Page 60 of A Fable of Riddles and Redemption

Fury raged in his heart as he listened to their professions of love, followed by another kiss. It took every ounce of self-restraint he had to not thunder out of the shadows and attack the woman-snatching fiend. Despite his efforts, however, a quiet growl escaped.

“What was that?” Zorina whispered as she pulled out of the kiss, a panicky sound in her voice.

“I didn’t hear anything,” Herrick—was that his name?—said.

Caliban stood completely still, though he continued to watch them.

Zorina shook her head as she peered into the darkness. “I swear I heard something.”

The guard glanced around, then settled his gaze back on Zorina. “Come, let’s get you home. Or, if you’d prefer, you can stay here tonight.”

Caliban silently ground his teeth at the suggestion. The thought was unacceptable. If that blackguard thought to keep her here with him—

“No, I—I want to go home.” She wrapped her arms around herself.

Herrick nodded, throwing his arm around her shoulder. “Then let’s get you home,” he said as he began to lead her through the trapdoor and down the stairs.

Caliban waited a few minutes, his thoughts churning. I offered her my magic—and to teach her how to embrace the darkness. I even gave her my love. Instead, she chose…him.

Anger ignited his gut once again. Despite her claims to the contrary, she had just confessed the truth of her identity and her past—truths he’d suspected—to this unworthy guard.

A guard who did not deserve her.

A guard with a jaded past.

A past he could exploit.

Clenching his teeth, Caliban stomped forward, his black cloak billowing behind him. He could still hear their fading footsteps ahead of him as he trekked down the stairs, following them at a distance. A plan began to form in his mind.

He would have her…or he would have his revenge. Or perhaps a bit of both.

Revenge on the guard for his thievery.

Revenge on Zorina for her lies.

And then he would keep her for himself.

Forever.

Herrick

As Herrick carefully guided Zorina down the stairs and out of the castle, his mind continued to ruminate on all of the truths they’d confessed this night. She now knew who—and what—he was, and she hadn’t shrunk away from him. He now knew about her past as well, and it didn’t bother him in the least. Her past was just that: her past. It was not who she was now, nor who he expected her to be in the future.

A future he wanted to claim with her, now more than ever.

Regardless, Herrick worried about how she fared after everything. While it was a relief that she didn’t seem addled after her abduction, the things she did recall were far from reassuring.

Before long, they walked through the nearly empty streets of Adael. Though he knew he needed to report her return to Duke Armand and Captain Firmin, he had no desire to do so tonight. Not when Zorina knew far more of what had happened to her than any of the other missing women and was aware enough to be traumatized by it.

Let them have their discussion in the light of day rather than the dark of night. Besides, Zorina needed rest after her ordeal with Caliban. While he wished she had opted to stay at the castle—both for her safety and her exhausted state—he would not overrule her choice.

With his arm still around her shoulders, Herrick tugged her closer and tightened his hold. “Are you feeling any better?”

She took a shaky breath. “A little, but…not really.”

It was unsettling to see her so broken and unsteady, but she seemed to be stabilizing at last. “Are you sure you don’t want to stay in the castle tonight? Madame Giry would gladly have a room prepared for you.”

Zorina looked up at him, a slight smile upon her beguiling lips. “No, I would be more comfortable at home.”