Lora leaned against the wall of the building, tilting her head up to the sky. She could see the star Eyden had once pointed out to her. The diamond. If she could go back to that night, would she change things? Would there have been another way for her, another path that didn’t lead to her doom?
Eyden chose that moment to walk back out into the alley, shattering Lora’s thoughts.
“He fucking disappeared,” Eyden announced.
“Do you think he has your power?” Lora whispered, aware of their bad history with alleys.
Eyden huffed. “It would be a big coincidence, but maybe.”
“I guess your power isn’t so special after all.” Lora bit the corner of her mouth to stop her smile.
Eyden’s eyes glinted. His brown skin gleamed in the moonlight shining down on them. “We can’t all be royalty,princess.”
Lora narrowed her eyes at him. “I told you I hate that title.”
“Do you? You chose to stay there, after all. Wouldn’t want to make amistakeand leave your title out.”
Lora had known he would be pissed at her reaction earlier, but now he was pissingheroff. “Do I have to re-evaluate your level of intelligence?” She fixed him with a glare.
Eyden didn’t back down, drawing closer. His gaze searched hers so intensely, she didn’t know if she wanted to run away or drown with him. “It should bemequestioningyou.”
“I didn’t say it was a mistake,” Lora answered before she could think it through.
His gaze softened. “Do tell then,” Eyden said, his voice like honey. “What was it?”
She bit her lip, her breathing quickening as she thought back on their encounter. “Temporary insanity?” she offered. Even Lora could hear the lie in her voice.
“I think you’ve lost your edge, special one,” Eyden remarked, a chuckle carrying his voice. “That wasn’t even remotely believable.”
“You’re insufferable,” Lora replied quickly, trying to regain her composure. She tilted her head to the side, escaping Eyden’s searching eyes. “What more do you want me to say? That I can’t seem to stop myself even though I keep trying? It doesn’t change the fact that this—us—can’t happen.”
Eyden moved closer, forcing her attention back to him. “Why not?” His gaze trailed down her face, lingering on her lips before moving up again. “What game are you really playing? If you just trusted me, I’d play on your side. I’d have your back no matter howinsufferableyou are. I’d never fail to keep my promise again.”
The air left her lungs. Did he just insult her while promising her everything,anything?Her heart beat so fast that she thought she might pass out.
“Stop,” she forced out, her lips pressed together so tight it almost hurt, keeping her emotions at bay.
“Stop what?” he asked, desperation carrying his voice.
“Stop trying tosaveme, to figure me out. I’ve made my choice!” Frustrated tears built in her eyes. She was only trying to protect him.
“I would if I could.” Eyden’s eyes darkened, but then he shook his head, dark curls falling into his face. “No, actually, fuck that. That’s a lie. Idon’twant to. I’mnotgiving up on you. Walking away from you is fucking impossible.” He laughed softly. “Not when you look at me that way.” As he leaned in, she felt his breath caressing her cheek. “I can see it in your eyes. You feel it too. You deny it because you don’t trust me, but you’re lying to yourself if you think you want me to leave. Youdon’t.I can see the regret in your eyes with every word you throw at me.”
Eyden’s eyes were icy but filled with warmth—with hope. “Just tell me something real,” he whispered, so close she felt the words vibrate through her entire body.
What could she say? She wanted to say it all, to spill all her secrets, but she was bound to her word. She hugged herself as the alley seemed to close in on her, much like Karwyn’s contract. Her skin felt like ice as she shivered, feeling the magic of the agreement deep within her, ready to swallow her whole.
She couldn’t find the strength to fully pretend. “You’re right,” she said, her voice strangled by threatening tears. “In some way, Idoneed you. And a part of me wants your insufferable presence by my side.” His lips quirked up. “But you said it yourself, there’s no trust between us.” The smile on his face disappeared just as quickly. Breathing in deeply against the tears threatening to break free, Lora forced her tone to be as even as possible. “Our relationship was built on lies. We have a mutual goal and a mission still ahead of us. That’s all there can be.”
They needed to find that bloody door. Once they got Eyden a guard’s uniform, they would try again. She owed it to her mother to turn over every stone. She owed it to herself. And she owed it to Eyden too. He hadn’t given up on her. Even after her constant rejection, all her insufferable lies, he was still here. Lora hoped that after everything went down, he’d understand that she hadn’t wanted to lie, that she hadn’t chosen to give up on him, on whatever they were.
“We do,” Eyden agreed after a long beat, his gaze as stormy as her heart. “None of your lies will keep me from going through with our plan.” She could hear the subtext in his words. He would never go against his word. It was a promise to his sister, to all of Liraen.
Keeping herself from falling apart right in front of his eyes, Lora forced out, “Good. I should head back. The mission is what matters. There are no lies to uncover.”
Before she could see his reaction, Lora turned to the way they’d come, absently handed him his coat, and walked off.
She felt Eyden move forward, but she wouldn’t look at him as she left the alley. If she did, she might not be able to hold it together anymore, and she couldn’t keep leading him on as if they had any kind of future.
