Page 30 of A Kiss From Death
I have no idea what the Empress has in store for us, so I need to be prepared for anything. It feels like each year, her ideas have only gotten grander and more dangerous.
Yay for me.
Winston’s toothy grin comes into view as I approach the invisible door.
“Did you miss me?” I beam up at him.
His belly laugh vibrates over my skin. “Only you could look like you just emerged from hell itself and make a joke like nothing happened.”
I shrug, feigning innocence. “So, is that a yes?”
“C’mon, little lady. Let’s get you back and cleaned up. You positively stink.”
I pout dramatically. “Do not!”
Winston puts his hand against the Bubble to activate the door, and I take that moment to sneak a peek behind me to the corner Hade was tucked into, except he’s nowhere to be seen now. He left, and for some reason, that leaves an uneasy feeling nudging my battered heart.
I’m confused; why should I even care? Why does it matter if he stayed and watched me at all? It seems my heart is onto something my brain can’t quite comprehend, and I’m scared for the day it catches on. I can’t imagine a day Theo isn’t the sole reason the pathetic organ in my chest beats.
“Here we are, princess.” Winston stops in front of my door and hovers his hand over the handle to let me in.
I wince at the nickname, and Winston takes notice, because he stops and turns to face me. Theo would always call me his princess, and the way the endearment rolls off Winston’s tongue does not have the same knee wobbling effect.
At first, Theo called me princess to get under my skin, but then one day, it changed from a taunt to a promise. He would forever worship the ground I walked on, and I would always be his princess. His prized possession.
Winston looks over at me with concern on his face. “Did I say something wrong, little lady?”
From what I’ve learned about Winston, I think he’s had enough sorrow in his lifetime, and the last thing I want to do is add to it. Taking a deep breath, I rein in the vortexof emotions floating around my mangled heart and slip on a forced smile I’m all too familiar with.
“It’s nothing, really. An old friend used to call me princess, and it brought back some memories. You are no bother at all, Winston. Actually, I quite like your company, which is a strange feeling for me.”
He looks at me all knowing, and I guess his Fib ability really means he does most things. I keep forgetting I can’t pretend in front of him like I do others. He softens his eyes, radiating a warm aurora, and nods once. He feels no need to dive into details or rehash old feelings. He smiles, but it’s not as warm as usual, and gives me a soft squeeze on my shoulder.
“I can feel the strength you harbor around that heart of yours, and it’s admirable. I feel honored you consider me good company to keep, Nyxi. Now, this old man will get out of your very bloody hair and let you get clean and rested up.”
With that, he’s waltzing down the corridor, probably off to snag an orange from the kitchen and scheme about his little club. The thought alone brings a smile to my face.
“Hey, wait!” I call out. “Aren’t you supposed to be watching over my every move, Vanquisher?” I yell down the hall to him.
He chuckles, and I feel it nudge up against my heart all the way from the opposite end of the hall. “I trust you won’t get into any trouble in my absence.”
I cup my hands around my mouth and shout, “And how do you know that? I was quite the rebel down in Vagrant.”
“Are you going to cause any disturbances while I’m away, little lady?” he calls over his shoulder.
“Well...not that I know of.”
Who knows when it comes to me and getting myself into trouble. It seems to be my specialty, like a moth to a flame. Trouble and I go together like a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. My mouth starts to water, and my stomach lets out a nasty growl.
“No lies detected, so my work here is done for the night. Now, go wash up. I can smell you from here!” He’s so far down the hallway, I can barely make out his words as he fades into the shadows.
“Fibs,” I scoff to myself. Peeling my door open, I enter my room, ready for a warm soak and some much needed rest.
Slamming my door shut, I rest my head against the back of the door with my eyes closed and release a deep breath. With the weight of the Crucible nearing, Jade’s arrow fiasco, Aeron and his dizzying personality, my confusing thoughts toward Hade,andWinston dropping the princess bomb on me, I’m not sure I can take much more at the moment.
“That rough of a day,Nightmare?”
I practically jump out of my skin at his deep timbre that sucks all the air from the room. I’m gasping like a fish out of water, and I wish I could blame it solely on him taking me by surprise, but the way my heart does a little flutter, I know it might also have to do with the fact that he came to find me…in my room…alone.
