Chapter 37
Thirty-Seven
SENAN
By some miracle, I’m going to make it back to the castle on time. Yes, my shirt has grass stains, and I smell as if I’ve been rolling around in a field, but I can see the towers in the distance, silhouetted by the falling sun. And for the first time in four years, I feel genuinely hopeful. I may be soaring through the darkening sky, but my mind is still in that sunny room made of glass and dreams, my body wrapped in Allette’s, a cocoon of heat and skin.
The euphoria vanishes when I remember what the humans did to my mate. My blunt nails carve crescent moons into my scarred palms. How could anyone be so evil? To maim and destroy an innocent woman. She is lucky to be alive.
That body in the shed very easily could have been Allette’s.
And there isn’t a fucking thing I can do about it.
I wasn’t there to help her. To save her from the trauma she endured. I may not have held the weapon, but my decision to remain in the human realm led to this. How can she stand to look at me? Why isn’t she blaming me as well?
A small crowd gathers on the dining room balcony. I spot Leeri’s white wings where she stands with her slender arms folded over the balustrade, watching the sunset. With a quick change of direction, I land instead near my brothers. The moment my feet meet marble, there is a second thump at my back. Bell gives me the same steely glare I’ve come to know and loathe, no doubt wondering where the hell I’ve been since his shift started twenty minutes ago.
The lords and ladies gathered continue their chatter, mostly about the beauty of the sunset and my upcoming nuptials. How easy it was to forget this reality when I was with my girl.
Kyffin’s face brightens, and he throws his arms around my waist. “You made it.”
At least someone is happy to see me.
Rhainn takes one look at my current state and rolls his eyes.
Kyffin steps back, his nose wrinkling as he gives my sleeve a tug, right above a large green smear.“Have you been training?”
“Sort of.”
Snorting, Rhainn sets the glass of champagne dangling between his fingers onto the balustrade and slips out of his black dress coat. It isn’t until he shoves the garment into my chest that I understand. He has never covered for me before. Why now?
“I’ve a headache and don’t feel like listening to Boris snarl,” Rhainn mutters, collecting his champagne once more.
The jacket is a bit tight around my arms and shoulders, but the length works perfectly. And if it saves me and my brothers from Boris’s wrath, then we all win.
The dinner bell rings, and I find myself staring at the masked servants on my way to the table even though none of them could be Allette. I’ve always likened this castle to a cage, but now that I know my girl lives, these marble walls feel as if they’re closing in, suffocating me.
I asked Bilson to bring Allette straight to the caverns and ensure she made it inside before he went home for the evening. If the servants’ stairs weren’t warded, I know exactly where I’d be spending my night.
I’m almost to my chair when someone touches my elbow, and I hear a feminine voice say my name. My smile is as brittle as glass as I turn to face my darling betrothed. “Where have you been?” Leeri hisses. The silken gown she wears matches her narrowed eyes.
I don’t see the point in answering. It’s not as if I’m going to tell her the truth anyway.
Her sharp nail needles my arm. “Have you nothing to say to me?”
“About what?”
“Stars, Senan.” She presses her fingers to her temples. “We were to sit for our portraits today.”
To be fair, I’ve had a lot happen in the last twenty-four hours. Sitting for a portrait wasn’t at the top of my list of priorities. “We can get portraits in Nimbiss.” Not that I plan on being there either.
“I don’t want to get my portrait in Nimbiss.”
“Yes, well, we don’t always get what we want, do we?”
The king takes his seat at the head of the table, meaning the rest of us are allowed to sit as well, which is fucking brilliant because I’m hungry enough to eat every single one of the ten courses.
Rhainn is back to glaring at me as he pulls out Leeri’s chair for her. She thanks him and settles in next to me, Kyff on my left and Rhainn on Leeri’s right.
Her hand lands on my thigh beneath the table. “Where have you been all afternoon?”
I remove her hand from my body and place it on her own chair. Hurt fills her eyes. I should probably feel bad for treating her so terribly, but there really is no other way for me to get out of this marriage. Not after I foolishly swore to Boris that I would go through with it.
Leeri is the one making the decisions now.
A servant leans between us to set a silver platter of salad greens on the table.
Normally, I’d skip the salad, but today I scoop out extra. Must keep my health up however possible. Oh, tomatoes. I love tomatoes. “I went to the solarium,” I say.
