There’s an entire wall of shoes, and my feet ache just looking at them.
I scan the bare walls of the suite, so straight and square … no long benches for me to display my treasures. Drawing a breath, I fill my lungs with the sterile smell of eucalyptus and vinegar … not the gentle, sweet aroma of flowering wisteria.
Another blunt reminder of just how far I am from home.
“The rooms aremorethan adequate,” I say on a blown-out breath, forcing a smile. “Thank you.”
“Of course.”
Izel paces through the room, carrying a tray capped with a large cloche. She sets it on my bedside table, curtseys, and leaves without once meeting my eye.
“I’m having dinner with a Regional Master,” Cainon says, pocketing his hands and heading for the door. “I’ll leave you to eat and get settled in.”
Tapping my finger on the handrail, I chew my bottom lip and stare at the glittering cityscape. Perhaps I’ve swum past the point of exhaustion and delved into energy reserves I didn’t know I had, but I’m suddenlycharged—my mind jumping from one thought to another like a skipping stone.
“Cainon?”
He looks at me over his shoulder from halfway across the room. “Yes?”
“May I have some coin?”
His brow buckles. “Coin?”
“Money? Drabs?” A blazing warmth spreads across my cheeks. “I, ahh—I only packed the basics. The storm was setting in, so we were in a bit of a rush when we left Castle Noir ...”
He frowns, and I shake my head, clearing my throat.
“It’ll just be nice to have my own little purse for when we visit town, you know? So I don’t have to ask in front of people …”
“That won’t be necessary.” He strides outside, takes my hand, and pares back my sleeve to reveal the cupla caught around my wrist—gold veins threaded through the blue glinting in the firelight. “You just wave this. We share the only lapis lazuli cupla the forgery has crafted, so anybody who sees it will know exactly who you are.”
I look into his cerulean stare. “But how do Ipay?”
“You don’t.”
“I don’t follow ...”
“Parith is the most decorated capital in the continent. Its future High Mistress can’t be seen tradingcoinfor goods and services, Orlaith. You can have whatever you please, whenever you please. My people respect that and are repaid tenfold by my constant protection.”
“Oh,” I mutter, trying to pull my hand back. “Sorry, this is all very new to me.”
His grip on my wrist is unfaltering, tethering me by more than just his physical touch. “You’re going to be happy here.We’regoing to be happy.”
I look from my hand to his face. “Are we?”
“Yes.” He tucks a sodden strand of hair behind my ear, the touch so tender I almost lean into it. “You belong here, in the sun. I’m going to give you everything you ever dreamed of. Everythinghedidn’t.”
He …
My heart leaps. Skin pebbles. Even the buds on my tongue tingle, as if anticipating the taste of Rhordyn’s presence on the air.
Cravingit.
“And what’s that?” I rasp, voice grated for all the wrong reasons. Shameful ones that burn in my heart.
He steps forward, a bold half smile crinkling his eyes. “Me.”
I swallow, sliding back a step so that I’m pressed against the stone railing as another blow of chill cloaks me from behind.
