Tower of Shadows (Once Upon A Wicked Villain #2)

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

ROZLYN

Horror washed over Rozlyn, and she spun to face Haven. Had the lady intervened when Haven dueled the lord? “Vivienne?” she gasped, noticing a new black ring on his pinky finger. “What happened? Did you do something to her?”

“ No .” Haven sighed, his frown trained on where Nightshade had just walked out the door with Iseult. “When I found them, Vivienne’s spirit was already with Adham. She’d passed unexpectedly a day before we arrived at the castle. Adham accepted the duel I’d offered, and I won. I took her ring before I left, so I’m still a selfish bastard.”

A spirit could linger for different reasons, but Rozlyn believed Vivienne had been there to stay by the lord’s side a little longer. “He wanted to die to be with her, didn’t he?”

“Yes.” There was no emotion on the Marquis of Shadows’ face, but his eyes told her otherwise.

“And you allowed it,” she murmured. “You could’ve decided not to offer him the duel and held him somewhere in your tower to keep them apart.”

“I could’ve. Though, I suppose he might’ve found a way to kill himself eventually.” Haven’s throat bobbed. “Vivienne might’ve been my match, but only because of our sorcery. I should’ve realized that years ago.”

Rozlyn peered down at her hands. “You lied to me,” she whispered. “You promised I would be free when you’d already secretly traded me to Nightshade. You could’ve at least warned me.”

Haven stepped toward her and slowly lifted her chin with his finger. “I never lied. It was true when I said you’d be free of me.”

Her heart thundered, and she wanted to hurl him out of the manor. “You—”

One of his shadows held a finger over her lips. “I’m not sorry I cursed myself because then I wouldn’t have needed you .”

It wouldn’t be considered an apology to most, but it was to her. Rozlyn folded her arms around him and held him tight, tears gathering in her lashes. “I didn’t think you would come.”

Haven returned the embrace, resting his chin on top of her head. “I would’ve come to you anywhere.” They stood in silence for a long while when his next words came out tight. “If I hadn’t come when I did, would you have bound yourself to Nightshade?”

Rozlyn thought about Nightshade’s promises and peered up at him. “I wanted to,” she whispered.

A line formed between his brows and his scowl deepened. “I see.”

“Not because I love him, but because I wanted to go home,” she said as she stepped away from him. “But, in the end, I wouldn’t have gone through with it. There’s only been one man I’ve ever loved.” The Marquis of Shadows.

“I like that answer. Now come.” He lifted Rozlyn in his arms and held her close. “I’m taking you home.”

Rozlyn grinned and didn’t utter a word as Haven carried her out into the misty afternoon. His wings pierced through his back, and a gust of wind blew her hair as he soared toward his tower.

She didn’t shut her eyes on the journey this time, yet she couldn’t control her trembling. Every time she peeked toward the ground, her stomach dipped and nausea churned within her, but not as much as it would’ve before. She caught sight of Iseult and Nightshade already inside the gondola.

The heavy mist became lighter as they approached Haven’s tower. More black flowers had bloomed up the vines of his home, and Rozlyn smiled. His feet touched down on the window ledge, and he helped her inside the room before shifting out of his gargoyle form.

He snapped his fingers, and when Rozlyn looked out the window, the court grew blurry before clearing to lush green foliage. Her heart beat with glee, and she rushed out of the room, fleeing down the tower steps. The door remained locked, and she bounced on the balls of her feet until Haven caught up with her.

The edges of his lips curled up as his shadow took the shape of a key. “You were faster than me this time.”

Once Haven opened the door and removed the shadow barring the space for her, Rozlyn stepped out into the warm sunshine of Dawnbreak and fell to her knees in the grass. She brushed her fingertips against their velvety blades and breathed in the fresh spring air. Birds flocked toward the tower, perching atop the roof.

As she stood, Haven leaned against the stone with his arms crossed over his chest.

“What?” She smiled.

“Just waiting for you to stop kissing grass so I can give you this.” He swirled his hand in the air and a large velvet bag appeared in his grasp. “Your payment.”

Rozlyn blinked. The sack looked as though it held much more than would’ve been owed to her. If she took the money, it would mean that everything she’d done was about receiving coin. And it wasn’t. “You keep it,” she finally said. “You gave up Souldark for me.”

Haven pushed off the wall with his boot and inched closer to her. “Souldark is an abysmal, desolate nothing . You earned this, Rozlyn.”

Rozlyn pressed his hand holding the bag against his chest. “No thank you.” She looked down at her simple black garment. “But I do think it’s about time I make myself a different colored dress. Something yellow.”

Haven rolled his eyes. “Who would’ve guessed?” He grasped a loose lock of her hair and tucked it behind her ear. “It suits you though. Go home and see your madam. There is something I need to do, but I’ll meet you tomorrow before the day’s end. Tell your madam I’ll cover the cost of any lost earnings for you.”

Rozlyn cocked her head. “What do you have planned?”

“You ask too many questions.” As she opened her mouth to speak, he cut off her words with a kiss. “Now go, you’re wasting time.”

“Fine,” Rozlyn relented, and with a smile, she clutched her dress and took off through the forest. She glanced back to find Haven still watching her, his frown nowhere to be seen. He then shifted into his gargoyle form and took off into the sky.

Rozlyn skirted around the trees until she stepped onto the graveled trail leading toward the brothel. Even though thirst gripped her, she didn’t stop even when she reached the shops. She burst through the door of the brothel, and Madam jerked up from her seat behind the desk, a long cigarette in her hand.

