Page 70 of Between Wrath and Mercy

“Just a lover’s quarrel, no more.” Rainier was still leaning back in his chair, looking positively composed and unruffled. He wore that gods damned crooked smile as my eyes met his, and I wanted to smack it right off his face. Even before the mention of his betrothal, before he ruined everything, I’d intended to keep mydistractionprivate. Until we found Elora. Until I had normalcy. Then I’d allow myself to think about it being anything other than what I’d said it was. I was beginning to realize my life was never going to be normal again.

I pushed my chair back abruptly.

“I’m going to bed.” No one attempted to stop me as I marched up the steps and slammed the door to Elora’s room.

Iopenedmyeyesto a bright, blinding-white sun and spun around, blinking. Everything was too bright, the colors too vivid. I stood on a beach, the waves crashing in front of me. The water was too blue, almost the same color as the sky. I looked down and saw a seashell, a vivid red, the color of Mairin’s hair.

Where am I?

Spinning around, I saw lime green grass as far as the horizon. The color was bright, almost sickly. I was wearing the nightgown I fell asleep in, but I was not cold. The sun beat down on me too, but I was not hot either. Everything felt strange. I’d never had a dream or nightmare quite like this before. I turned, looking in every direction, wondering where it was taking me. I began to walk, my bare feet not registering the difference between sand and grass. I continued for a few moments before I saw a silhouette on the horizon, and my heart rose quickly up into my throat.

Elora.

I began to run. Despite the otherworldly aspects of the dream, something told me this was truly her. If I could just catch up to her, I’d be able to speak to her. I ran and ran, but I didn’t feel like I was getting any closer. I started screaming her name, hoping she’d hear me and could run to me, meet me halfway. My feet slid through the grass, and I continued running. I wasn’t growing tired in this dream, my body unphased. I realized this was a new form of torture. I was about to stop when darkness fell on the horizon. It dripped down, more like a slow waterfall than a transition to night, and the darkness rushed out, barreling straight for me. I stopped, searching for her silhouette while I waited for the impact. When it crested over me like a wave, I closed my eyes.

I waited for the strike, and when nothing happened, I opened my eyes. I was in the same exact location, but it was night. The colors around me were muted, and the grass below my feet actually felt like grass, the cool blades moving around my feet, swaying in the breeze. I was shivering. It was cold here, and I studied the stars above me, twinkling, pinpointing the Damia constellation, misplaced in the night sky. When I looked back at the horizon, I saw a figure walking toward me, fast. Not Elora, but a man.

He was tall, though not quite as tall as Rainier, and slim. His sleeves were rolled up, and I could see faint muscles flex as he shoved one hand into a pocket. His pants were black, just as the shirt he wore and the jacket tossed over his shoulder. I found myself surprised that he was covered in jewelry. He had one long silver earring and thin chains of varying length around his neck, hanging down his chest. When he got closer, I was able to get a better glimpse of his face. Young. Much younger than I’d thought at first. Maybe the same age as Theo. But where Theo was gangly and awkward, the young man in front of me was graceful and collected, as if he’d never known discomfort. He had tousled brown hair, a few shades darker than my own, and skin so pale it looked almost pure white, especially in the moonlight. The tilt of his chin and the gait in his walk told me this boy was royalty. I knew exactly who he was.

“Hello, Lady Emmeline.”

“Hello, Prince Cyran.”

“She glares like you.” He smiled at me before he tilted his head down, adjusting the buttons of the jacket he put on. He had a faint accent, crisp like cut-glass. “Elora says she loves you, by the way.”

His tone was not unkind, but since he had my daughter, it came out as a taunt.

“I’d like to say it back to her in person.”

“I’ve actually come here to see if that is something we can arrange.” My heart stopped for a moment. Something told me this boy wouldn’t respond well if I were too eager. I needed to temper my replies.

“Where is ‘here’ exactly?”

“An illusion. This is a product of my divinity.” He gestured around us. “Mostly useless, I might add. Until now.” I waited in silence, hoping he’d want to fill it. Hoping he’d give me more information if I was patient. “I’m sure you’re worried about your daughter. I assure you, I have treated her with kindness. And as you should know by now, I swore a verit oath that as long as Elora is under my protection, she will be safe. She is much more comfortable with me than she would have been with Declan.” His brother. I didn’t know if I could trust this boy, if what he said was true. I hoped it was, for Elora’s sake.

“She would be more comfortable with me.”

“I wouldn’t be so sure at the moment. She loves you, but, boy, is she mad at you.” He laughed as he crossed his arms, rocking on his heels in emphasis. His hair fell down in his eyes, hazel and sparkling with amusement. “And her dear father.”

“Is Faxon there too?”

“Yes, although he is far less comfortable than Elora. It’s quite cold outside, and I imagine the chain around his neck chafes.”

I couldn’t help but smile at the image.

“Feel free to keep him. You mentioned arranging something?” I was too impatient to let him continue in this meandering way.

“Yes, I did.” He nodded and cleared his throat. Despite his confidence, the gesture told me just how nervous he was. “My brother grows impatient. He sent me to procure Elora for him, and he is preparing to take her from me soon.” I sucked in a breath.

“So, was it him who sent men to rape me? Or do I have you to thank for that?”

He blanched and cleared his throat again.

“I wouldn’t know anything about that. The men who didn’t accompany us on the ship were mercenaries. They’d been tasked with returning the injured boy back home at your husband’s insistence, nothing else. I am…distraught to hear that happened to you.”

“It didn’t. I killed them both before they could. If such things truly cause you distress, let this be a lesson to you on whom you employ, princeling.”

He gave a crisp nod, but I didn’t miss the agitation on his face.

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