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Iawoke with a start. It took me a moment to remember where I was. A bell tolled in the distance, and as the sleep cleared from my eyes, I counted the chimes. It was midnight. I climbed from bed, still wearing the dress from earlier, and moved to the window. The mist was so thick that I could barely see the outline of the waxing moon. Another few days, and it would be full.
Another few days, and I would have been Oberon’s newest bride. My soul would have been expelled from my body if I hadn’t done something.
Shuddering, I backed away from the window. The truth was, I’d made my move, and I’d gotten out of Albyria, but deep down, I knew it wasn’t over yet. Oberon was still out there. He could be lurking in the mists beyond Endir, watching and waiting for the perfect moment to attack. He would still have supporters. If enough light fae warriors had escaped the city before Kalen’s soldiers had shown up, he might have enough of a force to attack this place.
I needed to talk to Kalen. He’d been in that meeting all day, and I wanted to know what they’d decided.
After lacing up my boots, I crossed the room and opened the door. Kalen stood just outside with his fist raised, ready to knock. Still wearing his loose tunic and fitted trousers, he looked nothing like the monstrous king I’d once thought he was. My heart lurched when he smiled.
He dropped his fist to his side. “I wasn’t sure if I should knock, but it doesn’t look like you’re asleep, either.”
I glanced down at my dress. “I was until a few minutes ago. I was just about to come find you. How did your meeting go?”
“Can I come in?” he asked in a deep voice that both soothed my nerves and sent my heartbeat racing.
Blushing, I opened the door wider for him to join me inside. He strode into the chambers and glanced around, his eyes lingering on my rumpled sheets for just a moment too long. And then he turned to the cold hearth and knelt, one knee on the floor. He lit the flame and stoked the fire to life. For whatever reason, I couldn’t bring myself to speak. I just watched him work, watched the flexing of his forearm muscles and the orange light illuminating the sharp cut of his jaw. I was so consumed by him that I barely noticed I’d begun to drift closer.
He stood and moved to the chair where I’d draped his cloak across the back. With a slight smile, he ran the material through his fingertips. “I’m surprised you still have this. I assumed you’d tossed it into the chasm after you escaped me.”
“It kept me warm in the dungeon.”
His eyebrows winged upward. “I see.”
I took a step toward him. “I’m sorry I took it, but now you can have it back.”
“I don’t want it, love. It’s yours. Keep it with you always.”
Chest tight, I just watched him watch me. A lazy smile crept across his face, and he lowered himself into the chair, where he braided his fingers beneath his chin and continued to keep my gaze. I suddenly had no idea what to do with my hands. They felt awkward dangling by my side, but clasping them in front of me felt demure and awkward. Folding them behind my back didn’t feel any better. Should I prop my hands on my hips? I landed on just folding my arms, even though I knew it made me look confrontational.
“Relax,” Kalen said. “No one is going to harm you here.”
“Not everyone is happy with my presence. Fenella followed me around the castle earlier to make sure I didn’t stab anyone.”
Kalen let out an easy laugh. “Of course she did.”
“I don’t think she’s thrilled that you’ve forgiven me.”
“No, she wouldn’t be. She was one of the first light fae in Endir to offer up support for me and bow before my reign. She has been exceedingly loyal to me ever since.”
“She thinks I’m going to stab you again.”
He arched a brow. “And are you?”
“Of course not,” I said in a soft voice. “You know that, right?”
His gaze scanned my face. “You’d do anything to save the ones you love, and if that meant stabbing me, then I think you would.”
I frowned. “You would never harm them. I know that now.”
He glanced at the open book on my bed, the book on the gods. I hadn’t gotten far into it before I’d fallen asleep, so if any answers were to be found inside, I hadn’t seen them yet. All I’d read were a few short paragraphs listing the names of the five: Andromeda, Sirius, Perseus, Callisto, and Orion.
“So, there’s the book I was looking for all day,” he said quietly. “Did you find what you were searching for?”
Alarm flashed through me. “If you were looking for this book, then you must think my father was right.”
“I do wonder,” he murmured. “Come here.”
