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Merlin’s mouth curls in a sorrowful smile. “Indeed.” Nissa cries louder, and Kelda rubs her shoulder. “But I have in my possession seven golden bridles. Should you go to the river and clip the bridles on them, both the horses and you will be free from the curse.”
Everyone goes quiet. “Our powers will be returned?” Hilda asks at the same time Nissa says, “We can go home?” The sisters erupt again, chatting excitedly. Linne jumps up, throwing her hands in the air in a happy dance. Runa and Selma embrace. The cries are replaced with laughter and excitement.
My heart clenches in my chest, and I look down at my feet. I’m happy for them, I am. Truly. I swallow thickly, and my vision blurs.
But I’ve just lost another family.
Chapter 21
Snow White
Two Days Later
Themorningofmyeighteenth birthday dawns bright and clear, the newly awakened sun coloring my bedroom with the brilliant oranges, pinks, and golds of the new day. I stretch languorously, the warm feather quilts tempting me to stay abed. I give in for a moment, letting my mind wander where it will.
The Valkyries left with Merlin at dawn yesterday morning after his revelations the night before. He had refused our offer of staying in one of the sister’s rooms, assuring us he was quite comfortable in the tent he conjured outside our boundary. The ladies were eager to commence their travels after so many years apart from their steeds. They promised to be back within a few days as Merlin would be assisting with the transportation.
I’m not exactly sure what that entails, but magic must be involved, as the trip would normally take weeks, if not longer. Especially since the few horses they keep in the stables had to be left behind.
Cassian and I have been left to our own devices. Hilda dragged him off before they left. I couldn’t hear their conversation, but Cass looked thoroughly chastised by the end of it. She gave me a meaningful look as well, which caused my cheeks to heat and made me duck my head.
A coiling tension has been slowly brewing between the two of us. A glance, a touch. The possessive gleam in his eyes. It makes me want to run, to hide, shivers of something I don’t understand sliding down my spine. At the same time, it intrigues me, makes me squirm, heats my belly with promises of . . . something out of my grasp. Run, stay. Hide, explore.
I’m a mass of contradiction wrapped up in a storm of feelings too big, too great.
I’ve barely had time to even sort out what I feel. Young Cassian was my best friend and confidant. I loved him with the mindless abandon of youth. My world revolved around him; he was the sun, and I, merely a planet trapped in his orbit.
Then he was gone. And no matter how unfair it may have been, the betrayal I felt was real. He had been the one constant in my life, there each day, until he wasn’t. I spent years hoping, praying, desperate for his return. Needing him to be the one that saved me. That childish love and belief burned on the pyre of despair and was blown away on the winds of hopelessness.
Now he’s come back. Taller, older, wiser. A shifter and a prince. He comes with promises and pretty words and hounds me with his presence. I’ve discarded the hatred—which, if I’m honest with myself, was never truly such—and forgiven him for leaving. I may have previously lost myself to the darkness, but I am of sound mind. I can see he had no other choice.
But there is still a sliver of mistrust at the back of my mind. He swears he will never leave me again. I so desperately want that to be true. I’ve overcome the horrors my father visited upon me and have risen from the ashes of the terror Morana inflicted. I crawled my way out of the darkness, trained to become strong.
That strength is no match for my heart, though. It begs me to let Cassian in, to allow him to prove himself. My body yearns for his touch, my lips desperate for his kiss. I may have let him closer recently, but a tiny part of me still fights against the primal, raw chemistry between us.
I cannot breathe when he is nearby. I cannot breathe when he is far.
The sun has returned. Will I bask in its warmth, or burn to ash amongst its flames?
Aftercompletingmymorningablutions and dressing in breeches, boots, and a tunic, I fling open my bedroom door and immediately fall to the floor with an oomph. Cassian jumps to his feet, axe in hand, his shoulder-length hair mussed and eyes wild. I blink up at him and clap a hand over my mouth, unable to stop myself from giggling.
“Were you sleeping outside my door?”
He runs a hand over his face and tosses me a sheepish look. “Maybe?” He tucks his axe back in its holster and reaches an arm out, pulling me to my feet. Cassian backs me into the wall and runs a finger down my cheek. “Good morrow, Snow. Happy birthday.”
My breath catches in my throat.Kiss me. Let me go. Save me. Destroy me.His eyes search mine, then drop to my lips. My tongue darts out to moisten them, and his jaw ticks. I tentatively place a hand on his cheek, the short beard he’s grown since arriving here tickling my fingers. Cassian lets out a deep sigh, leans forward, and places a kiss on my forehead.
My heart lurches, disappointment racing through me. I swallow it down and give him a tremulous smile. He winks and takes my hand, leading me down the stairs. “Come, I have much planned for the day.”
“Like what?” I ask curiously.
“Breakfast first,” he tosses over his shoulder. After settling me into a chair in the kitchen, he bustles around the room, deftly cooking up a batch of oatmeal. I watch in fascination, my chin resting on my hand as he portions some out into bowls to cool. Next comes a honeydew melon, fresh from the gardens, which he chops and divides evenly. He glances up, catching my eye. “What?”
I shake my head. “Nothing, just surprised, I suppose. I didn’t know you could cook.”
Cassian raises a shoulder. “Beast taught me. And a good thing too. It’s come in handy more than once during my travels.” He takes a seat opposite me, pushing the bowls of fruit and oatmeal in front of me. I stare at the food for a moment and sigh. He reaches across the table, placing a hand over mine. “What’s wrong?”
It’s my turn to shrug. “It’s silly.”
