“I have no thoughts whatsoever.”
Eyden chuckled. “Sure, special one.” She heard him drop his trousers, and she exhaled loudly. “No thoughts, or nocleanthoughts?” Eyden asked as he grabbed the uniform from the shelf in her peripheral vision.
Lora didn’t trust herself to answer as clothing rustled behind her.
“Fine, keep them to yourself. I have a pretty good imagination,” Eyden replied. “You can turn back around.”
She turned to him. Varsha had been right; he did look damn good in a uniform. The mix of turquoise and silver worked well with his brown skin.
“What are you thinking now?” Eyden asked.
I want you, but I can never have you.“You don’t want to know,” Lora said instead.
Eyden took a step closer. The room seemed to shrink around them, trapping them into their own world haunted by every kiss, every touch, they’d shared. “Try me.”
“It doesn’t matter. We should get going.”
Eyden’s gaze dropped as if preparing himself for his next words. “I need to know one thing before we go out there.Whydon’t you trust me?”
Lora laughed nervously. “Is that a serious question? I already told you.”
“No, you didn’t. You only said youcan’t.I need awhy.And I won’t accept any more lies.” His eyes bore into hers, not giving up, daring her to dig up the answer she’d buried as deep as possible.
“We established a long time ago that it’s a mutual feeling. You don’t trust me either,” Lora replied, her mind flashing with memories of the two of them.
Shimmering a liquid ice-blue, Eyden’s eyes warmed. “Maybe I’m a fool, but Ido.”
Lora breathed in sharply. She hadn’t expected his words. They were a confession too meaningful to brush past. Warmth built in her stomach, electrifying her nerves.
“But you obviously don’t trust me since you won’t share what’s going on with you.Whyare you here?” Eyden moved his head closer, trapping her. “Why do you look sohopeless?”
“Don’t,” Lora whispered, tears burning behind her eyes. If he didn’t stop right now, she’d break down. Why did he have to read her so well? She dropped her head, escaping his unrelenting gaze.
“Don’t what?” Eyden asked.
“Don’t ask me,” she said between gritted teeth. “It’s complicated.”
She felt Eyden’s hand on her chin, gently lifting her head to his. “I don’t mind complicated. Whatever it is, you have me.”
Lora clasped his outstretched arm. He moved his hand to her cheek, and she turned her head in his hand on instinct.Thiswas real. It felt like the realest thing in this world.
She forced her voice to come out even. “I can’t trust anyone. I justcan’t.”
Nodding his head, his gaze turned sorrowful. He dropped his hand, and Lora fought the urge to reach out.
“I wish they’d never taken you to the palace,” Eyden said. “If you’d never met Saydren, if I hadn’t messed up and made you feel like you had to go on your own, maybe things would be different now.”
Her head felt empty. So much had happened since she’d first arrived in Liraen, but she would have always ended up here, trapped in the palace.
“It wouldn’t have mattered,” she said, her voice haunted. “Saydren knew who I was before I even walked into that bar. It was only a matter of time until I ended up here.”
“What?” Eyden's voice anchored her to the present. “Are you saying someone set you up?”
Shit.She had said that, hadn’t she? It didn’t involve Karwyn’s secret precisely, so she was fine. She had to befine.The cold feeling in her chest that was the contract remained the same. “I…I think so, but I don’t know who.” It wasn’t a lie exactly.
“Saydren never said anything about how he knew?”
“Nothing but lies.”
