Page 85 of Falling Princess

I didn’t want to hear the end of that sentence.

I’m not sure who moved first. I reached for him and buried my face in Lorcan’s T-shirt. He pulled me in close, with one hand high on my back, tangled in my hair. I could feel his heartbeat through his chest, fast and strong. When he brushed a kiss on the top of my head, my heart almost exploded. My arms tightened involuntarily as though I could hold him safe, while at the same time memorizing the shape of his back where it narrowed at his waist. Things I cannot say tumble through my mind.I love you.

“Be safe,” I finally managed to whisper into his shoulder. “Come back to me.”

Lorcan traced a circle on my back between my shoulder blades. This might almost be enough. I could be happy with this much of him; surely there’s no danger in this friendship. Friends hug sometimes. This much is okay.

“No need to worry about me, Zosia.” Then, in a low, rough voice, he added, “As long as I’m alive, I promise I’m coming back to you. Always.”

Holding him was no longer enough. This is not friendship. Not from my side. Before I could escalate, he pulled back, putting space between us, keeping me at bay.

“It won’t be like this forever.”

But it will. This is my reality. Forever.

There came a noise from the common area. He released me and turned to nudge the door wider, passing through it like a shadow. I bit my lower lip and packed my bag with unsteady hands.

CHAPTERTWENTY-SEVEN

Ten minutes later, Cata blew into our dormitory suite, dressed all in black as is her custom, the belt of her cashmere coat loosely tied at her waist. Her silver hair was up in a topknot.

She’s been a bit off ever since we came back to Scotland. It’s like the boat broke her in some way. Made her feel her age, perhaps. I’ve tried to bring it up but she refuses to discuss it.

“Great golden goddesses, it smells. Who’s smoking weed?”

“Bash and Raina.”

She made a face. “I don’t know how you can stand this shit.”

Lorcan emerged from his room in dark jeans, a black hoodie, and carrying a small bag crosswise over his torso. Raina joined us a moment later, wrapped from neck to knee in a black wool coat.

I, stupidly, chose my white coat. I never bought one in a different color. Clothes have always been provided, with little thought or input from me. The only time it occurred to me to go shopping was when I was fencing luxury goods for cash—and picked up my favorite pink canvas sneakers.

“Let’s go,” Cata commanded.

“Wait.” I gestured to my outer garment. “I feel like a beacon of light in this thing.”

Cata grinned. “It’s fine. We’re going by car.” Her gaze flicked to Lorcan. “Kenton.”

“Yeah?”

“Hold down the fort while the princesses are with me.”

“Aye, Lady Cata.” He saluted without getting off the couch. Interesting to know that he was in the loop, whereas I am not.

“Seriously, fumigate this place. At least open a window. It’s a pigsty.” Cata wheeled around and made a show of coughing once we got into the hallway. “How do you stand it, Lorcan? You’re such a neat freak. It must drive you crazy.”

This is our third term as suitemates, and I had no idea he was a neat freak. You’d never guess it from the state of his notes. I’ve never seen the inside of his room. It occurred to me that there’s a lot I don’t know about him.

He shrugs. “I’ve lived in worse places.”

Cata chuckled. They led us out into the gray evening, heads bent together, talking in low voices.

“What’s going on?” I asked Raina.

She leans close to me. “A threat.”

“What kind of threat?”

---