Leeri’s fingers brush mine when I hand over the tongs. “I’ve heard the solarium of Kumulus is most stunning. Is it true that it’s made completely of glass?”
The solarium had been a wedding gift from my father to my mother. It is one of the most beautiful places in this kingdom, although, seeing as I’ve been to no other solariums, I really have nothing to compare it to. “That is correct.”
“I would love for you to take me there.”
And taint the memory forever? No, thank you.
“We could go tomorrow,” she suggests.
“What about your very important portrait?”
“It’s our portrait. And the artist cannot return until the following day.”
“I’m afraid I’m busy tomorrow as well.”
“With what?”
Hopefully, spending time with my girl. And if not, I’ll be doing anything and everything that will keep me away from my fiancée.
“Do I need to speak with the king? Have him clear your schedule?” she presses.
This argument feels tiresome. “What will you do when we move to Nimbiss and you can no longer go to him for assistance?”
Anger snaps in her glacial eyes, and her hands ball into fists in her lap. “My father will not stand for you treating me with such disrespect.”
Her father won’t have a choice because I’m not marrying this woman.
I catch Boris watching us from over his golden goblet, so I am sure to reply with a smile. “I am not a child and will not be treated as one. If you wish to marry a pliable, spineless man, then by all means, I will not stop you. I’m certain you can take your pick.” I gesture toward those gathered, knowing any one of them would happily wed a beautiful princess—even those who already have wives.
“What has gotten into you? Why are you treating me so horribly?”
This isn’t entirely Leeri’s fault. And I’m taking all my anger with Boris out on this poor woman. But I need her to be the one to put an end to this arrangement.
“Senan?”
When she reaches for my hand, I reach for my wine, and her hand falls away.
Dessert has been served, but I can’t possibly fit another bite into my stomach. The moment we’re dismissed from this table, I am going straight to my room and passing out.
Rhainn has thankfully kept Leeri occupied, talking about some book or another, leaving me free and clear to drift into memories of my evening spent with Allette.
That is until Boris stands and tosses his serviette onto the table.
Before he turns to leave, I hear him say something to the Nimbiss Minister about our brother Aeron. Since he’s been gone, it’s almost as if he no longer exists.
Aeron used to write, but I haven’t received a letter from him in three months. Last I heard, his wife wasn’t well, and he wasn’t sure he would make it to the wedding.
As much as I hope there will be no wedding, having Aeron here could actually help. He always excelled at devising brilliant plans to escape this castle for our adventures. Perhaps he could assist me with my current predicament.
The legs of my chair drag when I scoot back. I toss the serviette from my lap onto the table and hurry to catch Boris before he disappears into a cloud of cigar smoke and whiskey.
“King Boris? If I might have a word?”
Although his eyes widen, he quickly hides his surprise beneath a tight-lipped smile and gestures toward the nearest alcove.
The boisterous conversations from those who’ve had too much wine are muffled when we step behind the heavy drapes. I remember hiding in these when we were children. So much has changed since then. “Were you talking about Aeron just now?” I ask.
Groaning, Boris closes his eyes and pinches the bridge of his nose. “Of course you would choose today to start paying attention.” With a heavy sigh, he meets my gaze once more. “Aeron has sent word that he will be coming to Kumulus for the wedding.”
Finally, a stroke of good luck. Heaven knows I need it.
It’s been almost a year since I’ve seen my brother, and it would be rude to let him arrive without a proper welcome.
Boris holds up a finger, and I do my damndest to keep my elation from showing on my face. He never likes it when I’m happy about something.
“But hear me now, brother,” Boris says. “You are to be wed in just over a fortnight. I do not want the two of you up to your old tricks. The moment I catch wind of even a hint of mischief, our brother will no longer be welcome here.”
Please. He is hardly going to ban a foreign leader from his ancestral home. Wars have been started for less. Although I swear to him that no mischief will occur, it’s a promise I have no intention of keeping.
I wait until Boris leaves the room to head out into the hallway.
Bell looks at me with such disdain, I almost laugh. The poor man has been through the wringer thanks to me. At least he knows what to expect. “Come, Bell. We must visit the apothecary.”
His scowl deepens. “For what?”
“I need to buy my brother a present.”