“I can’t even say I blame him. He’s aKyzaire. It must be hard to never get what youreallywant in life, to always sacrifice for others, for the greater good. That was a part of why I fell in love with him in the first place,” I admitted. “Because he’s selfless. Because he cares about Erzos. He protects his family. He’s agoodmale. But it doesn’t mean that he loves me.”
“If you believe he doesn’t love you, then maybeyouare blinded, Millie,” Grace said, sighing, though there was no malice in her words. “Without ever having met him, just from what you’ve told me, I think it’s clear that he cares about you.”
“I never said he didn’t care about me,” I said. “I know he does. Just not enough to choose me.”
She gave my hand another soft squeeze. “Like I said, you’re more than welcome to stay here for a long as you need,” she told me. “But don’t give up on him quite yet, Millie. Will you promise me that at least?”
“Why do you care so much?” I asked her quietly, trying to understand.
“Because you’re my friend. One of the best I’ve had, though we haven’t known one another for long,” she added, quirking her lips. “But I know you’re a genuine and kind person. That’s rare. And I want to see you happy. I want to see you cherished. Loved. As you deserve.”
“Oh, Grace.”
“And maybe one day, it’ll prove tomethat I can have those things too. So you see?” she asked, giving me a mischievous smile, bumping my shoulder with her own. “We’re all a little selfish in the end. Who knows…maybe your Kythel will prove that he can be selfish too. Maybe he’ll get his head out of his family’s ass and snatch you up all for himself.”
The peal of laughter that escaped me made me feel better. A lot better.
“Now, eat these damn steam cakes,” she ordered me, smiling, pushing the platter forward, “before I do.”
CHAPTER40
KYTHEL
“You were supposed to be at the keep hours ago,” I told Kelan, though my voice sounded more tired than irritated. I landed on the soft grass of the meadow and peered around, my gaze landing on a warmly lit single-level cottage on the outskirts of Erzan. “She’s in there?”
“Yes,Kyzaire.”
“Get some rest,” I ordered him. “I’ll return her to the keep.”
He hesitated. “She was looking at renting one of the rooms at Erzan Inn today.”
My shoulders stiffened. I’d wondered when she would try to put distance between us. I just hadn’t expected it to be so soon.
I inclined my head at Kelan before striding toward the front door of the cottage, intent on collecting my mate and getting her back to the keep. I heard my keeper leave, taking to the skies, just as I reached the door, pounding on the wood with the side of my fist.
A human woman with red hair answered the door. I thought I recognized her. It took me a moment to place her as a blood giver at RaanaDyaan.
Her eyes didn’t widen in surprise. If anything, they narrowed at seeing aKyzaireon her doorstep.
“Millie,” she called out.
I heard movement inside. I only needed to wait a moment before my shoulders relaxed and I caught the scent of mykyranaas she came into view. Her hazel eyes peered up at me.
“I was wondering when Kelan would snitch on me,” she said, crossing her arms over her chest before remembering that her skin was still tender from the burns. She seemed to be in good spirits. Had she beendrinking? I wondered, catching the scent of wine perfuming the air and observing her pink cheeks.
“I’ll be inside if you need anything,” the human woman said, squeezing Millie’s shoulder as she passed.
My mate joined me outside. Over her shoulder, she said, “Thank you, Grace.”
When the door shut, it was just the two of us in the warm night.
“Are you ready to return to the keep?” I asked. “You need more salve for the burns.”
She shook her head.
I tried a different tactic. “It’s a nice night. Will you walk with me?”
Thatcaught her attention.
