“We’re married. Don't you think we should try to get along?”
Lightning crackled above us, and I wished we were anywhere else but out here getting drenched.
“I don't know how.” Her shoulders slumped and she turned away from me, hugging her middle. “How am I supposed to forget everything that's happened? I don't know if I can.”
Reaching for her arm, I tenderly turned her back to face me. “I'm not asking you to forget. I willneverask that of you. You don't even have to forgive me.”
Rain mixed with her tears, her mouth opened slightly, the rosy flush from before being replaced by the paleness of the storm we stood in.
“I can't take back what happened. If I'm being honest, if that's what we're doing right now…” Heat flushed over me. “If I would have done things differently, then maybe… no one would have died.”
Shaking her head, she held a trembling hand to her mouth. “It's my fault he's dead. The blame is on me. I never should have left the temple. I never should have hoped for anything. If we had never left, he would still be alive.”
“That is not your fault. I was the one who killed him.”
“You may have landed the killing blow, but I’m the reason he was there.” Her shoulders shook. “I have been so angry with you I failed to see the truth. It'sme. It's my fault. Everything that’s happened is because of my choices.”
Her voice hedged between her words, her breaths coming faster.
“Don't say that. Hate me, be angry with me.”
“You're not making that easy!” she screamed and I stumbled back. “Every time you show me a little kindness, it gets harder to hate you.”
I wanted to ask if she still hated me, but I didn't know what to say. This was the most we'd ever spoken to each other.
A sob ripped from her throat, and she fell to her knees. “I'm so tired. I'm tired of the ache in my chest. I'm tired of being afraid of pointy teeth.”
I arched a brow at the statement, but in all fairness my people had not been kind to her.
“I'm so tired.”
The rain had soaked her clothes, her hair. Mine too. Her dress clung to her hips, accentuating her curves, and I found itdifficult to look away, to ignore the unbidden desire that seemed to follow whenever my gaze lingered too long.
Sobbing, she dug her hands into the grass.
What could I say? Yes, Crispin would be alive if she had never left the temple, but did I want her to hate herself? Not knowing how to respond, I sat on the ground next to her, staring up at the castle, the rain pelting my face. This would have been a significant moment to share something of myself, but I hadn't been one to get very personal with anyone.
We sat there until the storm lightened, the rain turning into a soft drizzle.
Our arms nearly touched one another, the tattoo symbol of our unity connecting us. I looked at the tattooed runes and wondered if we could have more than just an alliance. If that was even what I wanted…
Glancing over at her, Ireallylooked at her, how the sunlight breaking through the storm highlighted the specks of gold in her brown eyes, the unique birthmark signifying she was destined to be mine since birth, the soft plains of her skin, how her lips were the perfect shade of petal pink just like the roses she had bloomed in the grove.
“Why are you looking at me like that?” she asked while wiping the water off her face with her fingers. There was no malice in her tone. No anger.
“What?” Panic flashed in her eyes.
“I owe you a proper tour of the castle.”
She scrunched her face. “Haven’t I seen enough?”
“This is different, and I promise there’s nothing with pointy teeth where we’ll be going. I'd like to bring you to the royal courtyard.”
“What's that?”
“I think you'll like it. I need to be somewhere tomorrow, but the day after I’ll show you. For now…” I stood and held out my hand. “It's time I get you back. I'm sure your handmaiden has returned and they're probably all wondering where you are.”
She looked at my hand, debating whether she wanted to take it.
