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“Yeah?”
She smiles, cupping my jaw within her palm. Her fingers feel so delicate against my skin. “I never doubted you. So, it’s not somehow you tapped into the realm. It’s because of your strength and control of your ability. It’s all you.”
She has to hear it. The intense pounding of my heart that is trying to jump out of my chest and go to her. And I can’t hide the damn hearts in my eyes that have her name written on them. Her words, the things she says, just mend another piece of me that I didn’t know was torn. My mouth opens to speak, but she holds up a hand to stop me.
“Time for me to make sure you sleep.” She spins and starts walking, pulling me along with her.
A dirty comeback rests on my tongue, but for once, I let it stay silent. Because I’m entranced with the way her hair dances over her back and the sway of her hips with every step she takes. I’d rather take in this moment than cover it up with some sexy joke. Right now, I don’t feel like I need to hide. I can simply be quiet and let her take care of me.
When we reach the doors, my heart starts racing at the thought of her separating from me. I need her close right now. Every part of me feels slightly exposed to her—raw and open. And a part of me knows I won’t be able to sleep unless I feel her warmth and can smell her sweet, ocean scent.
Squeezing her hand, I ask, “Will you stay with me tonight?”
Her feet pause as she turns slightly, looking over her shoulder at me with one raised brow. Shit.
“Only to sleep,” I rush out. “I just—” Fuck, I’ve never in my life felt so unsure. Dragging a hand through my hair, I continue. “I just…need you close. I can’t explain it. You make me feel like the male I want to be.”
Turning back on her heel, she starts pulling me again in a steady walk towards where we are staying in the castle. My feet almost trip over each other when I hear her answer, “Okay.”
Okay, I think to myself as my heart kicks an extra beat in my chest.
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
Emma
Afew days pass, and I manage to stay by Aiden’s side without emptying my stomach every time he finds a way to touch me. His hands resting on my lower back, or grabbing my elbow to pull me closer. His lips skimming the shell of my ear to whisper something he doesn’t wish for anyone to hear.
I’m currently sitting at the table across from Aiden, with Calloway sitting at the head as if it was always his seat to claim. Any time I was told to dine here with King Oren and Calloway accompanied us, I always thought he looked too at home at this table. Behaving as if he was the ruler back then with no common courtesy.
Now he’s chomping on his peppered chicken with loud smacks of his lips, causing small sprays of spit to fly out between bites. The way he eats crawls under my skin, making my eye twitch as my knuckles beneath the table turn white from clenching my silverware with thoughts of shanking him with it.
“Have you heard the news?” Calloway says with a mouth full of food.
“Heard what?” Aiden asks, and I thank the stars he waits to speak once he swallows down some of his dinner.
“The rebels!” Calloway shouts with glee as he bounces once in his seat before shoving another forkful of potatoes between his vile lips. “Seems they realized who they are up against. No sightings to be seen. And you know what’s even better about no rebels?” He nudges his head towards his son with a sort of joyful craziness twinkling in his eyes.
“I don’t,” Aiden says blandly, slowly dragging his eyes from me to his father. “But I assume you are going to enlighten me?”
Calloway bellows with a furious laugh, slamming his hand on the table and almost knocking his goblet of wine off in the process. “Right you are, my boy! No Corrupted sightings either! At least, not on our land. Can’t say the same for the other courts.”
“From my knowledge, you have not been in touch with the other courts since the rebellion. So, is this confirmed that there have been sightings there?” Aiden tacks on nonchalantly, which causes his father to pause mid-chew.
Calloway collects himself and slashes his hand through the air, brushing off Aiden’s words. “Nonsense. Makes no difference to me so long as I’m safe.”
“Don’t you mean so long as the court and people are safe?” Aiden says against the rim of his glass before taking a swig of wine.
“If that is the answer that will make you sleep at night, Son.”
Rage. Pure, hot fire sears down every track in my veins. I knew Calloway was a self-centered bastard, but this is a whole new level. And Whiro seemed to hold his promise to keep the Corrupted free of Asov, but the rest of the lands might still be suffering. The Corrupted will only keep spreading and more Fae will die. I hoped going with my father would end it all, but now I can see that it doesn’t matter. They are left to roam and keep fear lurking around every corner, solely for entertainment.
My fork slams harder than I intend when I set it down and find two pairs of eyes on me. “My apologies, it slipped.”
Calloway narrows his beady eyes before gulping down the rest of his drink. “You seem tired. Why don’t you retire to your room and let us discuss such important matters that would bore your female mind.”
My toes curl in my flats until I’m sure they’ll crack. The power in me begins to pulse, but I push it down, demanding it to settle.
His time will come, I repeat in my head.
