Desperation reaches down my throat and grips my heart. Cracks it open. Fishes around until it pulls out a token of my own to offer him with bloodied hands.
I harden my stare, looking him dead in the eye. “You know what I’ve learned?”
He frowns.
“My … mykind,”I snarl, gesturing to the jewel hanging around my neck, “have been hunted.Slaughtered.Apparently, simply showing my unmasked face in public is practically a death sentence.” I shrug, holding his catatonic stare. “Guess my tutor missed that little part of my history lesson.”
There’s an agonizing pause, and his gaze nips at my necklace, like he’s already anticipating the blow I’m about to land. “If you don’t leave,” I say, voice dropped low as I thread my hand up to the heavy jewel and grip it tight. “I’ll walk down the busy esplanade and rip this off my neck.”
His eyes flare with a flash of realization, like he can see the truth in my own.
I’ve got nothing to lose except myself.
A deep, bone-chilling silence takes root between us, his eyes dipping so dark I picture something very different staring back at me …
Something ferocious and spilling bloodlust.
“Do you believe me?”
“Yes, Milaje. I do.”
I ignore the crack in his voice, lifting my chin, his black eyes boring into me. “Then step back.”
A vicious rumbling spawns in his chest, but he abides, hands falling at his sides. I turn, shove the window open, and climb through—catching sight of him as I spin.
His onyx eyes impale me.
Struggling to maintain my grip on the stone, I drop from his line of sight, but it doesn’t stem this sickening feeling deep inside my chest …
I may have choked a war with Bahari, but at what cost?
Clouds fold over the crisp blue sky, smudging it, dumping a heavy sheet of rain that drenches me through but does nothing to rinse the feel ofhimfrom my body.
My soul.
I’d strike the fucking world down for you.
I shake my head and snarl, stalking across the wet cobbles in long, determined strides.
Too much. Too late.
I’ve dealt with Rhordyn, but only half my job is done.
I’ve been out all night. All day.
Cainon’s not stupid.
I need to own my wrongs. Make them right. Tell him I’ve finally put the beast to bed—sealed him in a tomb he cannot rise from.
I don’t bother hiding from the rain like everyone else clustered in pockets of dry beneath thick trees and wide awnings, their gazes nipping at my skin. Seeing a flock of guards ahead, searching every female they cross, I stop in the middle of a street.
Rolling my sleeves, I put my cupla on bold display, and stare at the ground while water hammers the back of my head …
And I wait.
* * *
The harsh wind whips at us as I’m led across the bridge, gaze climbing the different levels of the palace until it lands on my balcony.
