“You work up a big appetite when you’re the fastest man in the world,” Riyan said with a proud smile. “So you lost the bet. Now youowe me.”
I took another bite of the apple. “I already said I was not going tokiss you.”
“That’s not whatI want.”
Before I could ask what he meant, he sat down on the ground. He set me on his right leg and my stomach flipped when I realized I was dangerously close to what was hiding beneath his pants. His face was hard as he looked down at me. Fear filled my belly along withthe apples.
Riyan let out a soft breath. “I want you to tell me what we talked about last night. It’sonly fair.”
He was right. If I had drunkenly spilled the deepest parts of my heart, I would want to know exactly what Ihad said.
Placing the pieces of our hazy garden conversation together like a puzzle, I planned out what I would tell him. I would keep it simple, leave out the teeth-gnashing and the weeping, but I would emphasize one point that mighthelp me.
I ran my fingers along the deep crimson skin of the apple in my hands. “You told me that you were not a half-giant. You said you were made of magic and did not havea father.”
Riyan nodded his head. “That’s true.”
“You also told me what you saw through themagic mirrors.”
Riyan’s eyes grew wide in panic and he cursed underhis breath.
“You did not actuallytell meabout them!” I quickly corrected. “I do not think whatever the curse is willaffect you.”
Riyan sighed in relief and shook his head. “I sure hope not.What else?”
I deliberately avoided his eyes and made my voice soft as kitten fur. “You told me youwere sorry.”
His voice hitched with worry. “Sorry?For what?”
I donned a forlorn mask and sighed. I lifted my gaze to his face. “Taking me fromDerrick Hyton.”
“What?” Riyan asked indignantly. “I would never apologize for that. Hyton is a spoiled, pampered brat who thinks he can take anythinghe wan—”
“You said you were sorry for breakingmy heart.”
Riyan’s face fell and he looked away from me. For a few heavy moments, all we could hear were the horses happily eatingtheir apples.
“Did I really break your heart?” Riyan asked softly, almostin disbelief.
I looked at the grass. Truthfully, my heart was a smoky enigma surrounded by tall granite walls. My heart may have ached, its stony shields may have cracked, but it wouldneverbreak.
But Riyan did notknow that.
I might not have known exactly how to play Riyan, but I knew he could feel pain. His tears in the Duke’s garden showed me he was capable of deep remorse, even if he did not remember any of it. The scourge of guilt on his back for breaking my heart might keep him from acting reckless and breakingmy body.
Was it wrong? Maybe, but I had few options to keep myself safe. Telling a lie now was kinder than plunging a dagger into histhroat later.
I waited another heartbeat before going in for the kill. I slowly raised my eyes as I knitted my brows and pouted my lips slightly—looking as tragically heartbroken that couldbe believable.
Riyan took a deep breath, taking my pathetic face as confirmation, and his face turned to stone. He started to rise and I scrambled offhis leg.
He towered over me as he looked north. “Fine, Serafina. We will get what needs to happen between you and I over with, then you can go back to your preciousLord Hyton.”
Without giving me another glance, Riyan solemnly headed north on his own and left the rest of us behind. As I watched him disappear up the road, a chill pricked my skin. I wrapped the crimson cape tighter around me to try to warmup again.
The heartbreak lie had worked better than I planned—Riyan had just given me the best outcome for thismarriage possible.
I could continue my relationship with Derrick and influence the governance of Ravenwood that way—not ideal, but I could make it work. I could have the safety of a blood bond with Riyan, Derrick’s affection, and a hand in running Ravenwood all at the same time. I could have everything I ever wanted—I should havebeen celebrating.
