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“You never were.” She cocked her head. “I miss when you were obsessed with me,” she admitted, then dragged her finger around my jawline.
I grasped her fingers, squeezing until her long nails dug into my palm. “Your little show last night cost us a lot,” I snapped, then stepped back, leaving a foot between us. “If this little meeting was to give me the crown, then I don’t want it. You’ve damned this kingdom in a war with Asland, and don’t think the other kingdoms won’t get involved. They’ve been looking for an opportunity for the best part of a century. If they band together, we won’t stand a chance,” I admitted, although it pained me to me say it.
She rolled her eyes, and a laugh bubbled from her lips as if we were caught in some joke I wasn’t aware of. “Youareworriedabout Asland? Sanmorte has their goddess back on the throne. There’s nothing to fear from any kingdom.”
“You are not in your original form,” I pointed out, as if she’d forgotten her limited powers while in Gwen’s body. “Speaking of your form, how long have you been possessing her?”
She turned around to look at the arched window; the light arrowing through, glinting off the rubies on her head. “For the entire time you’ve known her. Don’t worry, she never knew who you were. She probably doesn’t recall who she is anymore. But before that?” she tapped her finger against her temple. “I’ve been in and out of her body for a century.”
“Where is her soul?”
“The underworld,” she said simply, her back to me. “It will stay there until I have my body back.”
“How do you plan on doing that?”
She turned back to face me, a sinister grin on her petite, but sharp features. “I’m not telling you.” She scoffed. “Why would I tell you any of my secrets, especially when you made it clear you are no longer interested in the crown?”
“You wouldn’t even if I was interested,” I prodded.
She raised her brows. “That’s not true, but you’re right. I don’t trust easily.”
“Why are you here, Salenia? You have the underworld to rule over. Do us all a favor and go back there.”
“I can’t,” she confessed, seeming unbothered by my words. “I have unfinished business here. My brothers and sister are insistent on destroying me, although that problem may be stalled for now. But I have someone else here,” she said, giving little away. “Two people, actually, that I care about.” Her eyes glinted. “I intend on finding them.”
“Who?” I asked in disbelief.
Her chest heaved, her nose wrinkling, giving away her disgust. “No one you should concern yourself with.”
“Fine.” I shrugged. “Then why do you want to find them? You can’t tell me you care about someone other than yourself.”
“Hate. Love. Aren’t the two usually intertwined?”
“Hmm.”
“Speaking of love.” Her glare intensified, jealousy swimming in those glacier-blues. “Where is your mortal?”
My heart stammered, and I cursed my body for reacting at all. “I don’t know, and I’m not sure where love ties into it. You wanted me to bring her last night. I don’t love her.”
“Niall, Niall, Niall…” she tapped her finger against her chin. “Don’t you know, my greatest gift is sensing what is in the heart of others.” She stepped closer, and my body tensed.
“I thought your greatest gift was compulsion?”
“It is, and you’re lucky I don’t use it on you.”
I laughed. “You don’t have your full powers in that body.”
“I have compulsion. It comes from my soul, and eyes are the windows to that.”
“Why don’t you use it?”
She shrugged. “It takes the fun out of things. If I can just make anyone do anything, then what’s the point?”
“You like to play games instead.”
She slowly slid her hands up to my chest, splaying her fingers over my shirt. “You used to like my games.”
I shrugged her away. “How do I know you didn’t compel me to become obsessed with you before?”
