A glass shatters somewhere behind me, followed by a loud cheer, and the room resumes its chatter.
I flag the barkeep. His expression is neutral, eyes more curious than anything else. “We only have mead,” he says, scrubbing a beringed hand across his jaw.
“Mead’ll do fine.”
He pours me a steep glass. I force myself to sip it slowly, scanning the room for any signs of trouble. Condensation drips down my palm to my wrist, sliding uncomfortably between my skin and the iron cuffs.
Again and again, my gaze returns to Mayah. Each time, I find her studying me, worrying her lower lip, eyes quickly averted when they collide with mine.
And then Tairna approaches her with red-rimmed eyes and a tired smile. They sit together at a nearby table, Mayah’s back facing me.
I wish I could hear their low murmurs over the chaos of the room, but I have a strong feeling Mayah is asking Tairna about her mother.
And maybe me.
They talk for nearly forty minutes. At one point, Tairna covers Mayah’s hand with her own. I don’t care to parse the storm of emotions that rips through me.
A tear slides down Tairna’s cheek as she catches my gaze over Mayah’s shoulder. I turn away.
Definitely talking about me.
When Mayah finally rises, her cheeks are wet with tears. My hands clench around the glass, and I fix Tairna with an accusing glare.
Tairna only smiles knowingly at me.
Mayah sucks in a shaky breath, steels her spine, and walks toward me. Determination is etched on her face, tears still drying on her cheeks.
“Mayah!” Tumaas’s muscled arm drops over her shoulders. He spins her around, then pulls her flush to his chest, his hand splayed across her lower backjustabove the curve of her ass.
My teeth clack together as he sets her hand atop his shoulder, swaying her in time to the music.
Does she want to dance with him? Is he forcing her? With the iron cuffs, I can’t even sense her energy signature.
I slam the glass on the counter before it shatters in my fist.
Mayah stumbles over her feet, but her body seems relaxed when he twirls her. Her eyes catch mine for a brief moment, and then he drags her deeper into the crowd.
In my periphery, I spot Tairna approaching me.
Fuck that.
My boots thud against the wooden floor as I leave the dance hall behind.
I avoid our room. Don’t want to be there in case Mayah doesn’t come back alone.
Down the hall, I find a cramped stairwell that leads to the roof. It’s smaller than the terrace at the palace, but the sight of dark open sky eases the roiling in my chest. My heavy footsteps trudge toward the edge. A weary sigh escapes me as I drop to the floor, leaning back against the wooden railing.
The iron shackles feel heavy on my wrists. My heart feels heavier.
I fall asleep alone beneath the stars.
Chapter Sixty
Ihatethisfuckingterrace.
I hate the rickety wooden railing that nearly gave out two nights ago when I leaned against it.
I hate the stone floor and its wretched cold that seeps into my bones even through the thick blanket I managed to scrounge.
