Well, not again. Never again will I be stupid enough to give my heart away, because there’s none to give anymore. Addison took it, crumpled it into a ball, and then she stomped on it, smearing it into the ground.
I yank back the covers and get out of bed, pulling on a robe that’s draped over a chair.
“Why aren’t you dressed yet?” he accuses.
I sigh. “Because it was a late night.”
“I heard the servants whispering something about a book.”
My back tightens. “It’s nothing you need to worry about. Come on. Let’s have breakfast.”
“I already ate. It’s ten o’clock.”
I stop and let my head fall onto my shoulders. I can’t remember the last time I slept so late. “Fine. Let’s work your falcon, then.”
“Things are more fun with Addison.”
“Well, she’s not coming back, so stop asking for her,” I snap, immediately regretting it. His eyes go wide and I sigh. “Ryals, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to snap at you. I’m just…I’m sorry.”
“You broke up with her, didn’t you?”
I drop my gaze and stare at the floor. “You always knew she would leave. I told you that from the beginning.”
“But that was before you loved her.”
The shock of his words hits me like a missile to the chest. My entire body trembles as I remember how silky her skin felt under my fingertips, how her back arched when I raked my hand between her breasts.
That whole damned thing was the most confusing sex I’ve ever had. I wanted her. I hated her. I despised her. I lusted for her. I wanted to push her away. I wanted to thrust inside of her and feel her stretch for me.
Before my body decides to respond to my thoughts, I take Ryals by the shoulders and turn him toward the hallway. “Give me five minutes and I’ll be outside.” He gives me an accusing look. I know what he’s going to say, so I’ve got to squash this before he starts to have hope. “Ryals, Addison isn’t our friend. She betrayed me and my feelings for her. She never cared about us.Ever. She only pretended to. Do you understand?”
“But—”
“No buts.” His eyes tighten and I drop my voice. “No buts. She doesn’t care about us, so we shouldn’t care about her. Understand?”
“Understood,” he says quietly.
As he walks out the door, I realize that I meant every word, and with those words the most clarifying thought I’ve had all day hits me.
Time to call Trawick.
The falcon takesflight and circles the trees, sweeping left as it returns to Ryals. It sees the mouse atop the box and dives for it.
The mouse, predictably, is terrified, and tries to scurryaway. With magic, I hold it there and also hold my breath, waiting and hoping that this time, this time it’ll work.
The falcon takes the mouse in its talons and lifts back into the sky. Its sharp eyes focus on Ryals, and the bird soars toward him.
My heart thunders against my ribs as the bird closes the distance between us. Right before it soars over, its talons open and the mouse falls safely into Ryals’s hands.
“You did it,” I shout, roughing up his hair.
“He did it,” Ryals yells.
Slow clapping comes from behind us. “Bravo! Well done!” Trawick approaches and nods to Ryals. “You’ve done the unthinkable—taught a falcon not to eat its prey.”
Ryals smiles. “If only Addie could’ve seen it.”
My jaw tightens. “Why don’t you help put the falcon away?”
