Tears spilled down my cheeks as I hurtled through the dark corridor.As I sought freedom.
A force shoved into me and knocked me backward, the air ripped from my lungs as I crashed onto the stone floor.
“Youstupidgirl.”
The Enchantress’s voice echoed off the stone walls as I met her vengeful gaze.She hovered, suspended in the air, hands outstretched on either side of her, black hair billowing around her.Golden specks of starlight littered the air, magic at her command.
“One task,” she said.“That was all I asked, but even that was too complicated for you.You have failed to deliver on your end of the bargain, Analleia Kallistar—and I always come to collect.”
Chapter Forty-Four
Valeris
Ipaced in my room, fingers knotted behind my head, warring with my actions.I shouldn’t have kissed her, shouldn’t have crossed that threshold, but I had and now there was no way to take it back.I went through it in my mind, over and over again.She’d been angry.She hadn’t wanted to see me, but when I’d kissed her—she hadn’t pulled away.
She’d leaned into it, kissed me back.
I had been barreling forward blindly, not even beginning to hope she might hold the same affection for me, but she had.I could still taste her on my lips, feel her beneath my hands, the way she had pulled me to her.I’d tried to deny whatever draw I had to her, but trying to go against it was like trying to go against gravity.
Until she left.
I raked a hand through my hair, muttering about my stupidity.“Kiss the girl then ask for another alliance and drop all your family history on her at once.Nice, Valeris, real nice.”
I had been caught up in the moment.My jaw clenched as I paced.Analleia had left in a hurry, saying she had to go, but where?I’d told her things I had never told anyone, and then she had rushed off without explanation.Something had changed after I mentioned the line of succession.I’d lingered in my room since she’d left, trying to busy myself and hoping she might return, but she hadn’t.
And I didn’t know what to do.
Maybe I had scared her off.
Unease crawled up my spine, and my neck twitched.
I stormed into the hallway, Howland falling in step behind me without asking any questions.I frowned.He knew or suspected what had happened between Analleia and I hours ago.I swore the man found ways to watch me in his sleep.
The seventh ball of Paravellia was only three days away.Three days, then this entire event would be over and everyone would leave.My father would choose one of us to become the new crown heir, and life would go back to the way it was.
Except it wouldn’t.
