"It is not nothing. I hate that you’re hurt."
His palm spanned out across her cheek. "The only pain that ever truly touches me is yours."
Her brows lifted—her pain didn’t abate. It grew stronger, almost, like it was unraveling in the presence of her demon’s arms, knowing it was safe here.
The wind kicked up, and thunder rumbled. It had been distant, at one point, but grew closer with every breath she breathed.
She didn’t want to do this here.
"Do you want to tell me what happened, Lu?"
She rolled her bottom lip between her teeth, unanswering.
He grumbled, "Did hehurtyou?"
"N-no," she replied, "he didn’t hurt me. We spoke… and I got angry."
Az’s thumbs smoothed over her cheekbones. "You did, angel? Good. He deserves it."
Neither of them said his name. Luella couldn’t bear to. "He lied to me. All this time." Her lids fluttered shut. "So did you. You knew, Az." She didn’t look at him as she said it. They’d all known. All of them but her.
His hands stilled on her face. "My angel. I don’t think any words will ever be enough to tell you how sorry I am for keeping it from you. I’m not asking for your forgiveness, but I want you to understand. It wasn’t my secret to tell."
Luella knew that—it still hurt. She blinked up at him. "I don’t need to forgive you, Az. Not for this. It wasn’t your secret." Another sob bubbled up. The wind dried her tears before they truly fell. "Why does it hurt so much?"
The faint relief in Az’s eyes was replaced by anguish at her admission, then concern at the growing wind. Still, no rain.
She wanted it to hold off. She didn’t want to bring her chaos here—didn’t want this palace and these islands to fall victim to what she had wrought at Serpentis.
Was that it, then? Was she controlling it?
Or did it still control her?
"I wish I had an answer for you, angel." Az leaned down and pressed his lips to her brow, but it wasn’t enough for her. She grabbed his cheek and moved his head until she could press her lips to his, arching up on her tiptoes as he leaned over her. Her fingers curled in his hair, skimming the base of his horns. He groaned. Her sigh fell into his mouth as he parted her lips with his.
They pulled away, and something inside her settled at the contact. Then, she was hit with a realization:
"It was easier to care for him when I thought he hated me," Luella whispered. The image of him kneeling before her was burned into her mind. She’d never rid herself of it.
Graves cared. Perhaps that was the most frightening thing of all.
She wanted to ask Az if he minded. Did it hurt him, for her to care for another?
Emarelia is here.
Vale’s words floated through Luella’s mind. A stark reminder of why they were here.
Az held her hand as he took her away.
Instead of walking back into the heart of the celebration, he took her around the outskirts of the palace, rocks digging into her soles. She didn’t say a word.
Each crashing wave against the rocks both scared her and excited her. It was like something within her had begun to equate fear with desire, and that could only be attributed to one male.
Graves had done that to her. When he dangled her over the ocean and kissed her senseless.
They stopped at the stone steps, their two boats tethered to the posts.
The others were there, and she willed herself not to look at Graves.
