Page 92 of A Rose Among Snakes

I stared at him in wonder and I knew. I knew it with every rapid, yet steady, beat of my heart I didn’t want to waste a single moment of whatever time we had left. The words bubbled on my lips without hesitation. There was no fear of rejection or worry that I was making a mistake.

“I love you, Velian.” It slipped off my tongue with ease, like I’d said it athousand times before.

His eyes widened, and I memorized every fleck of amber glimmering among the vibrant green. I hadn’t been aware of our feet inching closer together, but his chest rose and fell against mine.

“Do you really?” he asked, his voice low and breathy.

I nodded slowly. “I do.”

Velian seized my face in his warm hands and pressed his lips to mine. He guided us backward until my back was flush against the stone wall. Pulling back, Velian whispered in my ear,

“I love you, too, Mihrra.”

The words paired with my name on his lips sent a thrill through my body. His hands slid down my arms as he kissed my neck just beneath my ear. I moved my head to the side, arching into his touch as his mouth moved down the column of my neck, leaving goosebumps following behind. He trailed kisses across my skin and back to my mouth.

Our bodies pressed together as I plunged my hands into his soft, wavy hair, and Velian rested his hands on my lower back, keeping us as close as possible. I was lost in an ocean of need as our lips melded together, moving hungrily against each other. And when I thought we couldn’t get closer, Velian gripped my hip and slid his hand along my outer thigh to hitch my knee up around his waist. My mind wondered what that possessive touch would feel like on my bare skin and I shuddered with yearning.

His tongue grazed along my lips, and I opened my mouth, craving more of him. Velian created feelings in me I had never experienced—desires I had never known—and as his mouth moved back to my neck and his nose nuzzled my ear, I sighed.

I wanted to memorize and savor every sensation: the warmth of his full lips, the taste of his mouth, the scratch of his stubble, the tickle of his breath on my neck.

He slowly pulled back and I floated in his green eyes, our chests heaving as he placed my leg back on the ground. With one finger, he tipped my chin up and placed one last tender kiss on my lips. Heart pounding and blood singing, I sent up a silent prayer it would not be our last kiss, that we would survive the day.

“I love you,” he murmured against my lips.

“I love you, too,” I panted, pulling back and smoothing out the mess I’d made of his hair. “Now, let’s go save your sister.”

Chapter Fifty-Two

Kezara

Mid-morning turned to early afternoon and the pit in my stomach grew with every passing minute. The maids came back in, announcing they would return after the midday meal to get me ready. I couldn’t think of a reason for a change in dress. Not a good one anyway.

I didn’t touch my meal. I was still nauseous and my lip hurt from Leoro's violating kiss. My stomach was churning with anxious knots that only multiplied when the maids showed up with an enormous, extravagant gown. They stripped off the black dress, wrapped me in a dressing gown, and sat me on a stool in front of a mirror. They got to work arranging my hair in another style that was almost the same as the one they’d done that morning. My head already ached from the tension of the tight style, and it only got worse as they moved the bun to the top of my head.

“Can’t I wear my hair down instead?”

The maids shared an irritated glance, then shook their heads. I sighed, resigned to my fate. Marriage it was, then. I stared at my reflection, not recognizing the sad, sallow girl. I glared at her.

It was time to rekindle that inner flame. I had a plan, but if I became too resigned to my fate, I would stay stuck in this horridcastle forever. The people I loved may not have been aware, but they were counting on me, so I had to keep my chin up. Leoro had too much control, but if I tried to escape now, I risked their lives. I just needed to bide my time and let the king think I was compliant.

The maids laid the gown on the ground and I stepped into it. They pulled it up around me, letting the considerable weight settle on my slight frame. The gown was white with a gold lace overlay. The sleeves were long, and the lace extended to drape over my hands. Its high neckline looked regal, and the skirt was full with an extended train. They placed white slippers trimmed in gold embroidery on my feet, and a gold veil of the same lace as the dress rested on my head, cascading behind me.

I looked at myself again, and through the veil I noticed the shorter hair around my ears was starting to curl and spring out sideways. I felt a spark of triumph in knowing I had been right all those weeks ago when I insisted Mihrra should accompany me to the ball. These maids were useless. In any other circumstance, it would have upset me, but I had no interest in looking pretty for the king.

When they were finished with me, the maids led me to the door, knocked, and I was handed off to the guards. While walking through the halls, we passed several gawking servants. I kept my chin lifted, not deigning to glance in their direction until we passed the library and a familiar silhouette came into view. Leoran stopped in his tracks, mouth agape and eyes full of guilt. His shock made reality sink in, and tears pricked my eyes, but I blinked themback and pretended I didn’t see him. Once I passed, his running footsteps echoed down the silent hallway; I wondered what he was up to.

Entering the throne room for the second time that day felt more foreboding than before. Leoro was standing on the dais in front of the thrones, still clad in black, but with a heavily embroidered cape draped from his shoulders. He spoke quietly to a man dressed in long, white robes, and they both turned upon my arrival. Leoro smiled at me in what I assumed was supposed to be an inviting manner, but it only served to chill my blood.

“Kezara, please join us.”

When I hesitated, his eyes flashed a warning, a promise of violence if I disobeyed. I took a deep breath and walked up to the dais, my heavy dress swishing as it trailed on the burgundy aisle runner leading to the throne. I stared up at the angry lion in the stained-glass window above the wooden throne, wishing it would come to life and take me out of my misery.

No.

I was choosing to protect those I love, putting aside my own desires of anything other than marriage to Leoro. I was going to make Velian proud. Mihrra, too.

Mihrra

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