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And she wished he’d stop smiling at her like that.
Is this because of the kiss?
Juliana swallowed, and summoned her words. “Why didn’t you run when you had the chance?”
Hawthorn paused, as if he wasn’t entirely sure himself. “Well, my chances in the mortal realm were still pretty slim without you or my mother. Ladrien could still have followed me. It wasn’t exactly a perfect plan of escape.”
“Is that the only reason?”
“What would you like to hear, Jules? That I didn’t particularly relish the thought of your death?”
Juliana bit the inside of her cheek.I do want you to say that,she realised.And I don’t. I really, really don’t.
Hawthorn raised an eyebrow. “Well?”
Juliana unclenched her jaw. The next question was harder. But she had to ask.
Lie to me,she prayed, even though she knew he couldn’t and wasn’t even sure of the answer she wanted in the first place.
“Why did you kiss me?” she asked.
Hawthorn tilted his head to one side, smirking. “Why did you kiss back? Quite enthusiastically, I might add.”
“Answer the question.”
“You first.”
“You’re a good kisser,” she mumbled, looking down. “Not that your ego needed any more inflating.”
Hawthorn moved his head, his expression unreadable. For a while, she suspected he wasn’t planning to speak at all. “I was about to leave my entire world behind. You’ll forgive me for clinging to the constants.”
“So, that’s it? Just so we’re clear? A heat-of-the-moment thing?”
He raised a black brow. “What else would it be?”
Juliana nodded, deciding not to push it. Honestly, that was probably for the best. She’d be lying if she said she didn’t find him attractive, but any more than that…
It was stupid to have asked in the first place. There were more pressing matters to attend to.
Her gaze turned instead to the rest of the room. Most of the fighting had moved outside now, although she could still hear the echoey screams reverberating through the stone. She wondered how long those would take to die down, how long this room would be silent for. She imagined it a hundred years from now, overgrown with weeds, the festering feast still laid out, cobwebs strung from the room instead of banners.
Maytree sat slumped in her throne of forest. Juliana imagined Ladrien had placed her there so she could see the ruin of her court when she woke… and so she could watch him take it from her.
At her feet, tastefully arranged on a bed of cushions alongside her maids, was Princess Serena.
“She arrived here not long before you,” Hawthorn explained, following her gaze. “He really meant it when he said the fae wouldn’t be harmed.”
Juliana didn’t doubt it, but she also doubted that her entire caravan had been captured without injury. Not with Markham at the helm.
Father.
Her gut stung with the memory.
“Are you all right?” Hawthorn asked.
Juliana shook her thoughts away, instead staring at Serena.If your chosen fae bride offers a kiss to your sleeping form, you shall awaken immediately.
“You have your thoughtful face on,” Hawthorn remarked. “Possibly scheming face. No, thoughtful. Less malice.”
