Page 51 of Autumn Queens & Shadows

He was such an idiot. An idiot that my heart still felt funny around. “I’m sorry for hitting you.”

“How hard was that?”

I gave him a polite smile I usually gave little kids so they wouldn't be afraid of me. “I shouldn’t have wasted all that energy and just killed you.”

“I would have haunted you forever, good thing you didn’t.”

“Your turn to apologise.”

His grip on my face loosened a little. “I’m sorry for whatever I did.”

“No,” I said, holding onto his arm. “Apologise for leaving me.”

“Can’t lie to you, little bird.”

“Try.”

“I’m sorry for leaving you.”

The worst lie I’d ever heard came out of the mouth of the man who had never lied to me. But it was good enough, I suppose. The discomfort in his eyes made it all worth it as much as a real apology.

Pulling hard at the necklace until the chain broke, I turned and headed to my bed, sinking inside the covers and cradling the amber stone between my hands like it burned. It did burn. It burned with memories.

Chapter fourteen

The Past

Thora

I was unsure if my sister had finally lost her last screw, or she really thought it appropriate to throw a massive celebration through the entirety of Olympia right after the man I knew she loved had died in his arms. At least that is what Malik had told me right after he’d chosen to pretend I never existed to begin with.

A hand wrapped around my wrist and dragged me to the dance floor.

His jaw was set tight as were his eyes on my empty neck. “You took it off.”

“Surprised you can actually see at this point.” How much had he had to drink?

“Where is it?”

“Why?”

“I need you to go put it back on.”

I scoffed. Why was he treating me like his dog? “Is it a leash? Did you give me a leash, Malik?”

“Yes.”

Before I could raise my hand and smack some sense into him, he pinned both my hands behind me and leaned in my ear. “Careful putting those hands on me, Thora.”

Leaning forward until my body was pressed to his, I rested my cheek on his chest, listening to his erratic heart and waiting for it to calm down again. There was something wrong. I knew it. And he wouldn’t tell me. Why wouldn’t he tell me?

He was either too tired or way too drunk, because he didn’t push me off. “What are you doing?”

“Trying to hug you.”

“Why?”

“Because you need it.”