Because of the tendus, or because of me?
His mouth thins.
With a sigh, I ask, “Why did you swim into the Sahklare?”
“Because I f-felt…I…” He must get fed up with his stammer because he finishes his sentence inside my mind:I felt you suffering.
My eyes burn. My heart aches. “I’m sorry, Enzo. I’m so sorry.”
“Stop apologizing,” he snaps.
How the tables have turned…
You’re not sorry you made another Serpent!he snaps.
He’s right. I’m not.
He rams a hand through his hair that is white with so much salt the green barely shines through.You should’ve let me die.
I suck in a breath, then hiss, “Never.” I stand and go to him. “Enzo, I will never let you die.”
His mouth opens, probably to repeat that I should.
I press a finger against his lips to hush him and say, “I love you, Enzo Fronz. You are my first and you will always be my favorite?—”
He cinches my wrist and tugs it away. I think it’s because he doesn’t want to be silenced but realize, as his face sails down toward mine, as his lips crash into mine, that shoving me away wasn’t his intent.
Stunned, I just stand there and gasp, which allows his tongue to breach my mouth. I splay my hands on his chest to push him away, but then decide to let him pour all his frustration inside me and rid himself of his crush. I know the kiss will fizzle, just like his ardor, because there’s no spark between our lips. Perhaps there would be if I tried to reciprocate, but I don’t feel like trying.
My lids color with Cathal’s face and my mind with the memory of our kiss back in the Sky Castle. What had Agrippina called the passion we had for each other? The word returns to me as I finally skate my mouth off Enzo’s—explosive.
The memory is so intense that I suddenly feel like I can smell him here, in this room, next to me. I pivot, worried that Iwillfind him. Worried that he bore witness to Enzo’s frustration and despair. When I find no one, my pulse hushes and I turn back toward Enzo.
“You d-don’t,” he says, hurt washing out his tone.
“I don’t what?”
You don’t love me. If you did, you would’ve kissed me back and you didn’t even try, Daya.
Enzo, the love I have for you isn’t that of a mate. It’s that of a mother. It’s the same type of love I have for Fallon.
With a grimace, he backs up and repeatedly scrapes the back of his hand against his lips as though I’d been the one to kiss him without his consent.
I’m sorry, sweetheart, but?—
He flattens his palms against his ears and hisses, “St-Stop! J-Just st-stop!” His eyes shimmer like faceted onyx.
“Don’t cry.”
His Adam’s apple jumps in his throat and then he’s racing away from me.
“Enzo, please…” I rush after him, worried he’ll try to swim out of Shabbe again before remembering the waterrisesare out of order.Please stay safe.
He does, but he also stays away, locked in his bedroom. The only two people he allows inside are Asha—though he doesn’t speak with her, he accepts the food she brings him—and my grandmother—whom he does speak with. Aboutwhatis a mystery since she refuses to relay their conversations, no matter how much I insist.
His silence toward me lasts and lasts.
Just like Cathal’s absence. When I ask Fallon if her father will eventually join her during one of her visits, she tells me that he’s aiding in Tarespagia. Though I’ve no reason to doubt her word, when I suggest making a trip out there, she’s quick to tell me it’s a terribly dangerous idea. Kanti did too much damage. Faeries positively loathe the Shabbins. She lobs reason after reason until they form a teetering pile. One that a mere flick of my tail would send spilling.