She put out the cigarette and ran toward Rozlyn, a welcoming smile across her face. “Are you all right?”

“Yes, yes, I’m fine,” Rozlyn panted and embraced Madam in a tight hug. “I chose not to take my portion of the marquis’ money though.”

Madam stumbled back and cupped Rozlyn’s face, studying her intently until her features softened. “You fell in love, didn’t you?”

“I’m sorry, Madam.”

“No one can control how they feel.” She kissed her on the forehead. “Where is he?”

Rozlyn shrugged. “He said he would come here before tomorrow ends.”

Madam pursed her lips, and Rozlyn knew what she was thinking. That men lie. “Let me get you a cup of tea and a bowl of soup. You look as though you’re about to faint.”

“Thank you.” Rozlyn sank down into a cloth chair and while waiting for Madam to return, Cordelia squealed and rushed into the room. “Rozlyn! You’re back!” She hunched in front of the chair, and they hugged one another. “Thank goodness you missed Cleetus. He was calling on you, but Starla took him. I hope you’re not upset—Lucius requested me since you were gone. I know he’s yours.”

Rozlyn smiled, clasping her dearest friend’s hands. “You deserve a sweet client.” He would treat Cordelia well.

Madam slipped through the velvet curtains with a cup of tea and a steaming bowl of soup. “A couple of the girls just had dinner so everything is still warm.”

“Thank you,” Rozlyn said and lifted the tea to her lips. Once she finished her meal, Madam told her to retire for the evening.

As Rozlyn left the sitting room to gather a nightgown, she chewed on her lip with a smile while wondering what Haven would say when he returned.

Throughout the day, Rozlyn, Cordelia, and Madam cleaned the brothel. They swept and scrubbed the floors until they shined like new.

When they questioned Rozlyn further about her time spent with the marquis, she confessed the story in its entirety to them both. Even the parts that Cordelia hadn’t known about Rozlyn being a bastard princess, but she trusted her as much as she did Madam to keep it a secret. Madam’s face turned horrified, and Cordelia sighed adoringly at the end of the story while saying, “It’s beautiful that he gave up an entire court to save you.”

“ What ?” Madam snapped. “She could’ve been held as a prisoner forever.”

Rozlyn gently enfolded her hands around Madam’s shoulders. “As one begins a tale, they imagine alternate endings. But once they reach the final page, they find out how the story truly concludes. My ending was coming home.”

“Without coin for your dress shop!” Madam hissed. “I kept my mouth shut yesterday, but after your story, I can no longer. You should’ve taken the money.”

“I wouldn’t have taken it either,” Cordelia said. “Well, maybe some of it.”

The door opened, and they turned toward it as a tall, stoic man draped in all black entered. Haven . Madam and Cordelia both straightened, their eyes wide and dreamy. Rozlyn smiled, waiting for Haven to introduce himself to watch Madam’s reaction.

His gaze first settled on Rozlyn with an unreadable expression before he looked at Madam and Cordelia. “I need to speak with Rozlyn. I’m Sorcerer Marquis Haven Darrow.”

“Get out!” Madam snapped. “I don’t care what you can do with your sorcery. After what you did to one of my courtesans, you will never step foot in this establishment again.”

Haven drew out a bag of coins from inside his cloak and held it out to Madam. “I must speak with her.”

“It’s fine, Madam,” Rozlyn soothed, patting her shoulder.

Madam narrowed her eyes at the bag but snatched it from his hand. “You may speak with her here .”

Haven nodded. “Of course.” It was the most gentlemanly Rozlyn had ever seen him.

Madam huffed and slipped with Cordelia behind the desk, their gazes still trained on Haven. Cordelia’s dreamy and Madam’s still narrowed.

Haven grasped Rozlyn’s hand, his thumb stroking her wrist where her marriage cuff had once been. “I want you to come home with me. Even if I have to pay you.”

“She isn’t going back to your wicked tower!” Madam shouted.

“Let me take you to my room where it’s quieter.” She signaled to Madam that all would be well, and the woman pursed her lips, seeming to wish she’d told Haven to leave instead. But this was Rozlyn choosing what she wanted—no one else.

She grasped Haven by the hand and led him through the curtains and down the hallway toward her room. His shoulders stiffened as his gaze fastened on one of the courtesans on her knees, bringing a patron’s cock into her mouth as the man groaned.

“I take it you’ve never been inside a brothel before,” she said.

“I have now.”

Rozlyn grinned and pulled Haven into her room. She guided him to her bed and stood before him. “So, why is it you want me to return to your tower? To replace Iseult?” she hedged.

Haven frowned. “Because I don’t want you here, fucking other men.”

Rozlyn angled her head and she smiled wider. “And you want me to pleasure you instead?”

“I want to pleasure you ,” he growled. “Every day. Every fucking night. While your dress shop is being prepared.”

Rozlyn’s eyes widened, her heart humming. “My shop ?”

The corners of Haven’s lips turned up. “Since you refused the coin, I bought you a shop instead. If you aren’t ready for it yet, it will remain empty until you are.”

Rozlyn leapt forward and knocked Haven to the mattress as she hugged him.

“I assume that means yes.” His eyes lit up with amusement.

“I’m considering it.” She winked. “Of course my answer is yes!”

Haven closed the gap between them, his lips coasting across hers while veering his hands to her backside and bringing her closer against him. “Fuck me,” he rasped. “Fuck me so that I’m the last man you ever touch in this place.”

As Rozlyn reached for the button of his trousers, she drawled, “It will cost you.”

“I have plenty of coin.”

“It will cost your kisses .”