Their kiss broke, and Zaela was frozen in Veli’s violet stare.
“I–I’m so sorry,” she whispered as she took a step back, looking mortified.
“Do you truly believe I would have allowed you to storm up to me without repercussions if I did not desire what just occurred?” the sorceress hissed, but there was an unusual softness in her gaze—an understanding.
“You’re not upset?” Zaela asked her, forgetting that the rest of us remained behind them.
Veli lifted a talon-tipped finger to her lips and swiped away the lingering touch of their kiss. “I enjoy the company of both males and females.”
“Oh, thank the gods,” Lia breathed, earning everyone's attention. “What?! That whole scenario could have ended in a much worse manner.”
Her mate looked at her. “You knew?”
She gave him a gentle smile. “Not long. It was her story to tell.”
Jace looked at Zaela then. “I’m proud of you, cousin. I’m sorry you felt the need to hide this from us.”
“It wasn’t that I wanted to hide it. Just wanted to figure it out for myself before involving you two meddling idiots. I could already envision you playing matchmaker,” she teased, crossing her arms. “It wasn’t always easy being theonly woman among men until Lia came along. But I knew you would always support me in this.” She gave him a kind smile that I had never witnessed from her before.
I was horrified. I couldn’t believe I just accidentally forced Zaela to tell everyone her secret—a secret that her own family members hadn’t known, but for some reason, Lia had.
Gage’s arm fell to my shoulders once more and pulled me to him, but an unbearable knot had settled into my stomach. I inched out of his touch and felt the weight of his arm leave me and fall to his sides.
“Zaela, I—”
She held up a hand to halt me. “Don’t.”
My hand flew to cover my mouth to hide my trembling lip.
“The information has been long overdue to tell,” she said as she glanced at Lia and gave her a small, tight-lipped smile. “I only wish the circumstances were slightly more…well, fair.” She shrugged. “But perhaps I never would’ve found it necessary to speak aloud without such a situation.”
“I’m just very sorry.” My voice was soft. “I thought you…”
“You thought I was in love with someone who I consider a brother.” She shivered and made a sound resembling being sick. Her eyes then lifted to Gage’s, and her features softened before her stare found mine again. “No, Princess. I do not, nor have I ever, loved Gage in that manner. But he deserves someone who will return the love that he gives. You will do well to remember that. Perhaps I have judged you too harshly, so I hope you will indeed proveme wrong.”
Leaving those as her parting words, Zaela moved toward the stairs that led below deck without even sparing us a parting glance.
Veli’s eyes wandered over all of us as we remained where we stood. The only sounds were the surrounding waves echoing in and out from where they crashed into the sides of the ship. She then moved to follow her down the steps.
“Well, then…” Jace said after a few moments of uncomfortable silence.
“She’ll be fine. Just give her a few hours to be alone,” Lia stated.
“When did she even tell you this? How? Why?” her mate pestered.
She laughed at him and wrapped her arms around his torso, pulling him close. “Remember boys’ night?” His eyes narrowed in on her as he looked down at her through furrowed brows. She shrugged. “It was her attempt to make amends for what happened between us at the village. She handed me her lifelong secret.”
Jace chuckled. “Well, I suppose it makes a lot more sense now on why we had never seen her with a man.”
“Zaela must hate me,” I breathed as my eyes darted back and forth.
“Zae hates everyone at first,” Gage announced as he laced his fingers through mine.
My gaze wandered down to our intertwined hands—the rugged, calloused feel to them was at such odds with my own. A male had never held my hand before, aside from Finnian when we were younglings. His touch, unexpectedand tender, carried a warmth I never thought I would feel from a man.
Kai had always said I was born to be sold to the highest bidder, and after hearing those words repeated for decades, eventually you believe them.
“It’s through this that she determines if she will grow to like you,” he finished, and my gaze leisurely made its way back up to his.
