32. Rosalina
32
Rosalina
I storm through the halls after breakfast, not watching where I’m going. What is Keldarion’s problem? How am I ever going to break this curse if he won’t try anything? And if I don’t break the curse, I’ll never gain my freedom and return home.
“Don’t hurt yourself, love.” Firm hands grab my shoulders and direct me out of the path of a rather large thorn. I turn to see Dayton behind me. “Everything alright?”
“No,” I snarl and keep walking. “I don’t understand Keldarion. You’d think he enjoys being a beast.”
“None of us like it.” Dayton trails after me. “But Kel…”
“See! Even you can’t think of an excuse for him.”
“It’s not that. Kel’s touchy on the subject of mates.”
I pause, something tightening in my chest. “Why is that?”
Dayton’s gaze flits back and forth, then he rests his hand on one of the thorns. “Listen, Kel had a great love, and to say it ended poorly would be the fucking understatement of the century.”
Keldarion has been in love before? That is surprising. “Was his great love also his mate?”
“I fucking hope not.” Dayton laughs. “But no, I don’t think so.”
“What happened to her?” I ask.
“Enough questions,” Dayton hisses, then, “For moon’s sake, blossom, are you crying?”
I wipe my eyes. “No! It’s only, how am I supposed to help you all if Kel won’t even try? ”
Dayton sighs and puts his arm around me, pulling me against his body. He’s so warm, and I inhale the sweet scent of sea air and sunshine. A sense of calm washes over me.
“If I had a heart, I’d understand why Kel isn’t so eager to find his mate,” Dayton says. “But since I’m clearly delusional and incapable of feeling, I agree with you. Keldarion is a massive prick and if I have to keep giving my nights up to that asshole golden wolf for the rest of my life, I’ll likely kill him one day.”
“Yeah, such a prick.” I relish in this new sense of peace, feeling Dayton’s firm chest on my cheek. But he pushes me away, and my anger comes rushing back in an instant.
“But tonight, that toothy bastard is staying down.” Dayton smirks at me, strands of blond hair falling across his face. “And I’ve got to get ready.”
“Oh.”
“Rosalina, love.” He must still see the dismay on my face because he reaches forward and knocks me under the chin. “There’s three ways to get rid of anger. Fight, drink, or fuck it out. Ask Marigold to whip you up something special tonight. She’s surprisingly savvy with cocktails.”
He turns, heading down the hall. Something bubbles in my chest, a rebellious longing, like I’m not ready for him to leave yet.
“Take me with you to the Summer Realm,” I say.
He pauses for half a second, then snaps, “No,” before he keeps walking.
“I want to do what you said.” I scramble after him. “Take me with you.”
“In case you forgot, you’re Kel’s prisoner.”
I lower my brows. “Technically, I’m a prisoner of this castle and of the fae princes. If I’m with you, I’m not escaping.”
Dayton stops walking, and I run into his solid body. “In case you haven’t noticed, Kel’s not big on technicalities. And I value my head. A lot. Have you seen how handsome it is?”
“Fine.” I suck in a breath. “I guess you really are Kel’s pup.”
I turn away from him, take one step, then two, until I’m whipped around, and my back hits a hard stone wall. Dayton is in front of me, one of his legs pushed between mine.
“Now, who would say such a cruel thing about me?” He brings his face to my ear, soft strands of hair tickling my cheek.
I try to steady my breath. “The Prince of Thorns said it.”
“When I found out he’d been here,” Dayton lets out a humorless laugh, “found out he’d gotten so close to you…”
“What?” I tilt my face up, my chest brushing against his torso. Heat skitters along my body.
Dayton squeezes his eyes shut. “Kel should have killed him for coming so close.”
So close to me or the castle?
Dayton pushes away from the wall. “Meet me by the mirror at dusk.” He glances over his shoulder with a dangerous smile. “And dress for a warm night. We’re going to my realm, after all.”