No!The word doesn’t come out, just air scraping my throat.
I can’t speak. I frantically shove myself off the floor but don’t move an inch.
The last thing I see is her face, twisted in rage, before she slams the door. The cracks of light at its edges melt away, plunging me into total darkness.
I struggle for I don’t know how long until I finally fall forward. Scrambling to the spot where the door once existed, I feel it with my hands. It’s completely smooth.
There’s no way out.
Chapter 38
Reid
“It’ll look good on you,” Emlyn insists, holding a deep green stretch of fabric up to me.
We stand inside a small clothing shop, with tunics of mostly earth tones and undyed wool hanging from pegs and racks sticking off the walls and ceilings. Only a few other customers wander among the wares.
“That can’t possibly qualify as a shirt,” I say, eyeing the tangle of straps in his hand.
“I never said it did.”
“Then I’m not wearing it.”
“It’s a wedding. What’d you expect to wear?”
“Clothes?” I lean close to his ear, not that it matters with fae hearing. I just have to trust no one cares what I’m saying. “Please tell me fae wear clothes to weddings.”
“Of course we do.” Emlyn smacks my shoulder with the back of his hand. “Itisclothing. Just not a shirt.”
“Then what is it?”
“Um…” He holds it up, tilting his head as he squints at it. “I’m not honestly sure. But I’d like to see you in it.”
I hold back the smile that wants to break my face. “Another time. Right now, I just need something clean.”
We arrived in the capital two days after the meeting in White Spring. Just me, Emlyn, Taran, and Ellie, traveling like a flock of chickens and ducks. Everyone else went their separate ways, aiming to meet again at the wedding when Taran’s plan goes into motion.
If it had been up to me, Emlyn and I would’ve traveled separately, too. I can’t stand being around Ellie and Taran. They aren’t overly affectionate, but the way they look at one another… Ugh. But Emlyn insisted on sticking with them, at least during the day, so I tried to ignore the anger that ravaged my insides every time I laid eyes on them.
It was Ellie’s choice. And Taran’s—he, at least, should’ve known better. Emlyn barely defended him, only mumbling how Taran’s cracks are finally showing.
But it wasn’t my fault.
At least we camped separately. I could have spent that time fretting over the horrible things my absence was providing them the opportunity to do to one another, but Emlyn didn’t give those thoughts a chance to enter my mind.
Our nights have been good. So good. My experience with such things is rather limited since there weren’t that many men with similar tastes in Haven, but damn—Emlyn knows what he’s doing. He spent our first night together exploring every inch of my body with his fingers, lips, and teeth trailing along my skin, testing everything from tender caresses to spine-tingling bites until he knew more about what I liked than I ever did. The whole thing culminated with him gasping my name as I came inside him, after he somehow kept me at the edge of bursting for almost half a fucking bell.
I was a moron for hesitating as long as I did. And as mind-blowing as the sex is, it’s got nothing on waking up to his beautiful eyes, still wrapped around each other. He hasn’t been out of arm’s reach for more than a few minutes during these last few days.
But now the journey’s over. One of Taran’s allies, a shepherd named Cadoc, moved his entire clan to the outskirts of the capital, and we’ve joined them. Tomorrow’s the wedding, and according to the plan, Ellie and I will attend as Aerona’s guests—Ellie as her servant, and me as her escort. Hence the shopping for clothing.
Emlyn came along, claiming it would be good to get some more information. The key word being ‘would.’ He’s made it quite clear he has no intention of working today.
“Thisisclean,” he says, still waving the questionable garment. “It’s clearly never been worn.”
“Because no one could figure out how.” An olive-green tunic catches my eye. “How about this?” I hold it up to myself.
Emlyn shrugs. “I suppose it’ll work. Try it on.” He nods toward the curtain hanging in the corner, then follows as I head over.
