Chapter 25 #2
The key caught the sunlight, glinting at me with invitation. A symbol of control I’ve never been given before. If I took it, would that mean I’d have to pay for it in some way? Was this some sort of test? “I—I don’t have any money to pay for lodgings.”
Nik shook his head, huffing softly. “There is no need for money here, Sapphire. Just a place for you to heal and rest.”
My fingers tightened around the glass in my hands. “So . . . I’m not a prisoner?”
“Not at all.” He shifted his weight, leaning his hip against the single arm chair. “You have a key for your room, and if you wish to leave, the front door remains unlocked.”
I blinked, unsure if I’d heard him right. “What’s the catch?”
He gave a faint smile, the kind that didn’t quite reach his eyes. “No catch. Just . . . don’t vanish before you’ve rested and eaten something.”
The words hung between us. I swallowed down the panic clawing at my throat. Having that kind of power—choice—undid me. What was I supposed to do with freedom I hadn’t earned?
Silence pooled in the space between us. I fiddled with my hands, tracing the frayed edge of my sleeve. It was wild that he didn’t lock his front door. In The Grey, that would’ve been unthinkable—and in Oscuro, suicidal.
“Back at Abby's . . . you were humming a song,” Nik said, his eyes tracing over my face. “It was beautiful.”
Heat rushed up my neck. I didn’t remember much about that moment. Only his arms around me, and then everything went black. I shrugged lightly. “I can’t remember.”
He nodded and the room fell into silence again. I placed the glass of water down, unsure what to do with my hands. I knew I’d met him a few times, but he still felt like a stranger. One that I didn’t know how to act around.
“Would you like to see the view from the balcony?” he asked.
I thought about it for a moment and then decided it was probably wise to scout my surroundings, just in case I needed to hide, or run away. Slowly, I nodded and then stood up. The world titled for just a moment before settling.
Nik led the way, giving me the opportunity to admire the enormity of his red wings. Each feather looked as if it had been dipped in wine and molten gold as they caught the light.
My mind slipped to the three feathers I’d hidden with his letters in the wall of the Silver Finch back in The Grey. Three of them together had been beautiful, but hundreds? It was mesmerising.
As we passed by the kitchen, I noticed a mug on the counter top. A half drunk, coffee, or tea, perhaps. I didn’t know why I hadn’t noticed it before. Nik glanced down at it before swiping it from the bench, and placed it in the sink. He definitely didn’t seem like the type that cared for mess.
I hovered behind him as he opened the balcony doors, stepping outside, leaving enough space for me to squeeze past him. I held my breath as I did, for fear touching his warm skin would undo me.
But outside, my breath caught. Early morning light spilled across valleys and hills dotted with stone, and wood houses. Strings of coloured lanterns hung between roofs like spider webs.
White and pale pink trees bloomed amongst lush green ones I couldn’t name.
Everything felt warm here. Like the sun knew how to offer just the right amount of heat.
The night I died, it’d been snowing, and Oscuro was a different temperature altogether.
I’d never felt anything like this in all my years.
Hot tears pooled behind my eyes at the beauty, but I shoved them away.
I didn’t want anyone to see me cry, especially Nik. He’d already seen me broken.
He walked to the edge of the railing and beckoned me closer. I hesitated for a moment before joining him a few paces down. “That’s the king’s palace.”
I thought I’d seen beauty—the temples in The Grey, bright with paint, wildflowers fighting their way through the dirt in spring, the odd grand house that belonged to families that smiled, and ate dinner together—but none of it compared to the white glinting castle in the distance.
Even from here I could see just how grand it was. “It doesn’t even look real.”
Nik huffed softly. “Oh, it’s very real.”
I glanced across at him. He was already watching me, but after a few seconds, he looked away. I was glad. Every time I caught his gaze it did something in my chest. Something that was foreign. New.
He spun on his heel, heading back inside. “Let me show you the room.”
I followed cautiously, my hands fisting the sides of my dress. Outside had smelled like a sweet floral perfume, nicer than the oils the girls would wear at the Silver Finch, but inside Nik’s house it smelt like . . . him. Warm, fresh and somewhat comforting.
We’d almost reached the room, passing by the bookshelf, when my gaze fell on the girl in the frame. “Who is she?” I asked before I could stop myself. The words slipped out too easily.
Nik halted and glanced over his shoulder, surprise flickering across his face before amusement took its place. “My sister, Adalia.”
His sister. I could see the resemblance now.
“You look alike,” I said, forcing my gaze to stay on him, even though my stomach twisted into knots.
“Exactly,” he said, a quiet laugh slipping out. “We were both cursed with this face.”
The corner of his mouth lifted in a crooked grin. I didn’t return it, but I didn’t look away either. Something in his easy tone tugged at a place in me I didn’t want to acknowledge.
He cleared his throat and gestured down the hall. “Come on. Let’s get you settled. I’ll see about getting you some fresh clothes, if you’d like them.”
I shook my head. All this kindness, it was too much. “I don’t have any money.”
“You won’t need it. Adalia offered to bring some of her things,” he called over his shoulder as he stepped into the room.
I frowned. “Why would she do that?”
He stopped, throwing a smile over his shoulder. “Because she can,” he said before he disappeared into the room.
I had no choice but to follow him. “Thank you,” I murmured, though the words came out thin, uncertain.
The space was small but tidy, like the rest of his house. A double bed made up with soft, neutral linens rested against the left wall. A round cream rug took up most of the floor and there was a dresser opposite the bed that held a few books and an empty vase on top.
Sunlight from the window next to the bed spilled across the floorboards, touching everything like gold. It was beautiful.
Nik turned to me, rubbing the back of his neck. “I know it’s not much, but it’s yours for as long as you want it.”
I bit the inside of my cheek hard enough to taste blood. My jaw locked as I tried my best to fight the emotion clawing at my chest. This room was like a palace to me, yet he still felt like it wasn’t enough.
“It’s fine . . . thank you,” I said, fiddling with my skirts once again.
Nik moved over to the drawers and pulled one open. It was empty, but he gestured towards it. “When Adalia brings you some clothes you can keep them in here.”
I nodded slowly, my eyes still taking in the space. Objects on the small wooden table by the bed caught my attention. My brow pinched. “Is that my ribbon?”
My hand flew to my throat instinctively. In all the chaos, I’d forgotten about it. Abby must have given it to Nik before we left Oscuro. I needed to thank her.
Nik closed the drawer and strode over, collecting the items in his hands. “Yes, and the coin I gave you. I knew it was important to you so I put it here.”
Before I could stop my feet, I walked towards him. “You don’t know anything about me,” I huffed.
Silence.
My chest tightened. I shouldn’t have said that. I half expected him to harden, to lash back the way men always did when their kindness wasn’t properly received. Like Kavish always did.
But Nik only nodded, voice low and calm. “You’re right. I don’t. But I’d like to.”
The sincerity in his words was disarming, and for one awful, torturous second, I wished I believed him.
So I did what I always did when things got too real. I deflected.
A smirk tugged at my mouth. “And your girlfriend’s alright with that?”
He blinked, then a quiet laugh escaped him. “I don’t have a girlfriend.”