Her face shines in the dim blue light. A small will-o’-wisp bounces into our alcove. All night I’ve watched drunk partygoers try to catch them and place them on their chests to see if any light bursts forth. So far, I’ve seen none.
“A will-o’-wisp.” Gently, I extend a palm to it.
Wrenley smacks my hand away, and the little creature flutters out of the alcove. “Are you crazy?” she snarls. “You can’t let that nasty little creature land on you. What if someone sees our mate bond? What do you think Kairyn would do to me?”
I give a long sigh. I’ve upset her. “Thought I would be romantic. I guess I wasn’t thinking.”
She shakes her head, tears brimming at the edges of her eyes. “I’m just worried about you. You have to face the Bronze Knight next.”
Her worries are justified. Rosalina told me that even Keldarion couldn’t defeat one of Kairyn’s knights when they wielded a divine weapon. “I’ve never lost in the Sun Colosseum.”
“You can’t afford to be so arrogant,” she says. “What will happen to the Blessing of Summer if you fail?”
“It will pass to Delphia,” I say slowly.
She shakes her head. “Such a burden to place on a child already laden with so much responsibility. You know the moment she inherits the Blessing, Kairyn will stop at nothing to imprison her.”
My heart thrums in my chest. Wrenley’s right. I’ve already inflicted such pain on Delphie. If I broke my curse, she wouldn’t have to be the steward anymore. She could just be a kid, like she deserves. “I want to do right by my family.”
Wrenley’s long lashes lower as she places a hand on my shoulder and guides my other hand to her waist. “I want to help you, Dayton.”
“Then cheer loudly.” I smile. But she’s drawing closer, and even though every instinct in me is screaming to push her away, I know I shouldn’t.
“That’s not what I mean.” Her chest presses against mine, and she threads a delicate hand through my hair.
“Do you really want this, Wrenley?”
“Yes,” she breathes. “Do you know how many times I’ve repeated that night on the ship in my mind? Your lips on mine.”
It takes me a moment to search my memory for it. I’d completely forgotten I’d kissed her on the ship right as Rosie walked into the room.Fuck it.Why does Rosie need to be in my head all the godsdamned time?
Tightening my grip on her waist, I pull the acolyte onto my lap and snatch her jaw. “Then let me give you another memory to think of while you spend long days looking into that ugly black void.”
I kiss her. I can tell she’s surprised because her mouth is open, and she makes a small gasp. But then she’s kissing me back, hands gliding over my ears, down my neck. How many seconds is good for a kiss? I force myself to stay another two, but she’s the one who breaks away first.
Her face is flushed, brow furrowed—
“Oh shit,” I sigh, looking at the gold paint now covering her white robes.
“I should change before Kairyn sees and you should get back before one of your patrons wakes up.”
“You’re right.”
I stand, towering over her. Before I leave, she touches my arm. “Tomorrow, I’ll come to your room. I want to help you, Dayton. I want to be your mate.”
Something like a knife twists in my chest. “Okay.”
“See you then.”
Wrenley scuttles off into the crowd, and I make my way back to my lovely ladies. But I can’t help but take the long route past Rosie’s cubiculum, just to eavesdrop a little.
But I don’t hear voices.
I hear the sweetest, most perfect, moan.
Fire bursts through me, red blinding my vision, and before I can stop myself, I throw back the curtain.
CHAPTER 71
