A familiar tingle spread around the roots of my wing and trailed down my spine. I caught sight of her before I caught her scent.
Millie was standing in the hallway just beyond the threshold of the room. I straightened like anakkiumjolt passed through me. I forgot Lyris. I forgot Hanno. The lounge seemed to melt around me, and I felt despair rise. It would always be like this, I knew. I would always crave her.
Afuckingblood mate.
Akyrana.
One of the oldest and most sacred of bonds among the Kylorr, and I’d found mine in a human female who could offer me and my House nothing of true value. Necessary value in a time that might lead to war.
I’d already cursed Raazos and Alaire and Gaara and Zor for their cruel trick. Was this punishment for Aina? Punishment for Ruaala, even? Perhaps.
The look in Millie’s eyes, however, had me forgetting all the reasons why she was wrong for me. I saw the hurt in them. The vulnerability. The chip in the marble I’d been looking for in Lyris.
She looked a mess. Tired and sweating from the kitchens and angry and sad. But my eyesateat her like I was starving for my next meal. She feltreal.
Hanno turned. Millie slipped away. I stood.
“I need to speak with someone,” I said, my gaze still on the place where Millie had stood. “My apologies—I’ll return shortly.”
I left without a backward glance, striding through the lounge, ignoring the lingering looks cast my way. I followed Millie’s trail until I left RaanaDyaanand went down the side alley.
She had her palms spread across the trunk of the bleeding tree, forehead lowered against it.
“Millie.”
She turned and then forced a small smile.
“Good evening,Kyzaire,” came her voice, oddly stilted and humorless.
I stilled for just a brief moment before I was stalking closer. Until she was just a hand’s span away.
“Kyzairenow?” I rasped, a little burn of irritation beginning to melt the boredom I’d felt for the majority of the evening.
“How has your night been? Enjoyable, I hope.”
“What are you doing?” I asked her, hunching down so our eyes were level. “What are youdoing, Millie?”
Her chin tipped up. She’d managed to shield the soft, hurt, tender place I’d witnessed moments before across the room of the smoky lounge. Now there was a bright spark of anger.
Her scent flooded my senses, and my gaze dropped to her lips. She crossed her arms in front of herself, and the soft material of my vest bumped against them.
A smirk pulled at the corners of my mouth.
“I see,” I purred softly, stepping closer. There was a prick at the back of my neck. A warning. I knew this wasn’t smart. Nothing with Millie ever was, and yet…
“You see what?” she asked, her tone equally silky.
“Her name is Lyris of House Arada,” I told her. “The daughter of a noble House.”
“I know who she is,” Millie said, smiling. “Why would you think I care?”
“Don’t you?” I asked, liking that she was jealous.
That fake, barbed smile slowly died. My own smirk died with it because I saw Millie underneath. The imperfect marble—cracked and chipped and beautiful.
“I do,” she admitted, looking down at our booted feet, nearly touching, hers half the size of mine. “But even I know I have no right to care. You’re aKyzaireof the Kaalium. From a noble family. I’ve heard your legacy whispered about across theuniverse.”
I frowned, this conversation not going the way I’d wanted it to.
