Page 45 of A Rose Among Snakes

“I will. And thank you for saving me earlier. Again.” I fought the urge to look away in embarrassment.

“It was my pleasure.” He took my hand and kissed the back of it. “Did I tell you that you look beautiful tonight?”

A blush bloomed on my cheeks, and I dropped my gaze to my feet. “No, you didn’t.”

“Well, you do.” He released my hand, and I glanced up to find a roguish smile on his face, emerald eyes dancing. “Goodnight, Mihrra.”

“Goodnight, Velian.”

He turned and walked out of the room, closing the door behind him. My skin burned where his lips had touched.

Sheets rustled as Kezara turned in bed. “Did I tell you that you look beautiful tonight?” She mimicked, and my blush flamed. “I told you, Mihrra.”

“I thought you were asleep.”

“No, I was pretending so he would leave.” Even in the dim light, I watched her struggle to keep her eyes open. “Can you believe I’m going to get married? That’s what he said. He needs to find a priest who will marry us in secret, and then his father cannot do anything.”

“I’m very happy for you, Kezara,” I said, but it wasn’t true. I hoped that with sleep and a sober mind, Kezara would see it was a terrible plan.

“I will write to you every day that I’m away, Mihrra. I promise.”

“What about your brother? Are you going to tell him in the morning?”

“No, but he’ll be fine. He has you now.”

My stomach flipped at her words, a thrill shimmering up my spine.

“See, you aren’t objecting anymore.”

I laughed. “You need to sleep. We’ll talk more in the morning.” I pulled the blankets up around Kezara’s chin. “Goodnight.”

Kezara closed her eyes, unable to fight sleep any longer. “Goodnight, Mihrra. Thank you for always supporting me.”

Chapter Twenty-Four

Whether it was exhaustion or sheer bliss, I slept better than I had in a long time. I dreamed of endless dancing and being swept around the room in Velian’s arms. I slowly drifted into consciousness, clinging to the remnants of my dream and wanting to stay in the moment forever, but I opened my eyes to smoldering coals in the hearth. Swinging my legs over the side of the sofa, I grabbed my dressing gown, slipped my arms in, and tied it around my waist. I stood up, yawning and stretching, and tiptoed to the bathing room to start getting ready for the day. I dressed and combed my hair, all while wondering how Kezara was feeling, and thought to grab a glass of water for her.

Stepping lightly, I made my way over to the bed where Kezara was buried under a pile of blankets all bunched in the center of the mattress. I pulled the comforter up and my heart began to race.

It was empty.

I wrung my hands while scanning the room to make sure she wasn’t somewhere else. I remembered her telling me of Leoran’s plans, and my stomach dropped to my feet. There’s no way they would have gone through with their plan that very night, right?

Without thinking twice, I flew out of the room and down the hallway to Velian’s door. I knocked three times and waited, wringing my hands while I listened to the sound of his approaching footsteps. He opened the door just a crack at first, then seeing me, opened it all the way.

“Mihrra?” He was wearing a simple white shirt, unbuttoned nearly to his navel, revealing a muscular chest, and black pants. He was barefoot, and his wavy, brown hair was mussed from sleep.

“She’s gone,” I said.

Velian rubbed his eyes, “Who?”

“Who else? Kezara!” Hysteria edged my voice and Velian stepped back, gesturing with a wave for me to enter. I took a quick look around, noticing his room was the mirror image of mine and Kezara’s. Velian led me over to the sofa by the hearth and had me sit down while he leaned against the mantle, stoking the fire.

“Tell me what happened,” he said, his voice husky with sleep.

“I went to wake Kezara and she wasn’t in the room.”

Velian frowned and peered behind me toward the door. “Couldn’t she simply be out looking for Leoran?” Distracted, he walked toward the door leaving me on the sofa.

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