Kerris. Kerris. Kerris.
He says more words, but all I can seem to focus on is the fact that they are speaking abouther. The two share another look, one that makes my heart stall.
The rest of Gryff’s sentence hits me like a hurricane, knocking me back a step.
Kerris is gettingmarried?
It feels like I am being held under water, my next breath nowhere to be found. What did I expect? That she would remain unattached?
I hope she finds happiness. I hope she?—
Fuck.No, I do not wish any of those things. I want to drop everything, race across the canyon, and beg for her forgiveness. Explain that I am ready to make the move.
But now it is too late.
She found someone else.
The dagger’s hilt bites against my calloused hands. “To whom?”
They trade a look, and my stomach sinks even lower.
This time, it is Maddox who stabs me with his words. “Prince Ronan Reve.”
No. No fucking way is Kerris marrying him. Kerris would never tie herself to that arrogant prick. “When is the wedding?”
“Tomorrow.”
No. No.No. “I need to go to her.” I stumble to my feet, the ground like quicksand, threatening to swallow me whole.
They both take a collective step back, their noses wrinkling, but it is Maddox who speaks. “You are covered in blood.”
“I do not care.” After I speak with her, she will call off their mating just as I did to Leah. Then we can start our lives together.
Gryffin catches my arm in his unforgiving grip. “Take a minute to think this through.”
How can I think when my mind is in tatters? I fill my lungs and force out a breath. Two. Three.
They are right. I cannot show up to her home looking like I sleep in the dirt. Her family will never accept me then. “How did you find out?”
Maddox lifts his chin. “I have my ways.”
Gryff snorts. “River overheard some Seelie guards talking about it.”
“Dammit, Gryffin.”
I leave them to their squabbling, running back toward our small camp. When I reach the river, I leap straight in and scrub the blood and dirt from my body and clothes.
Water sloshes as I wade back to shore, goosebumps breaking across my skin. Not from the cold, but from fear. Fear of losing Kerris forever.
Gryffin hands me a towel from the line, and I mutter my thanks as I dry off and stomp into my barrel-top to throw on some clean trousers. When I return, both of my friends are waiting for me.
“What are you going to do?” Maddox asks.
“Stop the wedding.” Is that not obvious to him? I am hardly going across the canyon to ask to be added to the list of guests.
“Then what? Are you going to stay there? Because you know she cannot live here.”
“I know.”
