After a few minutes, I pull back. “I need to find Asmo and tell him. Any idea where he might be?”
“He’s at the pool. I passed him a little bit earlier.” He shrugs and asks, “Want me to walk you there?”
I glance toward the guard standing outside of the gazebo and say, “No, thank you, though. I’ve got someone to take me. I also don’t think bringing my new fiancé to break up with his brother would go over too well.” I force a smile onto my face, but I know it doesn’t meet my eyes.
We kiss once more and promise to see each other soon. As I’m walking away, I glance backward, hoping for another look at him before I go break another heart. But he’s not looking at me, and my heart sinks again.
Before I make it to the pool, I take the ring from my finger and place it in my pocket. I find Asmo sitting at the edge of the steam bath, his pants rolled up and his feet submerged in the steaming water.
I resist the urge to sit beside him and instead opt to sit across from him, pulling my skirt up and easing my feet into the hot water. The steaming water feels incredible, and I let loose a sigh. Asmo glances up but doesn’t greet me.
Instead, he whispers, “I’m sorry. About last night. About everything.”
“I’m fine,” I say, not meeting his gaze.
“Are you?”
I think about the question. Am I okay? No. What happened with the osseris clings to me like a dark shadow, and the ring in my pocket now feels like an anvil. I have no idea what I’m doing or if I’m making the right choice. I feel like I’m blind, like I’m stumbling in the dark, hoping I’m heading in the right direction.
“You chose Marik, didn’t you?” he asks quietly.
“Yes,” I whisper.
He nods silently. We sit that way for a long time, both of us staring at the swirling water in silence.
His feet stop swirling. I look up, only to find him staring at me. This prince who’s held me in his arms, who made me feel so real and alive. This prince who kissed my scars with tenderness, who kissed me with the fire of a thousand burning hells.
I take a deep breath and steel myself to ask him the question that’s been burning in my brain since last night. “Was it ever real to you? Or was it just a game?”
He looks down, back into the swirling water. For a moment, I think he’s going to tell me what I want to hear.
No, princess, it was never a game. It was the only real thing I’ve ever had.
But then he looks up. His expression hardens. “It was never real.”
But I can feel it. I can feel the lie. My heart thrashes at his words, but my magic knows it’s a blatant lie.
I remove my feet from the water and stand. “Goodbye, Asmo.”
I walk away. And just like he did last night, I don’t turn back.
Tears cloud my vision as chilled air whips around me. I take a shuddering breath and shove my heartbreak down. I shove it all the way down and lock it in the deepest part of my heart.
I take a moment to calm my features and erase any trace of anger, hurt, or disappointment. I will my features into the face of a newly engaged High Queen. I remove the ring from my pocket and place it on my hand as I enter the castle and walk up the stairs.
When I get back to my wing, Ivan is already waiting for me.
“Hi, Ivan,” I say, plastering a smile onto my face.
“Mae,” he says, looking at me expectantly.
I hold out my left hand, displaying the engagement ring. “It’s done,” I say. “Marik and I are officially engaged.”
He smiles, but it doesn’t reach his eyes either. Can he tell this entire process has officially torn me in two?
“That’s great news,” he says. “I came by to discuss the details of the engagement with you.”
We step inside and take our seats in the living room.
