I shook my head. “I think it must just have been from the incense they have been burning. There’s been all sorts of weird things going on up here.” I tapped the side of my temple.
“You don’t think it’s because of the questioning, do you? Perhaps it does mean something,” she pressed, brows furrowing.
“Like what?”
Renai shrugged. “I don’t know. Maybe your mind is trying to tell you something about what happened, or what’s coming?”
“I think it was just a dream, Renai. No weird double meanings.” Because surely, if it was important, I would have remembered it. Wouldn’t I?
She stared at me for a moment, before conceding. “Fine, but let me know if that changes.”
I nodded. What else was there to say? “When am I being sent back to my cell?”
“What do you mean?” she asked.
I gestured around the room. “Well, I’m willing to bet this isn’t my new permanent residence, and I’m sure since my new accommodations landed me here, I won’t be returning to those.”
“Do you want to return to your cell?” she asked, leaning back on her elbows. It was impossible not to notice her full breasts, or the way her nipples pebbled beneath the soft green sweater she wore. She followed my gaze, noticing with a sly smile where my gaze went, before she sat up and crossed her arms over her chest.
I shouldn’t have looked, immediately regretting it as she blushed. Could I not control myself? I cleared my throat. “Do you want an honest answer?” She nodded. “Well then, no. Not particularly, but it’s what I deserve and I really don’t want to be any more trouble than I already am, so it seems like the best option. I’m sure the king—”
“Alric Chevalier is no longer king and therefore has no control over where you are placed. As it were, Eva has allowed you to remain in the tower, should you wish for it.”
A memory flashed, one that had been real this time, of Renai telling me that Eva had been named queen. Gods, how things had changed in the passing months. “Well then, if it is okay with everyone else, then I’d like to return to my tower.” I chuckled, and she looked at me curiously.
“What’s so funny?” she asked, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear. Her scent reached my nose, the smell of sea and salt filling my nostrils. I found it strange that she smelled of the ocean when she came from a kingdom filled with some of the most beautiful forests in Aethion.
“It sounds a bit funny, doesn’t it? Like I’m a princess locked away for her own good or something?” I laughed. “I don’t know. Eva used to read these fairy tale stories, and it reminded me of that.”
Renai’s lips thinned, and she looked away. I didn’t know why I cared, or why she looked bothered, but I reached out for her arm. Her skin was warm, soft to the touch. She watched me, neither one of us moving. I swallowed, the room suddenly growing hot before she moved away.
“I have to take care of some things before we’re ready to move you back, but we won’t be having sessions for a few more days to make sure everything is okay. Ciena believes she is on to something, so we may have a cure before we know it. Illara, well you haven’t met her yet, but she came in the other day and has been helping those two. I’m sure they’ll find a cure soon.” She offered a timid smile, moving toward the door. She stopped, one hand on the doorknob before turning back to me. “How would you feel about going to a party this evening?”
I raised my eyebrows. “A party? I don’t think that would be a good idea.”
“Oh, come on,” Renai said. “It’s small. Nothing fancy. Me, Kalen, and Luka decided to get together tonight and play a couple rounds of cards. Low stakes.”
I missed my best friend. I hadn’t seen him since I’d been imprisoned. There was so much I wanted to say to him, to apologize for. Not that words could assuage him of the pain I put him through, but it was a start.
“Luka will be there?” I asked, peering up at her. My fingers absentmindedly toyed with the corner of the blanket.
She nodded, though I swore I saw a flash of disappointment on her face. “Yeah, he will. Should I let him know to expect you?”
Fuck it. What was the worst that could happen?
Chapter23
Damien
Iflinched as Kalen slammed the bottle on the table, displaying the cards in his hands. “Ha! Drink up, you fools.” Renai and Luka begrudgingly grabbed their glasses, tipping them back and grimacing as the sharp liquor poured down their throats. I stared at the glass in front of me, cringing at how much I’d already had to drink.
When Renai told me she was bringing me to a party, I didn’t think I would end up here playing games whilst drowning in firewhiskey. If anything, I assumed I’d be clapped in iron cuffs to ensure I couldn’t escape. But where would I go? Even if I wanted to, I didn’t have anywhere to go. My father was dead, my true father, and Eva couldn’t look at me.
Not that I blamed her.Icould barely look at myself in the mirror most days. Not after knowing what I’d done. It didn’t matter that I didn’t know what I was doing. The fact remained, I had blood on my hands while I was under Lachlan’s control.
Eva’s blood.
Erina’s blood.
