“Not tonight,” Yvette said quietly, taking a step away. She could hardly stand his touch as confusion, guilt, and betrayal warred within her.
“Come now, darling.” His fingers traced the edge of her jaw. “Don’t be too soft hearted. You did well tonight.”
Yvette turned sharply from his touch. Sickness was pooling in her gut, rising. She needed to be alone, to think-
Her heart stopped as he grabbed her chin, this time holding her tightly. “You’re mine, pet. Let’s not forget.” His whisper was smooth and possessive.
Without thinking, Yvette pushed his hand away, hard. He stared at her in disbelief as her eyes widened with horror. She pulled on the shroud of her magic, a reflex as her heart began to race.
Victor’s features turned from shock to anger as she retreated. She choked down the sobs that tried to escape her, to expose her, knowing she couldn’t keep them silenced for long.
“Come back here,” he growled, turning on the spot to catch some hint of her presence.
Yvette did not turn as she raced into the castle, leaving Victor alone to rage against the night.
Caspian
Keira was gone.
Caspian knew this in his mind before he even opened his eyes. Yet as he saw the empty bed beside him, his chest shattered, collapsing in on itself as if it were made of glass instead of bone. He should have known he couldn’t keep her here. She was too free to be trapped behind stone walls again.This was for the best.Even so, it felt as though he’d swallowed poison. Caspian lay on his back, feeling it snake through his veins, killing him from the inside.
Sometime later, a knock came at the door. Caspian glanced out the window. The sun had fully risen. Normally he would be on his feet by now, dressed and attending to his duties.
He did not get up.
The door opened anyway. Lionel entered, one of the serving girls carrying a breakfast tray behind him. “Good morning, my lord.”
The girl set it down on the table and left. Caspian sat up and rubbed his face.
“Many of your guests are preparing to journey home now that the Holly Festival is at a close. They do not wish to leave without offering their thanks to the host.”
Had it only been the night before that Keira had been dancing in his arms? Making the town square bloom aroundthem with her magic? Lying beside him? It felt like a dream that was even now slipping away.
“Tell them I am unwell and wish them to be safely on their way,” Caspian said. It was impolite not to see them off, but he wasn’t sure he could find it within himself to care at the moment.
Lionel nodded. “Lord Redfield is also requesting an audience. Should I tell him the same?”
Caspian curled his fists tight against the desire to reject every responsibility that would seek to draw him from the shallow comforts of his bed. “No. I will see him this afternoon.”
“I will tell him to expect you then, sir. You should also know that your guest was not in her room this morning when they came to bring her breakfast. I had thought that perhaps she was-” Lionel stopped himself before making any insinuations. “It seems she is not here.”
“No, she is not,” Caspian said, pulling himself out of bed and shoving his arms into his robe.
“Will she be returning, sir?”
Caspian shook his head, lips stiff. “No.”
Lionel bowed slightly, though Caspian could read him well enough to see a touch of surprise in his features. “I’ll have the room cleaned then.”
A selfish part of him wanted to say no, didn’t want to erase the evidence that Keira had been here. But he did not protest.It was time to move on.
Caspian stewed in his misery well into the morning, hoping that by the time he emerged his thoughts would be less chaotic, the way forward more clear. However, trying to imagine a future without Keira in it… He had lived that life these past three years. Though they had not been entirely miserable, Keira’s return had only shown him the vacuum in his life that was meant for her. Now that she was gone, and for good, he felt that cavity like an open wound.
At midday, Caspian dressed numbly in the first clothes he touched. The colors seemed duller, the air staler, thinner even, as if she had taken some of it with her. Her absence was tangible and taunting as his heart beat to the horrible truth.Keira’s gone. She’s not coming back.
As Caspian moved through the halls, they were emptier than they had been in days. He supposed his guests had managed to see themselves out despite his lapse in hospitality. The few servants he passed offered him a wide berth, suggesting he wasn’t masking his ill temper as well as he thought. He’d never been gifted at concealing these things. Though he supposed it was equally likely the rumors had spread. He’d certainly given them enough time.
In any case, he ignored them forcefully as he cut through the great hall. There was only one matter on his mind, the only burden that he could not postpone. His meeting with Lord Redfield. The arrangement must be settled, and today.
