the fucking carriage, Zerlina!” Cyrus barked back at her. She swallowed hard as a bolt of lightning cracked from the tips of his fingers—a clear sign his patience had snapped. Realizing this, she stepped into the carriage and threw herself into the seat across from us. Cyrus gripped my hand in his, refusing to let go. Zerlina’s stare fastened on our hands the entire ride back.
By the time we reached the palace, the tension in the carriage was near boiling over. Before Princess Zerlina could throw open the door, Cyrus caught her hand, finally releasing mine.
