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He strode from the procession, devastatingly handsome in a black silk coat with its flash of purple lining. The wind tugged at the coat’s tails and his hair, trying to sweep him aside, but he strode on—coming right for Draven and I, in full view of the entire court.
My heart leaped into my throat.
What was he doing? Was he armed? Did he mean to hurt us?
His glare fixed on me, and his smile tipped up at one side.
Zayan, the Prince of Pain’s brother, and now I knew who he really was, it was a miracle I hadn’t seen it before. He had the same dark, arresting eyes as Razak, a similar angular jaw, the same hair color, but so much longer. They were so alike we were all fools to have missed it.
“What’s he doing?” Draven growled under his breath.
The guards crossed their polearms, bringing Lark’s pace to an abrupt halt.
He smirked at them, at me. He knew everyone watched him, knew they’d all heard who he was, and they knew our past. He’d done this to demand attention, like always. Hate simmered around my heart, trying to get inside. Not long ago, I’d wanted him here, but that was before the truth of him had been exposed.
“Let him through,” I said.
Draven’s hand squeezed mine. I squeezed back, then let go and faced Lark.
The guards separated, opening the way, and Lark strode forth. His half-smirk grew, and then he stood in front of me, a stranger, but also a man I’d thought I’d known and understood, a man I’d desired, cared for, let molest me into spilling my seed. Twice.
“Well?” I snapped.
All eyes were on us, the prince and the fool. He’d mademethe fool.
He blinked slowly and reached out.
“Touch Arin and I’ll take what’s left of your hand.” Draven freed a dagger from his hip. He held it in a backward grip, ready to slash.
Lark’s gaze flicked to Draven, then back to me. He’d be thinking of all the words he’d use to insult us. Words were his favorite weapons. Which made his silence… interesting. What was this display for, theatrics or something more?
I glanced over his shoulder, along the bridge and into the crowd. There, some distance away, Razak stood among the guests, his face carefully measured, his gaze flat. My gut said he hadn’t sanctioned Lark’s performance. This was all Lark.
Lark still held his hand out, waiting.
If I did nothing, we’d be on the bridge all night.
I offered my hand in return. He took it lightly, then knelt, bowed his head, and placed a featherlight kiss on the back of my hand. “A gift,” he said. “For the Prince of Love.”
My heart hiccupped, but then hate flared like a shield. “That’s enough.” I snatched my hand back. “I appreciate you and yourbrotherattending.Perhaps we’ll see you after the ceremony?”
He stood, took a step back, and bowed his head again. “I’m sure you will.” He turned on his heel and rejoined the procession.
The wind howled, or perhaps the howling came from inside my head. I swallowed, trying to moisten my dry throat, and tasted sand. Draven took my hand again. He steered me back around, toward the pyramid temple. “Lark can’t get to you here,” he said as we walked on.
But he already had. In my hand, tucked against my palm and hidden from anyone but me, lay the King of Hearts playing card.
CHAPTER30
Arin
Paintedart adorned every smooth inch of the temple’s tapering walls to the pyramid’s central point high above us. At first glance, the colorful scenes seemed jubilant. But on closer study, it became clear the paintings celebrated battles and bloodshed. If there had ever been a better sign that Love and War were not meant to join, it was this temple and its tapestry of murder looming over us.
My heart thumped like the war drums depicted on the murals, and Lark’s playing card burned against my palm, like a wound. I’d crushed it in a fist, but it was still there, still scorched into my mind. What did it mean? Everything and nothing. So dramatic, so Lark.
A white sandstone altar loomed in the center of the temple, and behind it a stone needle pointed toward the pyramid’s apex. Everything was sharp and cold and hard. I fixed a smile to my face and tried to present the idea that I knew what I was doing and wanted to be here. But this place, these people, this temple, palace, the desert sands, and Draven, standing beside me…
How had I gotten here?
