“Just…be careful. Please.” His voice sounded a little more like himself, if more ragged and resigned than he meant for it to.
Ciana, softened, her smile returning and lightening her face. “Of course.” She arched an eyebrow. “But only if you stop worrying about me.”
Sebastian opened his mouth, about to tell her that he would always worry about her, that there wasn’t a single second of the day that passed when hewasn’tworrying about her, when a knock echoed through the room. Their gazes both swung to the heavy oak, Sebastian’s heart dropping into his stomach.
Let her go.
Ciana nearly skipped to the door, swinging it open on silent hinges. A palace servant stood on the other side, patient and waiting.
“Lady Visseau.” The servant bowed. “The king is waiting for you.”
“Of course.” Ciana started out the door. “Don’t wait up for me, Seb!”
The wood slammed behind her.
“Unfortunately, Goldie,” he whispered into the lonely silence, “I always will.”
Chapter 47
Mariah tugged a loose tunic over her shoulders, weaving through the throngs of people. Some gave her a curious look as she passed, though she tried to hide her face as best she could. Her stomach rumbled furiously and she grimaced.
Matheo—as ill-timed as his interruption had been—was right; it was well past when they normally made their way down for lunch, and she was starving. It didn’t help that too many complicated emotions were still bubbling in her chest, stretching her thin.
Mariah glanced up and down the streets of Eyarfell. She felt Andrian and Matheo at her back, tailing her closely but still giving her space. She didn’t think she’d ever seen the city this busy before.
Turning toward the great hall that also served as a cafeteria and gathering place, she realized why.
Normally their training would drive them to the hall before the rest of the city came to eat, allowing them a few moments of peace. It had created an illusion, a mirage that Mariah had forgotten wasn’t reality.
Because Leuxrithians did everything as a community, even in a city as large as Eyarfell. That included sharing their meals.
Despite the throngs of people, Mariah’s skin didn’t prickle with discomfort until they reached the great hall and pushed open the doors. She stepped past the threshold into the cavern, and every set of purple eyes within swung to her.
Their looks were friendly enough. A few people closest to the door gave her polite nods, welcoming smiles on their faces.
The door slammed behind them, and their gazes shifted past her, landing on the man to her right.
Mariah’s heart hammered in her chest, and she resisted the urge to wipe her hands on her pants.
What was once friendly flickered into hostility, what was once welcoming became distrust. Tension settled over the cavern, heavy and thick. The dull roar of pleasant conversation dwindled into a murmured trickle of agitation.
Why couldn’t a single thing go right today?
They could run. They could retreat to their apartments and ask for food to be brought to them. They could hide away from all these eyes simmering with hate—not for her, or even really for him. But for the god who’d sired him, for the magic in his veins that he’d never asked for.
Something in Mariah twisted and settled.No. Andrian had spent enough of his life running. Truthfully, so had she. He may not be ready to tell her what happened in Khento, but she would no longer let people convince him that he was a monster to be feared.
She would no longer let him convincehimself.
Mariah met his gaze. She saw it in him—the urge to run.
Instead, she reached out, grasping his calloused hand in hers. Gripped it tight as she stepped into him, her lip faintly lifting in a snarl.
“Ignore them,” she whispered fiercely. “Because you aremine.”
Heat flared in his eyes, only to be quelled a moment later. His throat bobbed as he swallowed, but he gave her a tight nod.
Good enough, she supposed.
