Page 36 of War of Her Heart

His eyes widened at that, even though he knew it was the truth. “Violet.”

I was fuming, and I didn’t even know why. I knew him having to fake a relationship with her would entail talking, of course. It wasn’t like he shouldn’t be talking to her, but for him to bring her into our conversation because of “some things” she had said about Sebastian—like we should take everything she said as the truth—just ticked me off.

“I would prefer if you never bring up anything the two of you have talked about—or done—again,” I said through gritted teeth.

“You’re right, I’m sorry. I just worry about you, and I can’t protect you here,” he said as he pulled me back to lay with him.

I didn’t say anything. I understood his worry, but I couldn’t very well tell him how safe I felt here.

We lay in silence for a while before I finally looked up to see he had fallen asleep. Obviously our conversation didn’t bother him as much as it bothered me since he had no trouble going to sleep. I rolled over to the edge of the bed to kick my leg out from under the covers. Calum and I both ran hot while we slept, and I always ended up drenched in sweat before the night was over.

A cool breeze from the balcony door that I had left open hit my leg, bringing instant relief from the heater that was only a few inches away from me now.

I stared out of the opening at the night sky that was lit with more stars than I could count.

The Night Realm had done nothing but surprise me since the moment I arrived. I expected creatures of the night around every corner. The servants in the castle should be creatures that send chills down my spine, but other than Yara, they were all fae, which made no sense in itself. Nothing in my history books mentioned fae servants here. Sebastian did mention “Mountain Realm history books” with a negative undertone.

If they got things like this wrong, what other lies were written in our books, forcing us to believe them true?

I rolled back over to look at Calum, but as soon as my eyes were back on him, all I could picture was him at the dinner table with Nathara hanging all over him. If she did that around others, what does she do when they were alone?

I gritted my teeth as my imagination ran wild. I had to stop sulking and dwelling on this. I had to keep my trust in Calum because I knew he wouldn’t hurt me.

Morning came too early after I spent most of the night consumed in my thoughts. I didn’t know what time Calum left because he didn’t wake me to tell me goodbye. I wasn’t mad though. I didn’t get enough sleep as it was. My heart felt a little lighter when I rolled out of bed. A step towards peace maybe. Peace about my situation.

I gave it until dinner tonight. As soon as I saw them together again that peace would fly out of the window.

My stomach growled, reminding me that I barely ate the dinner Yara brought me last night. It was a dish that I wasn’t familiar with, a type of red meat, with a grayish sauce served over rice. Yara signed that it was “heart of traitor,” at least that’s what I think she signed. But I’m not completely fluent in sign language so I was hoping I was wrong.

But even the thought of it made me lose my appetite. The only thing I ate was the side of vegetables that was in a separate bowl far away from the traitor’s heart.

I thought about ringing the bell and asking Yara to bring me breakfast, but I felt a little guilty having her run—well, fly—around bringing me food again when I was perfectly capable of getting it myself.

I was better than this constant hiding in my room afraid of simple conversations with others. I used to dream about beingoutside of our castle, and yet here I was completely free to go where I chose, and I’d chosen to lock myself in my room.

I quickly threw a dress on and loosely tied my hair back with a ribbon before slipping into my shoes. I slung open my door but before I couldn’t take a step out into the hall, Yara was standing there with a tray of food and another book.

Okay, one more day in my room wouldn’t hurt.

16

Chapter 16

Violet

Here’s what I’d learned after being in Night Realm for a little over a week:

You can’t believe everything you’re told. You have to learn for yourself.

Having to smile while watching Nathara practically hump Calum at dinner every night would eventually make me go insane.

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