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“She loves you.”
That was the worst news he could have brought me. And yet my heart swelled. Clawing at my wet hair, I screamed. “I have to make her stop! Before she takes my curse fully and her body…”
Hector grabbed my arms and shook me. “Listen to me! Let this happen.”
I knocked his hands away and stormed from the room.
* * *
The brightest stars already peeked out as I walked out the seldom-used front doors to the weed-infested front drive. I averted my eyes from the gaudy monstrosity of a carriage that reminded me of my twin brother’s opulence and spotted Talia and Everence chatting quietly beside the row of saddled horses. My breath caught at the mere sight of her.
Stars, keep it together.
The two women glanced up, Everence’s eyes brightening like the dawn even as Talia’s darkened with a warning. I bowed.
“Good evening.”
Sinsorias, wearing a garish red suit with lapels wider than his shoulders, waltzed up. He wore his smug grin like it was required and toyed with one dangling earring.
“I called off your dogs,” I said flatly.
He pursed his lips. “I wondered what had happened to them.” He cut his eyes to Talia. “Hmm, so you were able to silence them? I see.” He wrung his hands at his chest and took a step away from me.
The fear creeping into his voice brought a smile to my face. Talia stiffened noticeably and then turned her attention to the magnificent black horse before her. Hector, ignoring Sinsorias, sauntered by and swung up into Chispa’s saddle. Lily was saddled and ready for me. When I moved toward her, she tossed her head and pawed the ground.
“Easy, girl.” I patted her neck. She sensed something was wrong.
“Shall we?” asked Sinsorias, his tone a mixture of arrogance and trepidation. With a pointed glance from me to Talia, he lifted one hand, then looked her up and down. I gritted my teeth and repressed the urge to punch his nose. Talia held her chin high.
Sinsorias leaned close to her face. “You cannot pretend you hate him, dear girl. So don’t waste your efforts.” He turned and marched toward his carriage.
“I do hate him,” she seethed, eyes locking with mine.
A chilling distrust flashed in her expression. Well and good. But it clawed at my heart all the same. She angled her body away from me as I walked past.
Pausing before the black horse, I said, “This one is for you, when you are strong enough to ride.”
The horse’s sleek coat shone in the warm firelight. Its mane was combed and long, and its feet had the little tufts that marked it as a Vessian, one of Avencia’s most notable breeds. A little reminder of her home. Now that she knew the truth, there was no danger in giving her gifts. No danger in doting upon my bride—she would never love me, no matter what Hector believed.
To my utmost delight, she admired the horse with wide-mouthed wonder. She let the horse sniff her hand. He must have been expecting a treat, or he smelled her last meal, because he batted his lips playfully at her palm in a way that made her giggle. The sound was a balm to my blistered soul.
“What’s his name?” she asked in clipped tones, not taking her eyes off him.
“Phantom.”
From his saddle nearby, Hector called out. “He bought him for you. Slipped away in the middle of the night and came back with that horse.”
I shot a warning glance at Hector. Talia jumped, as if startled I still stood beside her.
“It suits him,” she said.
At her approval, my heart leaped like a deer. She slid her hand back to the saddle and paused, glancing about awkwardly.
“You’re not strong enough to ride alone.” I cleared my throat. “Not yet.”
She grabbed her elbows, holding herself as if still in pain. “Well, I’m not riding with you, that’s for certain.” She glanced at the grand carriage, and her disgusted shudder said she wouldn’t be riding with Sinsorias either.
“Does it hurt still, the wound?” Instinctively, I reached for her, then, at her gasp, shoved my hands behind my back.
