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The distance between us used to be the enemy. Now Kirran is no friend.
All that remains is the vicious understanding that there will be no giggling and handholding or sweet kisses or firefly watching or stargazing tonight. Kirran’s “love” made way for those things, brought a sparkle to my heart and a bounce to my stride even as I stole through dark halls and secret passages.
But I don’t know what his hate will bring.
As my mind scrambles to comprehend what’s happening, I latch onto the only distraction I can find: the man I’m with, and the girl he was with earlier.
“So Reena is definitely okay?”
Captain Harran half-smiles. Puzzled maybe, but also sly, like he carries a secret just beneath his skin. “She is, milady. I saw her to her quarters myself a few hours ago.”
“Did you get to dance with her?”
A soft chuckle floats from him, and he nods. “We danced, yes. Until midnight. Then we looked briefly for you, and I dropped her off. She figured you’d be asleep and didn’t wish to wake you.”
“Will you see her again?”
Another chuckle, and this time, he looks over. Delight softens the harder edges of his face. In the lantern’s glow, I notice for the first time that his left ear is split at the point, and a chunk has been torn from the bottom section. He doesn’t bear much resemblance to Kirran, except for the autumn fey coloring.
“I intend to, yes.” He scratches the back of his neck. His attention darts away from me, toward the dark walls and corridors. “Now that I’m home, it’ll be much easier from here on out.”
I smile, but a pang resounds in my chest. Kirran is home too, but it’s only made everything so much worse. With more to come, I’m sure.
Captain Harran slows. I shoot my gaze from him to the sprawling corridor before us. Pale starlight streams through the tall windows. Up ahead, a large door surely marks Kirran’s room, especially given the soldier standing guard outside it.
Any distraction I’d gathered during the walk spirals away. I knot both hands around my shawl.
Captain Harran stops at the door, glances at me, and knocks twice. Then, without waiting, he grabs the handle and pushes.
The door cracks, and a sliver of candlelight slips into the corridor. It’s not enough to see by. The fuzziness in my vision only intensifies the dizziness swarming over me. I fight the urge to recoil and instead stand straight, strong. Yet nothing hides my shudder.
Captain Harran’s gaze lingers on me, almost pained, but he clears his throat and gently nudges me toward the door.
Prince Kirran’s even voice splits the quiet. “Thank you, Harran. You and Vaddik may take your leave.”
“As you wish, Your Highness.” Both men speak in unison.
Captain Harran guides me through the open doorway and removes his hand from my upper back. The door shuts behind me with a click.
And just as quickly as we made our way through the halls, I find myself standing in Prince Kirran’s bedchambers. Alone, except for him — the man I once loved, the man who hates me.
I have never stepped foot in Kirran’s bedroom before. Once, the mere thought would have turned my face to fire and my thoughts to a garbled mess of wishes and panicked modesty.
Now, my heart prepares to beat right out of my chest. My hands knot tighter around useless fabric.
What he wants with me, here, I cannot fathom. But it cannot be good. It cannot be kind.
Like mere hours ago, his eyes glow in the darkness, and he stands with his arms crossed. Staring me down. When he speaks, it’s a gravelly murmur. So very different from the way he used to speak to me.
“Come closer.”
I swallow hard.
“I’m not going to yell across the room, Alia. Come here.”
“Why?” It comes out in a choked whisper, and I tighten the shawl around my body. “What…what do you want?”
All fey are dangerous and unpredictable, but the Unseelie fey — the autumn and winter kingdoms — are the worst. I don’t dare even peek toward his bed, lest it give him some horrible idea. Surely, he can’t want me for that. And he wouldn’t want blood all over his room, so he likely isn’t planning to kill me either.
