Page 55 of Facade

“She’s speaking about us,” Malachai said, his head still down. My face scrunched as I gauged the distance from our table to the bar. Wasn’t it enough to have a Werewolf with bat ears? What the hell were they? I wonder if Dimitri would tell me what Malachai and Aiden are… if I ever talk to him again.

Aiden kept his gaze locked on his mug, but cocked his head. “Seems to be normal curiosity.”

The clang of my fork against the table startled Aiden and Dimitri after I slammed it harder than intended, drawing attention from the locals. I waved apologetically, waiting for the grumbling townsfolk to turn back around before I snapped at Aiden in a hushed tone. “How can you hear all the way over there?”

A glance passed between him and Malachai before he shrugged. “Easy to pick up on what they’re saying when you aren’t moaning with every bite you take.”

The blood drained from my face. Guess that hadn’t just been in my head. Every time we ate something this good, I couldn’t help it. Each bite, I savored in case… Well, just in case. Even the food they hunted down when we made camp was wildly better than the shit at Castle Aurelia.

I picked up my fork and pushed the food around my plate until I took a bite and quietly chewed. Out of the corner of my eye, Aiden’s mouth twitched. Metal bit into my palm, the fork scraping the plate as I jabbed a potato.

“They just asked Marigold why there’s a female alone with three males,” Dimitri whispered to me. I gave a curt nod without meeting his eye.

“Good thing we kept to our cover of being husband and wife,” Aiden said beneath his breath as he settled his arm around my shoulder. I froze as he leaned closer. “A wife wouldn’t act so bashful at her husband’s touch.” The urge to smack him rose, but I refrained. Especially as my annoyance clashed with the flames licking down my body from his touch.

“I need to get going. I can smell the snow about to fall. I don’t want to leave tracks.” Dimitri stood, giving a discreet wave to a still blushing Marigold before he stalked out the door.

“I’m going to see the blacksmith,” Malachai declared, his chair scraping against the floor as he followed Dimitri. The locals watched him with wariness.

Aiden and I were alone. Not at all what I'd planned for.

“What would you like to do with the rest of our evening, wife?” he asked with a wicked grin. There was too much daylight left for us to sit around in here. Not to mention the locals’ narrowed gazes were already grating against the last straw that was left of my nerves. And I definitely didn’t want to sit in that tiny room upstairs. Bad idea. My traitorous body couldn’t handle that. I cleared my throat.

“What? Just trying to stick to our story,” he said, winking at me. I shot him an incredulous look, and this time, I did smack him. He laughed, the sound rich and warm—bad!

“Are you alright?” Aiden raised a brow.

“Fine.” I fidgeted with the napkin in my lap. “I’m just uncomfortable with all the roles I’m being forced to play.”

“But they aren’t terrible roles, are they?” His eyes sparked with the challenge he put before me.

“They may not technically be terrible roles,” I sighed. “But would you expect a lamb to be grateful if it were temporarily treated as a pet—given a warm bed, a blanket, and the best food—only to be led to its slaughter at a later date? The lamb can play the role of the pet, but it’s still just food. So how can it enjoy its time in luxury and the trappings of the facade it temporarily lives in, when its death is inevitable?”

His jaw ticked—expression turning lethal. All the heat that had built turned to icy rage.

“I may be stuck in these roles, but I’m no fool. Regardless of why the King summoned me, I know it isn’t good. I’ve heard the whispers and rumors of King Raul. His cruelty. And while there may be moments I could forget what I am, these—” I held up my darkened wrists. Aiden cast a glance around to see if anyone else had noticed, but I pressed on. “Keep me grounded and remind me I’m not your Queen, or your wife. I’m not even your friend. I’m a prisoner being dressed up like a doll by the powers around me. You might treat me with kindness on occasion and even flirt with me when you aren’t having one of your mood swings. But it doesn’t change what you are.”

“And what am I ?” he asked, dangerously low, twirling the tip of a knife on the table. Something dark churned in his eyes. But I didn’t care. I paid no attention to the warning bells clanging in my head not to provoke him.

“Delusional. You hold my leash, Aiden. That’s all. I really thought when you said those things to me earlier that we might be alike, both in a different hell. But you’re no better than the beings that stole my memory and made me a slave.” I was seething as I pushed my chair back. Aiden flinched at the sudden movement.

Heads turned my way, and I tugged my sleeves down over the ink. Marigold gaped, putting a delicate hand over her full mouth.

“I need some air.” I avoided his lethal glare as I stalked for the door.

The cold was a much-needed slap in the face. I took a deep breath, the crisp air stinging—calming. It wasn’t like I could go far, but at least I could get a little distance from him. My breath clouded in front of me, and I hugged myself, rubbing my arms.

What did I do? I just yelled and walked out on the captain of the King’s guard. I still didn’t know what type of being he was. And I sure as hell hadn’t thought it through when I insulted him—I walked a little faster, reaching the bridge as hot tears welled.

I’d been lost and angry for three years over my missing memories. I never allowed myself to miss much beyond that. But Aiden… Aiden pulled at those buried strings that were tethered to the experiences I hadn’t had. Or couldn’t remember. I was still a woman—I had needs. Wants. Desires. I grimaced, recalling the look on his face.

The tears fell freely as I walked onto the bridge and peered down at the water, not yet frozen. The sound of the river gurgling through the rocks soothed my shattered nerves. I shut my eyes, and the mountains in my dreams appeared—the beautiful flowers from both my dream and Thaddeus’s manor. I couldn’t even reminisce about the lands I came from or take comfort in the memories of people who loved me. I had nothing but recurring dreams and the summer lands to think on—a place where I never knew comfort.

Footsteps echoed behind me. I knew it was him before his scent hit me. My gaze stayed fixed ahead, fingers digging into the wood.

He kept several feet between us, leaning his back against the railing.

“It was insensitive of me to insinuate that you should enjoy the situation you’re in. It’s easy for me to forget that you’re…” He paused.