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But I don’t care. I don’t stop.
When I finally slam the door behind me, I sink onto the floor, letting all the pain and shock of the day flood from me in racking sobs.
Chapter 7
Isleep.Ishower.I’m still stuck in this place when the sun rises the next day.
It’s a gorgeous sunrise, painting the mountains in brilliant shades of pink and orange. White, puffy clouds dot the lightening sky. On this side of the castle, I can’t see the valley below, only a stretch of mountains spearing toward the sky. A slight chill hangs in the air, but from the snow coating the peaks, it really should be colder than it is. This view could be the Rockies or the Alps, not that I’ve been to either. But if everything I’ve witnessed over the past day is to be believed, this is Faery. Another world entirely.
For years I’d dreamed of traveling. Getting out of my small town. Seeing the world. But this… I sigh. “This wasn’t how it was supposed to happen.”
The giant bird sitting on the balcony with me stretches its wings and gives a little squawk. Its gray-and-brown head turns my way before it blinks at me. The darn thing nearly gave me a heart attack when it flew into my room last night. I screamed and threw a pillow at it, which it dodged with expert precision. But it kept its distance and became an unlikely companion, as did the two smaller ones that joined it late into the night.
Who knew the nicest people here were the birds? Other birds linger on the glass roof, some in their massive nests. I give a half smile to my eagle—at least, I think that’s what it is—companion. I guess he was brave enough to find out who this new person was staying below their roost.
I hold out my hand toward the eagle. He hops closer, stretching his neck until I graze the feathers of his head. So soft.
A knock sounds at the door, causing us both to jump. The eagle squawks and flies out over to the railing.
I purse my lips and stare at the source of the offending sound when it comes again. “Who is it?”
“Sigurd.”
My stomach does a weird flip-flop.
“Do I want to talk to him?” I whisper to the eagle where he’s returned to perch on the balcony railing.
It tilts its head back and forth before giving what looks eerily like a nod. Goosebumps race up my arms.
“Weird bird,” I mutter.
“Come in.” It is his place after all, and the door doesn’t exactly have a lock, at least none I could figure out. His knock is a courtesy.
I stand with my arms crossed just inside the sheer curtains when he enters. Warmth settles low in my stomach as the door swings wide, and it’s everything I can do to stand still. Why, oh why, does he affect me so? It’s not like I haven’t seen my share of handsome men…on TV anyway. Standing here before me, those icy blue eyes and dark locks do things to a girl.
He leans against a wall, mirroring my stance with his crossed arms. Silence hangs between us, and I refuse to break it.
“That was”—his lips purse and twist as he searches for a word—“quite an exit yesterday.”
Heat prickles my cheeks. “Come to make fun of me?” I huff and turn toward the balcony. “So nice of you.”
The warmth grows and seeps down to my chest when he doesn’t respond. Maybe he left. That’d be fine. Great, actually.
“No.”
I screech and jump at the voice just behind me. When I twist around, he’s right there, barely a foot away. How on earth does he move so quietly?
“I came to check on you. To make sure you’re okay.”
Morning light catches on the planes of his face, softening his look. My lips part in silent wonder. His attire is more casual today. The cool grays and blues of his trousers and loose shirt soften all his hard edges.
I brush my hair behind my ear and catch part of the tattoo on my wrist from the corner of my eye. The warmth in my chest turns cold and sinks like lead. “Oh, I’m great. Just peachy.”
His brows pinch. “Peachy?”
I roll my eyes. “I’m still stuck here. Oh, and my uncle, who totally turned his back on his family, is just hanging out here all happy. Wealthy too, I’m guessing.” I gesture to the castle around us. “He couldn’t even bother to recognize me, his own niece, who he saw almost every week for forever.”
Sigurd winces. With his mild frown and downcast eyes, he looks almost sorry. “There’s a reason for that.”
