“No, you wouldn’t.”
Haley blew out a breath, rubbing the last of the sleep from her eyes. “No, I wouldn’t. You’re right.”
“I have a theory. See, all this time, we were operating under the assumption that she sent you to Midnight forme, so she could either barter her way back into the realm or steal my blood for her spell.”
“So what’s your theory?”
I tucked a lock of hair behind her ear. “I don’t think she sent you here for me at all, Haley. I think Melantha sent you here forher. She must’ve known you’d be able to tap into Midnight’s dark magick—that you’d not only be able to feel it, but to channel it somehow. To grow stronger through it. And youhavegrown stronger—I’ve seen it. And you’re still justbeginningto touch that potential.”
“But why would Melantha care about that? What good would it do her?”
“She must’ve thought she could trick you into fighting for her. If it’s Midnight’s magick she’s after, what better champion than a dark witch she could install from a distance, biding her time until she was finally able to break the banishment and join her newly-appointed ally?”
“But I wouldneverfight for her. Not anymore.”
“And that, my little thief, is why she’s so damn terrified of you.” I took her hands in mine, rubbing some warmth back into her fingers. “She knows you’re already powerful. Knows that the longer you remain in Midnight, the more powerful you’ll become, until eventually you’ll surpass even her.”
“But… but my sisters. We still don’t know whether they’re safe. She’ll use them against me.”
“Let her try.”
“Try? She’s a crazy-powerful goddess with the backing of an army of ghouls.”
I smiled, if only to ease the worry clouding her eyes. “Andyou’rea crazy-powerful blood witch. And a Scorpio, if I recall correctly. One who’s no slouch when it comes to fending off ghouls. Or dark fae warlords, for that matter.”
A laugh finally broke through the darkness, lighting up her entire face.
“That smile,” I whispered, brushing my thumb across her cheek. “Stars and moons, little thief. That smile could light up the darkest places of the realm.”
I hadn’t meant to say it out loud, yet I had, and the admission left something hot and uncomfortable in its path. I couldn’t acknowledge it, couldn’t name the thing that spun and fluttered inside me like a trapped bird. I was accustomed to the feelings Haley inspired below the belt—the constant ache, the raging, stone-hard steel that longed to sink into her wet heat. But this? This spiraling warmth, this explosion of tenderness and possessiveness left me completely unmoored, my mind grasping to make sense of something utterly beyond comprehension.
I couldn’t take the words back. Couldn’t explain them away.
So the moment she parted her lips to respond, I lowered my mouth to hers and kissed her.
It was just for a moment—barely a brush of soft lips and a warm sigh before I realized what I’d done and jerked back, turning away from her so she couldn’t see the shame heating my face.
“Evander,” she breathed.
“My… apologies.” Clearing my throat, I forced myself to look at her again. To meet her eyes and ensure she knew I spoke the truth. “That was out of line.”
“It’s… it’s okay. I—”
“No, it isn’t. You asked me not to kiss you again without your consent, and I meant to honor that. I was… overcome. Again. I’m sorry, Haley. Truly.”
She nodded, fingers pressed delicately to her lips, her eyes glazing over as if she’d just awoken again from another dream. “It wasn’t just you. I wanted…”
I waited for her to finish, my heart raging inside me, hope spinning wildly…
You wanted what, little thief? Tell me what it is, and I shall make it yours…
The light in her eyes changed, and for a moment that hope expanded inside me, nearly bursting, and then—
“Wait, I heard something,” she said suddenly, glancing out toward the cave entrance. “Do you think it’s them?”
She scrambled to her feet and bolted, and in that moment, I knew that the light in her eyes hadn’t been for me.
It wouldneverbe for me.
