“Then what do you think?”
The silence stretches for a beat too long. Kaelith and Sorel exchange glances. Vessara looks down at her hands. Vel’s eyes narrow.
“What’s wrong with you?”
“Nothing.”
“You’re not hearing half of what anyone is saying.”
“I’ve heard everything.”
“No you haven’t. You’re barely present at all.” She comes toward me. “And I can guess why, because the entire inn heard you fucking her last night.”
“Vel—”
“Don’t. I spentyears in a cage having humans use me however they wanted.” Her voice is hard. “And now you’re fucking her … the human princess who paid to hunt and kill you.”
The room goes very still. Kaelith finds something interesting on the floor. Sorel’s face turns toward the window, and Vessara doesn’t look up.
And it’s into that silence that the door opens, and Therin steps through.
My attention snaps to him. “What are you doing here?”
“About that?—”
“Where is she?”
“She … ahh … she didn’t want to go.” He pauses. “She said she wants to stay.”
“Where is she now?”She’s supposed to be on her way back to the palace.
“She’s outside.” Therin’s mouth curves slightly. “Waiting for you.”
I’m out of the door before anyone can say another word, striding down the stairs and through the common room.
I see her the second I step outside. She’s standing beside the well in the green dress I left for her, the collar at her throat catching the sun’s rays.
“Therin tells me you’ve changed your mind.”
“Yes.” Her hands are clasped together in front of her, and she won’t meet my eyes.
“Why?”
She takes a breath. “I can’t go back to court and smile at people who mount fae heads on their walls. I can’t make conversation with hunters who brag about their kills. I can’t be the princess who doesn’t ask questions and can’t see what’s right in front of her.” She lifts her chin. “I’ve seen too much. Iknowtoo much ... and I can’t unknow that now.”
Our bargain was that she could go free in return for giving me her body for the night. I thought I was offering her what she wanted, regardless of the danger it would put us in.
“You’re choosing to be hunted. To give up everything you’ve ever known. Your father, your sister, your home. All of it will be lost to you. Do you understand that?”
“Yes.”
“Do you, Alleria?” I step closer. “Because this isn’t a story where the princess joins the rebels and everyone lives happily ever after. People are going to die, human and fae. We’re going to war, and war is ugly, brutal. You’re going to see things that will haunt you for the rest of your life.Ifyou survive. Is that what you want? Is that what you’re choosing?”
“I’m choosing not to be part of what my father’s kingdom does to your people.” Her eyes meet mine. “I’m choosing to stop pretending the hunts are sport and the preserves are a necessity. I’m choosing—” She swallows. “I’m choosing to be someone I can live with. Even if it kills me.”
The Nightwild magic hums at the edge of my awareness, reaching for her, wanting to bind her tighter to me.
I've spent weeks telling myself she's human, she's the enemy, she's nothing. The magic doesn't care. Neither, it seems, do I.
