Glancing around, I found an older woman who pointed up the slope of the riverbank. “Your Queen went that way, my King.”
After I had ascended the riverbed, jogging over rocks and roots, more of the citizens in the streets of Sahlmsara joyously pointed me in the right direction until, minutes later, I was at the front entrance of Umber House.
Had she gone back to Luz?
A cart vendor called out, “Looking for your betrothed? She went inside.”
The heavy weight on my chest lifted. She had not used this opportunity to Egress away.
She’d run to my home.
I didn’t give my mind enough time to question whether finding her tonight was the right choice. The only choice that made sense led me straight to her. And I knew exactly where she’d be.
Chapter 41
Sybilla
The air in Umber House was sticky and humid against my hot, flushed skin. Running up the riverbank had left me out of breath, with a hammering heart. My knees felt weak, and my head spun. Egressing home to Luz had tempted me, but I didn’t want to worry Asterie and Fen by showing up at this hour.
I needed a private place to think—not the bedchamber, which smelled of sultry smoke and spice. Not the bell tower, where Freya would stare down at me in judgment.
Refuge would only be found among old leather-bound books and cool air. I whispered, “In the Shadows we trust.”
The door to Krait’sholeunlocked for me. Sconces lit the stairs and guided me into the belly of the house. The library, where a surly King had read me stories, legends and prophecies, hummed with silence.
I’d been so stupid. I’d let my desires out in the open; all of my vulnerabilities had been laid on the table for him to dismiss or reject.
I kicked off my mud-covered leather slippers; they made a wet, sopping thud on the ground where they landed. Finding a wool blanket slung across the chaise, I used it to dry my face and then wrung my hair into it.
The silk of the dress clung to my stomach and thighs, but I wouldn’t dare try to remove it here without a change of clothes. With so many ties, and how many times Elsedora had wound it around me, there was no way I’d ever get it back on the same way again alone.
Blowing out a raspberry, I leaned against the library ladder and let the blanket fall in a damp heap at my side.
“Fuck. Fuck, Fuck, Fuck,” I whispered to myself.
“Charming.” Krait’s voice echoed from the shadows before I saw him. He appeared from the darkest corner. It washisprivate library—suddenly, it felt foolish to be there. He looked flustered, like he’d been running, his breathing elevated.
With an exasperated sigh, I asked, “Don’t you have some candles to light?” Maybe if I poked his deepest wound, he’d leave me alone.
One corner of his mouth inched up. “Don’t deflect.” His voice lowered as he crossed the room toward me. “It doesn’t suit you to pretend you didn’t want to see me.”
“I’m not deflecting—there’s a brass statue upstairs that will make far better company than me tonight,” I shot back, but he took a step closer.
“She did make amazing company. The best, really; she never dressed me down or slung curses at me.”
“Fuck you,” I spat. I didn’t doubt that any woman who could capture the heart of this man had been excellent company. I didn’t resent her—I resented the fact that she’d had his love before she met her end. Whose love would I have before meeting mine?
“Does that bother you?” he challenged, drawing a step nearer. All the perfectly sculpted edges of him were accented by rain-soaked silk, and his dark brows knitted together as he stared me down. He looked so damned delectable even when being a prick.
“It doesn’t bother me a bit, so I’m telling you to go.”
He smirked as droplets of rain fell from his wind-whipped, dark hair onto his forehead. His tongue ran across his lower lip, as though contemplating me, and it sent heat down my chest. “You want me to walk up those stairs? Leave you here wanting?” Another step, and I was backed against the ladder.
“Wanting what?You?”I scoffed. But my heart fluttered, and I hadn’t had enough wine to blame it on that.
He reached down and took my chin between his fingers. When he tilted my head up to meet his iron-gray stare, I held my breath. His lips parted, and at first, I thought he might kiss me. A glint of realization shone in his eyes.
I did want him. All of him.And he couldn’t be stupid enough not to know it.
