“Perchance, you’ll change your mind.”
“Andperchance, I won’t.”
He started pacing, a me thing, and I wasn’t sure what I thought about that either. I didn’t like having anything in common with either of them. “I’m asking you to work with me each night. Onceyou’ve mastered manipulating shadows, we’ll see if we can tease out some ability with nullification.”
I lifted and lit my finger. “Don’t forget about my spicy lightning.”
“How could I?” he drawled, stopping and watching me. Always watching. “During the day, you’ll be with…” His lips tightened.
“You can’t even say his name?”
“On occasion, but pain has a way of creeping up on a person at the most inconvenient times.”
“You’re good at this, Lorant. Very good. I’m surprised you haven’t been able to end this curse yourself.”
“Willing, Reyla. Remember that detail.”
“I’m the only one who can break the curse,” I said, still awed by that fact.
He dipped forward in a deep bow. “I’m sure your creative side will soon play a role in your position here inside the castle.”
As queen. I’d forgotten all about that. They must be wondering where I was.
“I’ll work with you at night and lounge around with Merrick during the day.”
His growl rumbled through his chest.
“You’re the same cake. That means you shouldn’t care if I’m with him, and it shouldn’t matter to him if I’m with you.”
“I will try to restrain my…irritation.”
“Snarly asshole demeanor, Lorant. That’s what it is. You missed out on all the good stuff. Let’s make that plain.”
His laugh burst out, and damn, he was even more appealing when he was happy. “Beg, Wildfire, and you’ll soon discover all the good stuff I have to offer.”
“No seduction, Lorant. Remember?”
“I didn’t agree to that. I told you I wouldn’t touch you until youbegged.” His eyes gleamed with cunning. “You’ll be begging before the week is through.”
“Only when frost kisses the fire’s lips.” I eased around him, aiming for the door. “Tomorrow’s soon enough to see either of you again. I need more time to think, but I’ll remain in my suite. Please leave me alone at least for the rest of the night.”
His sigh rang out.
I understood why he would grumble. He wouldn’t be able to speak with me during daylight hours.
Time was ticking away, and my task felt insurmountable. But I was exhausted. Worn out from camping in the woods. Each sound at night… And my emotions kept lashing through me. “I’ll walk back to my room.” Better than being embarrassed if my flit didn’t work.
“Don’t do anything foolish.”
He meant like running again, and that burned, though he was right to name it.
I stopped with my hand on the doorknob. “I’d say marrying was my first foolish mistake. Coming here and allowing myself to be crowned was my second. Let’s hope that me looking into this isn’t my last.”
Chills ripped through me, but I shook them off. The fates loved to manipulate us, but I doubted they were paying much attention to the situation here at Evergorne.
A wrenching sound snapped through the quiet of the room.
The floor seemed to jerk beneath me, rattling loose a tremor that vibrated up through my boots. My hand shot out, slapping against the wall to hold my balance as icy whispers sliced through the air.
