“The hospital?”
She lets out a quiet chuckle. “No, the doctor said I’m in the clear tomorrow. I mean, do I have to leave the carnival right away. Can I take a few days before I go back to the den? I want to make memories with everyone without the guilt of my father’s orders weighing me down.”
One corner of my mouth curls up. “Of course.”
I want to ask her to never leave.
“I thinkI’m going to propose to Reina,” Khalid says as we lie parallel to one another on my bed, just staring at the ceiling. “Not now, but in a few months, when all of this dies down.”
At that, I genuinely smile. “Good. I think you should, soul bond and all.”
“Yeah.”
“Assuming vampires have souls,” I say in jest.
“What do you think will happen with you and Tempest?” he asks, and my mind goes to places I don’t want to travel to right now.
I shrug. “I genuinely don’t know. I mean, our next step is signing the treaty. Draven and I just finished composing it.”
He sits up, and I follow suit. “But what’s next between you and her?”
“I’m not going to ask her to stay, that would be fucked up. It’s best for her and her pack if she returns to the den,” I say, and he nods.
“That makes sense. What if she asks you to go with?”
I would follow her anywhere.
“I would have to think about things logistically speaking, but I would probably go,” I say.
Khalid rolls his eyes. “You’re full of fucking shit.” He gets up and crosses towards the exit. “Follow your own advice, Yasmeena.”
I stay in bed, just letting my mind wander. I’ve been so busy with this treaty and my engagement, I haven’t fully taken the time to process what’s happening with Lilian. I feel like a shitty fucking friend, except I can’t even really talk to her about things, because she doesn’t know.
It feels like a betrayal, but I also understand why we can’t tell her. We don’t know what Luc is going to do. He could throw Baelor into prison, and tell her why, but he also might just kill him… and then what? We tell her that her dead husband was a serial rapist, and she stresses out so badly she loses the baby?
Would she even want the baby if she knew the truth?
Of course she would. I wouldn’t—granted, I don’t want a baby at all—but Lilian has begged and asked for one for so long, she deserves this. The child may never know their father, but they will always have their mother’s love.
I just hope Luc is smart about this. Calculated. If he kills Baelor, he can’t tell Lilian about The Legion’s letter… not yet. Otherwise, she’ll be suspicious, and she might never forgive him. He’ll have to play the long game. Wait it out a few years before he proposes, and even then, she still might say no again.
I wish she had’ve just married him to begin with, then none of this would’ve happened. Baelor would still be the villain, but it wouldn’t have to hurt so bad.
There’s been too much loss this year. Roxanne, Adrian, and all the other lupion. They weren’t on my side, but I still didn’t want anyone to die. I just want everyone to find the happy ending they deserve.Is that too much to ask for?
Movement No. 36
Tempest
When I reach the edge of the river bank, I catch sight of Taryn sitting on the shore, her bright blue sparkling tail still in the water.
The sunshine feels nice on my skin, warming me up despite the cool autumn air.
Taryn’s loom hums a fast rhythmic song as she threads her fingers over and under. It’s made of coral and driftwood, and I wonder if it was a gift from her parents, or if Taryn forged the loom herself.
“Welcome back,” she says when she finally notices me watching.
I take a seat beside her, the loom loud enough for the vibrations to move through me, and I just take a moment to enjoy the strange sensation. Letting my body relax, I watch her fingers move, forming distinct patterns in quick succession.
