Page 132 of The Call of Crimson
This isn't about a dress.
It’s about watching the brightest soul I’ve ever known dim herself for their convenience.
All over a fucking pair of boots.
Fuck this, I’ll buy her all the boots she wants if it means she isn’t forced to change herself to fit their desires.
“She’s clearly uncomfortable in the gown,” I grit out, fighting the growl clawing up my throat.
"Breyla can speak for herself," Ayden replies coolly, leveling me with a dark glare. “And her comfort is no longer any of your concern, Aurelius.”
I turn to Breyla, silently hoping—no, begging—her to tell them all what she thinks of the dress.
“It’s fine, Aurelius,” Breyla says, her voice monotone. “The gold really is lovely.”
Before I can do something I regret, I shove my chair back, the legs scraping hard against the floor.
“We aren’t done here,” Ayden calls.
“I am,” I bite back, storming from the room.
The door slams behind me with a satisfying finality.
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
BREYLA
The day of the ball arrives, and I lock my door, refusing breakfast and company.
The emotions are overwhelming, and it feels like there’s no one I’m allowed to share them with. I find myself wanting to confide in Rowina, but I don’t know if I can trust her, and she just reminds me how much I miss Ophelia.
Ophelia prepared me for the last engagement ball.
This time, I’m on my own.
I could ask for help, but my emotions are all over the place, and I prefer the solitude. The only people’s presence I crave, I can’t have.
I stare at the new brown leather boots at the foot of my bed, the other source of my emotional turmoil.
After the planning meeting, I had reluctantly returned the pilfered boots to Rowina. Ayden had held up his end of the bargain and allowed me to keep my own boots, but when I returned to my room, there was a wrapped box waiting on my bed.
Inside, I found the new boots with a note, penned in Aurelius' perfect script:Don’t ever let them silence your voice.
I find my resolve weakening day by day. I had been so angry, so sure I couldn’t forgive him for the secrets, that I refused to hear when he tried to tell me his truth. Since we arrived in Prudia, he had spent so much energy trying to bridge the gap between us.
But now… now I realize it’s past time I actuallyhearhim.
Aurelius had never given me anything, not that I had expected him to. But the fact that the first thing he gifted me was something so meaningful and thoughtful has me more conflicted than ever.
It was a promise.
A reminder of who I am.
And the knowledge of what I could never have, not without burning everything to the ground.
I was engaged to hisbrother.Not that it was my choice, but I wouldn’t start a war over this. I couldn’t willingly put more of my people at risk over my own heart. It was selfish and short-sighted.
I just wish I saw another way.
