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I’d kill the person standing between us, he snarled. Hell, if I could, I’d do it now, but that would break the promise and mean losing not only my magic but my kingdom’s respect, and it would put Nolan and Brianne at risk of being slaughtered so a new family could ascend the throne.
My mouth dropped open. Are you asking me to kill Quinley? Worse, the idea sounded damn tempting. But that would be murder in cold blood. I blinked hard and shook my head. “Don’t answer that. I can’t kill someone over something that wasn’t wrong.” I couldn’t fault her for agreeing to marry Kieran. He was an amazing and protective man.
He exhaled and went to the door, and I swiped the key from the nightstand and followed him. When I brushed past him to unlock it, I took a deep breath to memorize his scent. I couldn’t chance getting too close to him again.
His fresh winter scent filled my nostrils as I opened the door.
As he stepped through into the hallway, I fisted my hands, trying like hell to prevent them from grabbing him.
I moved to shut the door, eyes stinging and vision blurred, but his hand stopped it from closing. He popped his head inside, our eyes locking, a tear of his own trailing down his cheek. His voice was deeper than normal and raspy. “I will always love you. You will own my heart even in death. And I hope you have the happy life you deserve.”
“If you win, I wish you the same thing.” Warm tears trickled down my cheeks, and my nose became stuffy. “And … I love you too. That will never change.” I pushed on the door, and he stepped back. I shut and locked it, then dropped to my knees.
Even as the magic inside me grew hotter, I’d never felt so broken.
I tossed and turned, dream after dream assaulting me. No matter how hard I tried to wake up, it was one flashback after another. I didn’t know how long I’d been asleep. It could’ve been hours, or it could’ve been minutes, but my mind was reeling.
Finally, my eyes popped open, and I jolted upright in bed. I glanced around the room to get my bearings. I couldn’t remember where I was, and I expected to find myself in Stan’s office or my bedroom back at Sambradh Castle.
Alina? Kieran’s voice entered my mind, and some of my dread faded. Are you all right? I’ve been trying to get through to you all day.
My stomach fluttered at the sound of his voice in my head. I blinked, and the room came into focus. That was right. I was at Rioghail Tower because of the Comortas. Muir had died, even though he must have been only nine hundred complete cycles. He should have lived at least seventy-five more—wait. I’d died fifty complete cycles ago, so that would make him … nine hundred and fifty. Here I’d thought the funny, crude coldy would live to be a million.
Head spinning, I put my hands on the bed to keep myself upright. How did I know Muir? I was only twenty-three years old. Except I wasn’t.
The walls crept in on me. I remembered everything from my former life.
The two time lines merged, and it was as if I had two different sets of memories inside me … two different versions of myself that had lived in two vastly different worlds.
I’m on my way down, but you’ll need to let me in, he said, his concern quickening my already rapid heartbeat.
I rubbed an arm over my forehead, feeling uncomfortably hot. I needed to take a bath. I’m fine. There was one thing Alina and Ivy agreed on: Kieran complicated matters. He’d hurt both versions of me, and both refused to share him with anyone … even in name. I just remembered everything. I swallowed and swung my legs over the side of the bed.
When I stood, I almost stumbled into the window. I was so off balance.
Unable to do anything else, I lay back down on the bed. I’m going to take a nap, I told him, not wanting him to worry. Then my eyes closed, and darkness blanketed me.
My head pounded so hard I could actually hear the noise. I opened my eyes, but this time, I wasn’t confused. I knew exactly where I was … and the noise stopped.
“Open the door, or I’ll do whatever it takes to get in,” Kieran’s voice boomed, and there was another round of pounding.
I sat up, and the world didn’t spin. Instead, everything seemed … more. I could feel energy … magic swirling around me, stronger than I remembered from my first life.
There was a crack, and Curry shouted, “What the frozen summer are you doing?”
“She hasn’t left her room in over a day, and the trial starts in an hour.”
I’d been asleep for over a sun cycle? How was that possible?
Not wanting a fight to break out, I snatched the key from the nightstand and rushed to the door. Slipping the key into the lock, I opened the door and came face to face with Kieran.
His eyes went to my mark.
You need to cover?—
No. I lifted my head high. I was tired of hiding who I was, which included being his fated mate. I’m not glamouring it anymore. I noticed he’d hidden his.
“You look different.” Curry’s voice grated on my nerves. I remembered him now and how he’d tried to force his way into being my husband. His father had become my mother’s lover and had been whispering in my ear about the arrangement, which was why Dallas and I had promised ourselves to one another. Obviously, Orla had to keep Curry and his father happy so they wouldn’t cause more problems than they already had.
