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If I tell Daein what Skye knows…
Oh, no, I can’t do that.
First, there’s Ensley to think about. It’s best if I confront her on my own, tell her of Affay’s betrayal. I can’t imagine what Daein would do if he found out that she spilled our family secrets.
No wonder he doesn’t trust her with more of my truths.
Silly little girl, hearts in her eyes, betrayal in her soul.
Familiar numbness has blanketed over me heavily.
I barely even look as the others return from the gardens, Callie and Ember hiding smiles and fresh, damp soil staining their skirts and hands. Must have been trying to dig up the gnomes who live around the vineyard, living off stolen grapes.
It is a fun chase.
But my interest is dampened, and I’m not even caring enough to worry that I wasn’t invited along, either. Just … numb.
I turn back to the fireplace, faintly aware of the onyx stones still hitting the peach-felted table on the far side of the room. No more cheers or groans or jeers come from Ocean and Daein. A serious note, I detect, has fallen over them.
They are gambling with high stakes now.
I don’t care.
Resting my elbow on the arm of the loveseat, I perch my chin on the heel of my palm and flicker my gaze to Skye. She wanders the room, a peach pip rolling around her fingers, and her eyes slide to me for a short moment. Her smile is full of secrets before she turns to the gambling table and stands with her back to me, taking a sudden interest in the game—or the stakes.
And she’s not the only one.
My eyes lazily follow Ember as she makes to slide onto Ocean’s lap—but he pushes her aside with a growl and a frown I’ve never seen him wear. In fact, I’ve never witnessed him disregard his lover at all. Secretly, I thought he loved her. At least some form of love, anyway.
Daein raises his loose fist, the final two stones trapped as he shakes them gently. His eyes have darkened with hunger, determination—a look that tickles my belly. And he rolls the stones.
They collide. Bounce. One hits off another then spins around in a crescent. Until it stops on Daein’s side, sudden, and there’s a moment of thick, tense silence.
I feel the atmosphere shift.
Then my heart lunges up into my throat as Ocean’s face twists with fury, bringing his fist down on the table. Ember staggers back, her suddenly paling face going slack.
And I’m baffled as Daein sinks back into his seat, a satisfied smile dancing on his lips… that he aims right at the now-teary-eyed Ember.
From my throat, my heart falls. It plummets. Right into the writhing pit of my gut.
It sinks in.
Ocean bet his lover in the game. His favourite concubine.
And Daein just won her.
7
APRIL
My voice is a shrill shriek as I slam the door to the bedchamber shut behind us, “You’re not bringing another whore into our home!”
I’m certain the entire upper level can hear me, but I don’t care. Rage has me spinning in a tornado, and it’s all I can do to stop myself from lunging at this deadly fae and tearing out his fucking eyes.
Daein wanders over to the vanity table, relaxed—entirely indifferent to me.
“Anotherwhore,” he echoes faintly, dropping his gloves and diadem onto the table. “That is still how you view yourself?”
