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“Then say it.”
“I love you.”
He laughed. “No, do better.”
I swallowed the inexplicable cloying lump in my throat. “I love you.” They were just words, just three little words. Arin had my heart, and that was the truth. Razak had nothing.
He grasped my chin and held me an inch from his face. “Again.”
Saliva pooled around my tongue.“I love you. I’ve always loved you.”I pushed passion behind it, made it sound real, but that passion was fueled by hate, not love. They weren’t so different.“You saved me from the gallows. I owe you everything. I love you, brother.”
Was it enough? My heart hammered, pounding in my chest and my ears. He slammed a kiss on my lips, thrust his tongue in, and I could do nothing to stop him. So I kissed him back, forcing some meaning into it. I swept my tongue in with his and kissed him as though he were the sweetest thing I’d ever tasted, even if his kiss did burn like poison. I’d done worse than this. And for all its passion, it didn’t touch my heart. The kiss ended naturally, and he pulled away, clutching my face in both hands.
He might break my neck, might tell me he loved me. I never knew how this ended.
“Get me the crown, and I’ll let you have your prince, but we both know you will always be mine.”
“Always,” I whispered.
His soft, liquid chuckle coiled around me, trying to slither inside. He pressed his forehead to mine. “The crown is here, with my father,” he whispered. “Locked in some deep, forgotten part of this wretched place. Find Umair, and you’ll find the crown.”
Umair was here?
“Is he alive?”
“No.” He withdrew and rested against the wall again, his passion snuffed out. “He discovered their secret and they locked him away for it. They won’t do the same to me. You’re going to ensure it.”
“Whatsecret?”I dared ask.
“The key to everything.” He smirked. “Hurry along, brother. I’m growing tired of this cell. It’s time I wore my crown.”
CHAPTER33
Arin
The door clanged,rousing me from an exhausted slumber. I rubbed at my crusted eyes and saw Lark in the doorway’s brilliant glare.
In my sleep-addled mind, he glowed, like a mythical creature come to save me, but then, of course, reality washed back in. My body ached, my stomach clenched, and I remembered this was no dream. But Lark was here.
He stepped inside my cell, and sores be damned, I shot to my feet, lunged, and flung my arms around him. My chain clattered, trying to pull me down. Lark rocked, and his arms swept around me. He smelled of amber and jasmine, of flowers, of home. His warmth soaked through my ragged clothes. He felt real and he was here, and by Dallin, I couldn’t stand to be alone another moment more.
Tears fell and I didn’t care. I sobbed and didn’t care about that either.
“It’s all right. You’re not alone.” He stroked my hair and hummed a soft little tune. “I’m sorry, I haven’t come to free you, not yet.” His lips brushed my cheek as he spoke. “But I am working on it, I promise.”
“It’s all right, it’s fine…” It wasn’t, but none of that mattered, because he was here and in my arms and that was everything. “Please.” I sobbed and laughed and brushed the wetness from my face as we parted. “Some good news? You must have some?”
He turned his head and nodded at the guard, dismissing him. He left the door open and probably wouldn’t go far.
Lark swooped in a second time, wrapped me in a hug, and nuzzled my neck. “Missed you,” he mumbled.
“Gods, you feel so good.” It had felt like weeks since I’d had any kind of company. Longer, since we’d separated in the Court of Pain.
“Forgive me?”
“No, and yes.” I blinked fast, clearing the blur in my vision, and clung to his arms.
He leaned back and his little, fragile smile broke my heart wide open. I’d always forgive him. The sharp edges of his brother’s disguise remained, but his hair had gown some, turning ruffled and loose. His clothes were fine, now that I could see them in the light. Purple woven through black, and he wore the jacket loose, as though he didn’t care for it. “You look good.”
