After Felix had admitted to being a cat for months, I didn’t understand my mentor’s worries, but I couldn’t ignore them either. Marc’s rumors had spread through town so quickly. If Frederic spoke out against the duke, public opinion would turn against him even faster. The only thing stopping Frederic from speaking out was the fact that saying anything would drag my name through the wringer, too.
If I ran off to Truthhold, Frederic might take the risk, deciding that inciting the citizens of Leort against the duke would protect me.
But Felix could come here.
I had hoped he would. I had thought he would. He knew about the rumors, knew how damaging it would be for me to disappear again, even if I didn’t have to leave without a word this time. But maybe the looks he had sent my way a few days ago hadn’t meant what I thought. Maybe the kiss had been just a kiss and his request for me to stay the night had meant nothing.
Tsy take it, even if it had all meant nothing, I still expected him to come. I thought I knew him well enough to anticipate his need for an answer on how I had broken the curse.
But four days later, he still hadn’t come.
A sharp double tap on the door had me stuffing the letters in my pocket. If Frederic was back to question me some more, I would scream. I appreciated his concern, but not his certainty that the duke had bewitched me. If he wouldn’t believe my answers, then he needed to stop asking questions.
I opened the door, but the man on the other side wasn’t Frederic.
I had waited for Felix—expected to see him for days—but now that he had come, the only thing I could say was, “What are you doing here?”
“Really? You don’t feel like we still have some unresolved business?”
The setting sun glinted behind him, adding gold highlights to his black hair. I stared, drinking in the sight of him. When he’d first transformed, I had marveled too much at the change—and worried too much about his weakness—to truly take in his appearance. And with Frederic and Her Highness watching, I hadn’t dared to look too closely the last time I had seen him. But now, I could let my gaze linger on the strong line of his jaw, the way his doublet emphasized the planes of his chest, the long fingers that had brushed over my cheeks as his lips found mine.
The sounds of everyday life, boots on cobbles, doors squeaking open and slamming shut, reminded me that staring for long moments still wasn’t my brightest idea. A few people walking down the street glanced our direction—I was still an object of gossip around town.
I grabbed Felix’s arm and pulled him inside, slamming the door shut.
His eyebrows went up. “You could have simply invited me in.”
“There wasn’t time to argue with you. Do you realize that Marc told Frederic that you can lie despite the truth-telling enchantment on Rose Castle? He is questioning everything you said now. Even your admission of being a cat.”
“I might be able to lie, but even at Truthhold, you can read me.”
“Frederic isn’t accepting my reassurances. He’s convinced you took advantage of me. Fooled me. Probably seduced me.”
Felix’s gaze fell to my lips. “I certainly wanted to.” He looked up again, shaking his head ever so slightly. “But you are a confusing woman, Isa.”
My heart beat faster. “What does that mean?”
“I couldn’t figure you out, so I hunted through the archives to learn how you broke the curse first.”
I swallowed.
“It took a bit. I knew from my earlier efforts that your scroll would be in the center of the maze, with all the most truthful contracts. Even with a rough idea of where to look, though, it still took time. But I found it. I read what you wrote, Isa. I saw the flames. Your words were the absolute truth. You love me. So why did you run?”
Indignation replaced nervousness. “I didn’t run!”
“No?” He gestured at the room. “Then why are you here instead of at Rose Castle with me?”
“Because I love you, damn it! I explained this. If Princess Charmina had discovered that I rode ahead to Truthhold, she’d have thought the worst. I couldn’t take the risk.”
“When did you explain? You wouldn’t even look at me.”
“That night. After I helped you upstairs. I told you why I had to leave.”
Felix winced. “I can’t remember most of what happened after I transformed. I knew I asked you to stay, but then you were gone when I woke. And then you would barely even look at me the next day.”
“Because I didn’t want to add fuel to the rumors.” I swallowed. “And you had sent me away. You spent days working to convince the node to make me leave.”
He staggered back a step. “You think I wanted you gone? Isa, I love you. Of course I want you with me. But only if it is by yourchoice. I wanted to free you.” His hand rose toward me, then fell back to his side. “Surely you realized that?”
