Page 192 of The Stars are Dying

I whimpered against his mouth. My blood soared with yearning and resentment—a dangerous release despite his faltering.

Nyte lowered himself slowly and I went with him, my hand still wrapped around the hilt of the blade. I straddled him when he sat, and then he wasn’t holding me so firmly anymore. His kiss turned labored; his skin paled. He said nothing. His hand on my nape became limp, and he kissed me one final time before his head lost balance too.

I couldn’t believe what I’d done. I held him for a few heartbeats in the aftermath.

His face between my palms…he appeared so peaceful I thought the blade was lodged in me for the tearing I didn’t want to feel. This was Nyte. Not any other name. And for him I pressed my forehead to his as if to release some of my regret.

Then I remembered everything else that lived and lied beneath his guise. I slipped my hand into his pocket for the cell key and left with my heart slowing its beats until it became stone.

55

“Just so we’re clear, a dagger through my chestwillkill me.”

Zathrian must have read the contemplation in my heated glare from across the table. Rose sat on his right, though her reluctance could be felt the moment I’d joined them in this great dining hall. She topped my animosity, refusing to engage with either of us. I had to wonder how she’d been coaxed into her beautiful deep pink gown to be here at all.

“You’re a deceitful bastard,” I mumbled, spearing another piece of chicken. I was so fucking hungry. The weeks of minimal food were catching up to me all at once.

I’d bathed, changed into a dark, silvery silk gown that had already been laid out, and been guided down to this dining hall unnervingly by one of the Golden Guard.

“Am I really though? I never lied to you, Stray.”

“You knew who I was—whatI was—this whole damn time.”

That made Rose’s attention flick to me. She’d hardly paid attention to either of us despite my trying. I resisted the urge to cover my arms as she trailed her gaze over my silver markings as though trying to decipher a language in them.

“You never knew at all?” She finally spoke.

I shook my head. “Hektor kept me very closely guarded,” I said. Every time I thought of the past five years I wanted to rage. At myself and how hisprotectionwas so obvious now. “I should have thought something of it sooner.”

“He manipulated you,” Zath growled.

I wanted to hate him. At least for a while longer. But his tight grip of his fork along with his murderous look pinched in my chest that it had been real, his care for me.

“So did someone else. Someone it turns out we both know.” I couldn’t cool my resentment at that secret. Not yet.

Zath’s face fell. “They’re not even close to the same.”

“They both lied in the name ofprotectingme. Neither gave me a damn choice. Neither gave me a chance to protect myself.”

“That’s not even slightly true, and you know it.” He finally matched me, pushing back. Good. I was still so hurt and livid that I was trembling inside.

“Of course you would defend him. You’ve been his messenger dog this whole time.”

His jaw worked. “I didn’t have to do anything he asked. I did it for you, dammit.”

I continued eating, and as I shifted a look to Rose I wondered if I ever wore the same look of wariness toward them with their insufferable bickering.

The thought was stolen by a light pattering of four-legged footsteps. Shifting my gaze to the doorway, I couldn’t believe the black cat had found me here too. I was about to set down my fork when a blurred, dark motion around it grew tall, and my silverware clattered from my grip. The table shook as I jolted up—

“Please let me explain!”

Stars above.I still had to be suffering from the effects of the Starlight Matter. I blinked several times, but it settled that I’d unmistakably witnessed Davina transform from a black cat. Not just any…

“I’m going to fucking kill him,” I muttered, snapping my head to Zath. He seemed just as bewildered as Rose.

Meeting my outrage, he held up his hands. “I had no knowledge of it.”

“Neither did Nyte,” Davina said, timidly advancing as thoughIwould transform. “I only followed you in case you needed some extra help—and you did! I brought your pills…”

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