I wasn’t so certain we’d seen the last of Lydrasa, but for once, I wanted to be a little optimistic like my mate.
“Besides, don’t give her that power,” Erina said, sliding her hand over my chest again.
“You’re right.”
I pressed my lips to her cheek, savoring her warmth as I tried to forget about Lydrasa. Erina had the right idea. Why give her the satisfaction of my anger? She deserved nothing from me.
“Did you like my speech tonight?” I asked, to try to take her mind from the sourness of Lydrasa’s unexpected presence.
My lips were trailing to hers, and so I felt, rather than saw, her smile. “Yes. Though it took me by surprise.”
“What was surprising about it?” I asked, confused.
“That you said it in front of everyone,” she said, pulling back to look up into my expression. “Now they’ll all talk. Aren’t you worried about what they’ll say? That I’m the keeper who manipulated you and trapped you with a child?”
Her tone was soft, almost teasing. She cared about what people might think of me, now that the truth was out. It was what I’d feared after all, to have history repeat itself within these walls of the keep.
And I realized I didn’t care. Because this was me and Erina.
“I’ll tell them the truth if they dare to ask,” I said, grinning.
“And what truth is that?”
“That you didn’t trap me in the slightest,” I said. “I’ll tell them that I wanted you so much that I briefly lost my mind with it.”
“Is that what happened?” she asked, laughing a little.
“You were there that night,” I grumbled. “I would say that’s an accurate assessment of what happened. I could barely see straight, I wanted you so much. Looking back, I think I was a little in love with you already. And half-mad with jealousy because I thought you loved someone else.”
“All right,” she said, going up onto her tiptoes to press a kiss to my cheek. “That’s what you can tell people.”
“Good. I’m glad we’re in agreement.”
“Me too,” she said. “Now, let’s get back to the party. I’m starving.”
CHAPTER 49
ERINA
After our guests had departed and Thaine had left to return to Salaire, I led Kaldur through the keep. He was confused when I made an impromptu detour, heading not to the South Wing but to the North one. Yet he was patient, his gaze twinkling, as he wondered where I was taking him.
I walked a few paces ahead of him, looking back over my shoulder every hallway to see if he was still following. His lips would twitch. He watched me as if I were his prey, tracking me from the darkness, playful even in his confusion and looking so handsome in his dinner attire that it made me ache.
When we reached the North Wing, I went to the starlight hallway. Through the stained glass, with the full moon shining, it looked like stars speared through the darkness. The souls were active tonight, but I wasn’t afraid. They were curious, inquisitive, but harmless.
“Why come here?” he murmured, snagging me from behind when I stepped into the hallway.
“I like this place,” I told him, smoothing my hand over his. “No one comes here, except the old souls, and I didn’t want to be interrupted.”
I looked back at him before turning in his arms. “Do you mind it?”
His smile was wry. “Truthfully I hated this hallway as a boy. I would come to Vyaan often, to learn from my uncle when he was still in power over the territory. And I always avoided it when I could. Most times, I still do.”
“Why?”
“I could always feel the lost souls here. And I always hated that I felt powerless. I couldn’t help them.”
“Just because you can’t help them doesn’t mean you should ignore them,” I answered. “Besides, I’ve always thought azylarrwould be helpful in this hallway. Just there.”
