I snap myself out of the trance, feigning disinterest. “Yes, apparently so,” I say shortly, setting the tray down onto the nearby table. “It’s a little over the top, but it’ll do.”
That was a lie. It wasn’t over the top; it was perfect. She looks like the embodiment of the night sky. Divine and entirely untouchable. And that’s exactly what I needed to remember—untouchable.
Distance. I need distance. Last night was too much. The closeness, the softness of her body against mine. It can’t happen again.
“Drink and eat,” I command, gesturing to the tray. “I’m going to go change, and then we leave for Aurora’s Veil.”
I stride toward the bathroom without looking back—but at the door, I hesitate. I glance over my shoulder, finding her seated neatly at the table, her small fingers cradling the coffee cup as she softly blows on the steam, her entire body wrapped in that ridiculous, perfect vision of starlight.
A bitter, ugly thing rises in my chest, and I can’t help but grab onto it and project it onto her. I turn back to Daisy fully, my voice harsh. “Virena believes that I love you,” I say coldly. “I appear to be a greater actor than I initially thought, for her to believe that I could truly love such a weak, fragile thing like yourself.”
I walk away before I can see the way her light dims at my words.
Chapter 27
Daisy
The pastries taste like sugar-dusted clouds.
Soft, pillowy, melt-on-your-tongue perfection with a tiny zing of citrus at the end. I chew slowly, not to savour it, but because my appetite packed its bags and left somewhere between “I appear to be a greater actor than I initially thought” and “such a weak, fragile thing like yourself.” Wow. Oscar-worthy, truly. Someone get him a little gold statue of a middle finger engraved with my name.
It shouldn’t sting—he’s a demon, he’s cruel, it’s literally his whole thing—but it does. Because last night didn’t feel like acting. It felt soft. Gentle. The way he dried my hair, the way he climbed into bed behind me to keep me warm. I slept better than I had in months. Then this morning, his hand stroking softly down my back when he thought I was still sleeping. But he just had to go open his stupid, perfect mouth.
Whiplash. That’s what it’s like being around Korithax. Hot and cold, kind then cruel. It was genuinely a guessing game asto how he was going to treat me next, and it was becoming real tiring real quick.
I sip my coffee, still deep in thought about his behaviour, when he strides back into the room. “Finished?”
I nod, not missing the tone in his voice. Guess we’re sticking with grumpy asshat today. Great.
“Let’s go.”
I rise to my feet, and before I can brace myself, his arm wraps around me, the horrible sensation of realm travel shredding through my body again. The moment we land, my legs give out. The ground lurches, the world around me spinning violently as black spots speckle my vision. Jesus, I hate teleporting.
“Holy—” I mumble, disoriented.
Korithax catches me before I hit the ground, strong arms wrapping around me, his heat enveloping me.
“Breathe, Daisy,” he whispers against my hair.
I do as he says, his spicy scent invading my nose as I breathe in deeply. Slowly, my vision returns, the spinning dulling enough to register how tightly his grip is around my waist. When I finally blink fully back to awareness, we’re face to face, his onyx eyes staring down into mine. There’s concern etched into the furrow between his brows as he slowly looks me over. He sets me straight gently, keeping his hands braced on my arms as I find my footing, ensuring I don’t fall over again.
“I’ll ask if the healers here have anything to help you with realm travelling. The further we get from Earth, the worse it’s going to get.”
“Great.” I mutter sarcastically, testing out my balance as he releases my arms. When he steps out of my line of sight, the realm comes into view, making my breath stall in my chest.
We’re standing on the edge of a cliff overlooking a world straight out of a fantasy novel. The sky is dusky, cast in purples and deep indigos. The northern lights ripple overheadin shifting hues of greens, pinks, and violets, moving through the atmosphere like ethereal silk. The air is crisp and smoky, scented like pine and distant bonfires. I can hear the soft sound of chimes drifting through the breeze, echoing through the mountains.
“Wow,” I breathe.
“This is Aurora’s Veil. A realm of perpetual night and dusk.” Korithax says beside me.
He points toward a distant structure across the expanse of land that is dotted with little glowing lights that look like cosy log cabins. A large castle carved from stone and glowing crystal, like the northern lights were trapped in its walls, sits nestled deep in the mountains. Towering spires reach into the sky, each glowing faintly, their outlines blurred by bright starlight and drifting mist.
“Kaelith, otherwise known as the Duskwalker, rules here. He is not a cruel man… unless you are afraid of the dark, then you should maybe watch your back. He likes to terrorise those who fear the night.” I look at him for any sign of him joking, but his face is as serious as ever. My eyes widen at the thought. I’m not afraid of the dark… I don’t think.
“This realm provides dusk and night to Earth.” He says, looking back out to the realm in front of us. He starts walking without uttering another word, and I follow along behind him.
After a few minutes, his voice pulls me out of my mindless gawking, “We need to be at his castle, but my magic is almost fully depleted now. Even flying with my wings won’t work because of my lack of energy.”
