Page 106 of Of Masks and Fury

I rolled onto my back, pulling Isi with me so she landed against my chest. Her entire body trembled, and she was soaked through to the bone, but she was here with me. Safe for now.

I wrapped my arms around her, her heart throbbing against mine, both of us breathing hard from exertion and terror and relief.

“You were amazing,” I whispered.

She buried her face in my neck and shook.

I tightened my hold, letting her feel the solid reality of the floor beneath us, the walls around us, and the fact that we’d made it.

She’d conquered the storm and that cursed climb despite fear trying to paralyze her. She’d trusted my voice enough to move when every instinct screamed at her to freeze. Instead of giving up when she slipped, she’d kept going.

Pherin darted in after us, shaking rain from her feathers. She landed on Isi’s back, her tiny body still puffed up.

Isi lifted her head.

I paused to listen, thinking about where we’d landed. One floor below the tower or two?

Before I could speak, Isi kissed me hard and fierce, her mouth claiming mine with enough heat to steal what little breath I’d managed to recover.

I kissed her back with everything I had, pouring my pride and relief and bone-deep need into the contact. I stroked my fingers through her wet hair while hers gripped my shoulders, both of us clinging to each other like we would fall if we let go.

When she finally pulled back, we were both breathing hard again for an entirely different reason.

Footsteps echoed in the room, and someone lit a torch.

King Cyril stood nearby, wearing a robe.

Wet hair. A scowl on his face.

He looked between us and then cut his gaze to the open window.

“Now, isn’t this interesting?” he said with a sneer. “What is the meaning of this compromising position,daughter?”

CHAPTER THIRTY

ISI

Ileaped off Trew and while he jumped to his feet, I smoothed my tunic. Pherin moved around from my back to my shoulder. “We…” Heat climbed up my neck, but terror overwhelmed every other part of me.

Water dripped from Trew's clothes and hair, his golden eyes fixed on my father.

“Your hair is wet,” I said.

My father grunted. “I just bathed.”

“Outside?”

“What is going on here?” he bellowed.

“We were caught in the storm,” I said, keeping my voice steady. “The window was open. We sought shelter?—”

“Through an open window on the fourth floor?” Father’s voice dripped with disdain. His gaze raked over both of us, taking in our soaked clothing, our disheveled state. I was sure he’d seen the way we were tangled together on the floor. “Do you take me for a fool?”

“Actually…”

The image of Addie’s hair in those restraints flashed in my mind, the bloodstains on that table tying everything to him. I stoppedmyself. Drew in a breath. Why was I explaining myself to him? Why was I making excuses like a child caught stealing sweets? I straightened my spine and strode right up into his face. “What I take you for is a man who’s kept secrets. The kind locked away in towers. The kind that involves torture and restraints.”

Father blinked. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. Guards!” His voice cracked like a whip.