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Tears trickled down his face. His expression was twisted in the worst agony I’d seen.
“I loved you then, and I never stopped.” His chest shook. “You died thinking I wanted nothing to do with you, but you were all I thought about. Hell, even after you passed, you’ve been constantly in my thoughts. My kingdom wasn’t worth losing you.”
My heart pounded against my ribs, and I took a shaky breath. “Kieran, I’m here. It wasn’t your fault.”
“But abandoning me was your fault.” Beth appeared between us with eyes so sharp they could cut through my armor. “Why tell him it wasn’t his fault when you should be focused on me?”
Clarity crashed through me. She was right. How could I tell him it wasn’t his fault when I blamed myself for what had happened to Beth? I’d been sixteen and trying to balance school and my own issues while also trying to help an eleven-year-old. I’d tried my damnedest to make it back like I’d promised, but something beyond my control had gotten in my way.
Stan had tried to tell me that, but I hadn’t understood … maybe because I couldn’t. Not like now when I was trying to tell Kieran the same thing. I’d been beating myself up over something that shouldn’t have been put on me in the first place. “Beth, I hate you got hurt like that and lost your stuffed animal, but it’s not my fault. I tried to be there, and I’m sorry I wasn’t. But you chose to hurt that girl. Not me.” Years later, she’d found the girl who’d taken her bear and beaten her to a pulp. She’d been arrested for assault and sentenced to time in jail. “I helped you every time I could.”
“But—” Beth started.
I shook my head and growled, “Stop.”
Just like that, she vanished.
I glanced around for her, but she was nowhere to be found.
Rowan climbed over the top, and I realized we were close. The waning sun slanted through the glass ceiling.
“I know. I should die.” Kieran whimpered. “You’re right. It’s the only suitable punishment for abandoning you.” One of his hands let go.
Oh, frozen summer, this wasn’t happening. I leaned over and smacked him in the face.
It was enough for him to groan and jerk his head toward me.
“Stop acting all martyr-y and move your ass. I’m right here and alive.” I pointed at my face. “And I forgive you. Let’s go.” I didn’t have to be a genius to know what his biggest regret was.
Rejecting me.
He wiped his face and grimaced. Luckily, he didn’t dwell on it. “Let’s go.”
We climbed together, and I started rambling, telling him about the gym and things I did on Earth, wanting to remind him I was, in fact, alive and with him.
Groans and moans sounded from below us, but I didn’t look down. I didn’t need any more distractions.
At the top, we threw ourselves over the hedge and landed on the ground. In the center, there was a door set in an earth mound like a storm cellar. That had to be our exit. Kieran hurried and opened the door. Stairs descended underneath the mountain section of the maze. Wherever they led, that’s where we needed to go.
He gestured me inside, and I led the way down the stairs with him right behind me.
“Alina?”
I stopped and glanced over my shoulder.
He scratched the back of his neck and shrugged. “Thanks for that.”
He’d thanked me. He owed me yet another favor. “Don’t think a thing of it.” I didn’t like this enclosed stairway, and I wanted to get the hell out of here before the High Court decided to throw in another obstacle. I moved once more.
“Not everyone would’ve done that.” He followed me and took my hand in his.
The jolt between us strengthened, and I didn’t know how or why. “You helped me with the mirrors. We’re even.”
He tugged me to a stop. I turned to him, knowing better, and his gaze went straight to my lips. He murmured, “I never want to be done owing you favors.”
My legs betrayed me, stepping closer to him. As he lowered his head to mine, the door behind us opened.
My knees went weak when I saw who was there.
